Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-05-18
Boots Umder the Bed.

sertions conld be credited. Lydia
was in something of dilemma con-
cerning them.
She Lad no particular preference
for either of them, but sho wanted to
be married sometime, and Mr.. White
was opposed to long courtships, and
Aunt Jane kept assuring her that her
bed and table linen would get yellow
by being packed away in the bureau
50 long; and she always took frequent
opportunities Of saying that none
of her girls ever was single after they
had reached the age of eighteen; no.
not minitl''
And as Lydia counted her years
four more than l8, of course this lat
ter insinuation of Aunt James cut
deeply.
Lydia turned the matter over seri-
ously in her mind, argued 1t pro and
con which she should take, Green or
Jones.
She was in some. degree romantic,
and had indulged in gorgeous dreams
of marrying a second Napoleon as to
courage, in fact, II there was any
quality that she admired in man, 1t
was bravery
in the hearing of Tom or Willie, they
begged her to put them to the test
they would joyfully die for her II she
stood in need Of such sacrifice, they
assured her over and over again.
On Sunday evening, as indeed was
frequently the case, Jones and Green
both happened to call at Lydia S
about the same time.
lydia went out of the room about
nine o'clock on pretence of bringing a
book of engravings, but she shortly
returned in great perturbation. .
WHAT'S it? What is the natter
cliad the two lovers in a chorus.
"Oa dear me! = sighed Lydia,
"such a dreadful, dreadful thing!
Who would have thought it in our
peaceful community Oh, Mr.. Jones,
Mr.. Greenl You cannot think how
elad-how relieved I am that you
are here. I should be frightened to
death were it otherwise se!" And she
clurg first to one and then to the
other with confidence perfectly in
fatuating.
"Tcll us what it is q cried Green.
Enlighten US as to the cause
Of this emotion" said Jones, who
had been to the Chicken Valley
Academy two quarters, and used
some large words,
"oh, You are both SO brave cri-
ed Lydia, admiringly; 81 feel as
if L were protected by ain army +
Green drew himself up to his full
height, which was just five feet, and
1t must be confessed that beside the
Rerculan Jones he looked like a
Bantam rooster beside a Shanghai.
Command me y said Green, !"only
let me know your bidding
ASK my assistance" said Jones,
and it shall be given as free as the
streams give water to the sounding
ocean T.
Hush for PHYS sake" said
Lydia; "hes up stairs in the spare
ROOM Under the bed Father had
a hundred dollars paid him yesterday
for a COW, and this is a plan to rob
the house. | saw his boots stick out
from under the counterpane.
Good heavens'l cried Green,
getting behind Jones.
And such big boots, too,' said
Lydia twelves 1 am sure T.
Jupiter what giant he must
be ?" said Tom.
"Toml oh Willie protect meF'
cried Lydia, pathetically, and they
both protested they would shield her
with the last drop of their blood.
"Then 90 up stairs and seize the
villain, said Lydia.
"You had better 60 first, said
Jones, "I-don't know the way"
Il Will show you the way, said
Lydia.
the biggest it belongs to you to lead
on.
And the two gallant young men
reluctantly followed her up stairs.
She opened the door of the spare
chamber softly. and they saw the
boots very distinctly. a most ex-
tgemely dirty pair Of cowhides, which
locked as though their owner had
tramped through twenty miles OF
swamp, and made no acquaintance
with rags or scrapers afterward.
Almighty big man he must be.
with such a pair OF feet" said Jones,
+" Hadn we better call your father
ard Mr. Barry, the hired man ?"
Il think We had" said Green
t;midly.
Il don t, said Lydia, decidedly.
See l believe the boots are NOV
ing. On, goodness me y
And, as she screamed, Jones and
Green simultaneously made rush
for the chamber door. Jones STUN
h!ed over a wash stand and went
headlong to the foot of the stairs,
wash stand and all. and Lydia, by
clineing TO the skirts Of Mr.. Green S
coat, Kept hin from following his
rival.
What in the deuce is to pay
here" asked Jack Barry appearing
on the scene in his shirt and trowsers
and his light curly hair standing out
all over his head, like the bristles of a
lamp chimney brush.
Lydia points to the boots.
(" Don't touch him, whined Green.
He may have pistol or something
abcut hii.a, and hart somebody"
You chicken livered whelp"
cried Barry, you're afraid to see
what's behind the boots, are ye?
We'll, I'll show you"
And Barry seized the frightful
object aud gave pull so strong that
7 -. ,.1-,rorJc mn +ha Hoo,