Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-15
Tales and Sketeles.
PUT TO THEIR TRUMPS.

! CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAYS PAPER.
Presently they came upon the other boat
with Tom and Susie sitting very close to
gether in the stern, and paying little atten
tion to anything but to each other. Jacl
gave shout, and his friend jumped back
to his oars.
II say, Tom," said Savage, 'I'll pull
you back for ten dollaas. was only play
ing off when we came out"
"All right sounded from the other
boat, and presently they were alongside.
Then began a race that was race. The
two girls clapped their hands, and cheered
on the competitors, and at last Maggie
cried out
"a scarf of my favorite color to the one
who wins.''
After that there was no use betting.
boat-lengths ahead. and then they all ran
merrily up to the house.
Jack" said Tom, after they had said
goodnight to the girls and reached their
room (and. if they didn't kiss them, the
little darkie that was skulking about the
back-stairs lied consumedly) Jack, I've
made an awful idiot of myself tonight. -
$50 have l" said Jack, sententiously, as
he filled his meerschaum.
ave proposed to Susie Campbell, "con-
t:nued Tom.
"Just what I've done to her sister," re-
marked Jack
"And she's accepted me-" whispered
Tom.
SS''Ditto !" shouted Jack, at the top of his
voice and then, seizing each other by the
two hands, they nearly shook them off,
Iii with -Hap no
about the room, which presently induced
old Bob Rogers. who was shutting up the
house, to shout at the highest pitch of his
lungs:
''Ho, you young scapegraces, you'll
have my house down in a minute Shut
up, or I'll set the dog ON you Here.
Caesar, st'boy st'boy
A loud howl from the old toothless mas
tiff in the yard, and concerted piece of
laughter in bass, tenor, and soprano, from
various parts of the house, finished the
concert, and then Jack and Tom sat down
quietly by the window to smoke and "con-
slider the situation,n as Tom expressed it.
They continued in earnest conversation,
occasionally interrupted by suppressed
laughter from both of them, until long
after midnight, when they retired.
from the house for several hours, and on
their return announced that they were 60
ing to start the next morning on fishing
excursion to u stream some twenty miles
away, and would not return until the day
after, but take up their quarters for the
night at Il farmhouse near the fishing
ground.
| Accordingly, the early morning saw
them off in one of the landlords wagons,
duly equipped with rods and luncheons,
while two curly heads popped out of an
upper window, and two pleasant voices
wished them good luck.
| That afternoon, as the stage rolled up to
the gate of the Assimiquid House, two
gentlemen alighted, one Slightly lame, ell
derly, and with gray hair; the other
younger, with heavy black whiskers and a
very red face. The landlord, as was his
| wont, walked up to the gate to welcome
them; and, presently returning, intro
duced them to the guests on the piazza as
Professor Hamilton, the celebrated mes
merist from Edingburgh, and Mr. McDo-
nald, his agent and assistant. They were
shown to room, and their baggage, con-
sisting of a large wooden box and two
heavy portmanteaus, followed them
A few moments later a messenger was
sent to the village for some boys to post
bills in various prominent localities; and
soon the little place was flooded with large
posters as follows:
''To the inhabitants of Racketville and
the surrounding country!
PROFESSOR HAMILTON,
from Edingburgh
will lecture at the Town Hall on
Thursday evening at eight o'clock
On ANIMAL MAGNETISM,
illustrating this marvellous science
by experiments on such of
the audience as
are willing to offer themselves.
Tickets so cents.
To be had at the door"
All the little township was presently
agog with excitement; for while every
one possessed the greatest curiosity with
regard to the subject of the Professors
proposed lecture, very few had ever
had ~ opportunity of witnessing any of
the singular experiments said to have been
performed by means of this wonderful
science. The news now spread through
all the neighborhood, and on the following
day, iarm-wagons in numbers came into
town, as though it were a market-day,
bringing the farmers and their families to
hear the Professor lecture.
Meanwhile Tom and Jack were still alb
sent, and about noon on Thursday came a
letter to the landlord, saying that, as the
| fishing was so good they had concluded
to remain until Friday. Great was the
disappointment of Maggie and Susie
and, indeed they could hardly keep from
CRYING when they thought of the young
men missing the intellectual treat of the
evening.
The Professor and his assistant kept
their room continually, having their meals
served there, and being reported by the
servants as busily engaged in writing
whenever they We're visible.
Evening came and the hall was rapidly
filled, until before eight O'clock it was
crowded to its utmost capacity. The gem
tleman who had been announced as Mr..
Mcdonald sold the tickets at the office,
while young man, hired tor the occa-
sion, acted as door-keeper Mrs Camp
bell and her two daughters attended, OF
hA II n