The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-30
"What is it, Toby ~ inquired En-.

iittie Iuftner up this line OF picket
guards, and he viii discover, if l re-
member rightly, row of box bee
stands, ranged on q platform near the
fence. He can mount lightly on to
these, take the instruments over, and
we can follow"
"Selah! !" calculated Endymon.
"All right" assented Jim, breaking
out in a regular fall-moon smile "To-
by's a brick. Come on, boys" He
struck out as he spoke, and was
stealthily followed by all his comrades
except Hartley, who leaned against the
fence for moment in convulsion Of
laughter.
In a very brief time the place indica-
ted was reached, and Elder, with lit
tie assistance, scaled the fence and
amounted the bee-hives.
'Now them" said he, eve are all
ilunky; hand over them traps, Birch"
Endymon complied by reaching up the
bass viol, but alas! from some awkward
maneuver, or unfortunate combination
Of circumstances, Jim lost his balance,
and in his frantic effort to regain equil-
ibrium, capsized the whole row of bee
hives, and fell amid. the debris. There
was Il hoarse groan from the bass VOL
as it descended with the wreck. The
tremendous crash had awakened the
sleeping echoes, and other things be-
sides, as it appeared, for it was sue
ceeded by Il furious barking, and in
moment the 'squire's Watchdog; Ne
TO, had bounded from som G hidden
cover and made bold attack upon the
unfortunate James. "Get out-get
out! you villain! Oh! heaven and
earth! the beesn was the theme of
Jim's discourse, as he battled with the
dog and fought off the bees, vainly try
ing, in the meanwhile, to get back over
the fence.
The bees! That note of alarm was
sufficient to create a panic in the camp.
There was general stampede among
the boys, who, to escape the threaten
ed danger, fed precipitately and left
their Elder brother completely in the
lurch. With one exception, however.
The comic aspect of the situation had
SO entirely mastered Toby Hartley
that flight, in his case, was quite out
of the question. Oblivious of the dan
gers that environcd Jim. Toby rolled
on the ground in paroxysm of mirth.
"Things were getting lively about that
time," as Jim afterward described it,
when sceptre, white, grim, and arm
ed with stout clapboard, Suddenly
emerged from the shadowy porch, and
began vigorous pantomime by be-
laying Elder over the shoulders with
the board.
"Hulloa! what the nation do you
mean, squirrel" Intercepted Jim.
"Kean! why mean to Spite your
thiev;n' arrangements for the future,
young man; ye low-lifed honey thief y
'I'm no thief, squire; don't you
know me?"
Suppressed war whoop from Hart
ley, which however, was scarcely no
ted in the general melee.)
"Know yer Well, l h a d orter,
though never suspected you of ben'
the rogue who has been mis!istin' my
bee-hites so long"
"What's the matter, father" inquired
a bird-like, voice from the upper re-
gions.
"Why, that young chap, Jim Elder,
who 'Phrasia has been ravin' about,
has been found among the bee hives
under very suspicious circumstances.
Be quiet, Ncror'
Peals of silvery laughter followed
this explanation, and Jim, raising his
eyes to the window whence it proceed
ed, discovered Jennie Leighton and |
Euphrasia Eustace pceping out behind |
the white curtain.
1t was too much. II was more than
human nature could stand. Without |
waiting to hear repetition of that
hooking laugh, or give Squire Leigh
ton true statement of the case, Jim |
leaped the palings at a bound, and fled
from the scene of his discontinue. He
was followed by the fragmentoi a clap
board hurled after him, in a friendly
sort of a way, by Miss Eustace's uncle.
As soon as Toby Hartley recovered
sufficiently to permit speech, he arose
from his recumbent position and ex-
planned to the Justice how the affair
exculpating the luckless Ell
der from any malicious attack on the
bee-hives. He then secured the bass
VOL, which had received fatal, internal
and external injuries, and wendell his
way back to the hall, where the rest of
troupe, including jim, had preceded
him. Jim was sight to behold. With
face and hands swollen from the COM
bined effects of the fall and the bee
stings, limbs bruised from vigorous APP
plications of the clapboard, and .appar-
ell greatly disarranged by the oflicious
Nero, who, Notwithstanding Fag of
truce had been displayed by Elder, had
continued the attack till the last mo-
ment, lie certainly was an object of
confederation; but those heartless
k.R ascnle,, haad an .orr;o &C aIo.a..s G..