The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-05-09


am the man." While enjoying the few
moments succeeding their bethrothal
-blissful moments that only come
twice in mans lifetime, once when
he finds his mothers preserves, and
the other as mentioned,-the lovers
were startled by the sudden entrance
Of the "village Blacksmith" who Jump.
ed over the bull-head, seized his daugh.
ter-and without word to the abash.
ed Henry carried Laura home and
locked her up. Days passed without
communication between the lovers,
and while Laura grew thin, Henry al
so experienced bad luck !; his tools got
fast, the sand pump bursted, and bis
heart promised soon the follow suit.
But just here happy thought struck
him. Outside of the derrick was sew
eral hundred feet of gas pipe; he could
not lay telegraph wire, but he might
lay pipe line to his Laura's house,
through which, perchance, two hearts
could "beat as one" and hold commu.
nicaTion sweet in spite of the defeated
free-pipe bill. No sooner suggested
than acted upon; that night he laid
six hundred and eighty-one feet Of
halfinch gas-pipe under ground, be-
tween his derrick and the prison of his
bethrothed. A happy junction with
the cave-spout was effected during the
next night, and shortly after, messages
were sent and received between the
lovers, Laura having brought the end
of the water-pipe close to her window,
and Henry had his end of the line di-
rectly beneath his pillow, where, after
he was "of tour" he would whisper
words of undying affection that only
ended when he fell asleep and the pipe
slipped out of his mouth, But while
Glove giggled at the locksmith," the
blacksmith was preparing to snort
right out at love; for one day, while
Laura was at dinner, her father .had,
while looking around her room, dis
covered the misplaced pipe, and while
gazing with a critics eye at the strange
spectacle, was more startled by the
soft words coming apparently from
the cistern, Laura, dear, is the old
man around ?" Mr.. Hewitt smelt a
mouse; he did more than that; he in.
hailed the oder of genuine wharf rat
but, saying nothing, he merely de-
scended the stairs, and returned with
pint of oily-looking liquid, which he
handled with extreme care. Making
a cartridge of paper that would hold
nearly all Of the moisture, he inserted
it in the pipe several feet, and then
placing long bar of iron upon that,
called loudly enough to be heard
through cartridge, pipe and all, "Hen-
ry, my dear, are you thereY" Quick
ly came the faint reply, Eyes, Laura.
"Place your ear at the hole, Henry
Here the parent raised a sledge ham.
mer and struck the iron rod an earth
quake followed, before the echoes OF
which had rolled away could be seen
the disappearance of an engine house,
in mid-air, followed by the gable end
of the Hewitt mansion.
And now for the sequel. In his
anxiety to see chow it was himself
old Hewitt remained too near the pipe,
and when the glycsrine went off he
did also, and was picked up in Arm
strong county few days later. But
where was Henry2 Instead of apply
ing his ear to the hole he had stepped
to the derrick for a moment, during
which the explosion occurred. He
was only stunned, and fNT moments
later met his bethrothed running to
see if he was hurt. They fled at once
to a-neighboring justice of the peace,
and were married. They have patched
up the old house and are happy, though
the mysterious disappearance of the
their father was subject Of converse
ton for months after. This is the
story as told us by an old man who
lives near Henry and Laura, who
heard the noise. and also saw where
the ground had been torn up by the
fathers vengeful experiment. If any
one doubts the story, the derrick is
still to be SEEM TitusvilJe Herald.