The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-12-19

heSant brewing you re so noted for.
Indeed the old mans mouth had been
watering for this very invitation, Which
never failed to be extended and he de
scended from the cart with surprising alac-
rity for one so old, and addressed himself
to the good cheer set before him by his
hospitable hostess.
The domestic concerns of the two ftmi-
lies were soon exhausted, and then the con-
versation turned upon topics of more gem
eral nature.
''Ihey do say" declared the old man,
between the whiffs of his pipe, which had
succeeded Mrs. Best's beer, ''they do say
as them bloody hathens of Injuns be up TO
the ould antics, off to westward. All the
Juniata folks are drove clane out O house
and home intirelyr'
80, Mr. McCarty! It's dreadful, isn't
il? - exclaimed Mrs. Best, with woman's s
ready sympathy.
can faith it's that same, the bloody
spalpeens! Sure, We'll never get shut O
them, at all, at all, without murdthering
every mothers son O. them ~ replied the
old man, with singular complaceEcy, con-
sidering the sanguinary character Of the
proposed remedy.
''And then they are so near But sure
ly you don't think there can be any danger
to u.s.
And Mrs. Best, her mother heart quick
to take the alarm, involuntarily put her
arm about little Sue, as if to protect her
from threatening danger.
'Now, aCiU ye be aisy?' exclaimed the
old man. ''An' who said as the murdther-
ing de'ils 'ud be prowling around here?
Bad cess to the likes O. them! it's a warm
welcome they'd be getting in these parts,
I'm a-thinkin'r'
~ on mustn't think me over fearful, Mr.
McCarty, but I'm woman all alone. now
JOINTS away
''He's thruant lad, iver away from the
house, that same John,' observed Mr. Nc
Carty.
''Oh! but he makes up for it when he is
at home" rcjoined the wife, eager in the
defence of her husband. There's not a
better husband or father
Surely! surelyr' Interrupted the old
man, in a conciliatory tone ITS not
gainsayin' that he's the best by in the
country I'd be doin' as knows there ain t
him as II pull an even yoke wild him for
many good mile round-be it a fisticuff
or shindyr'
Mrs. Best took no exception to this some
what equlvOcal enconium, considering the
good intentions of the speaker; and the old
man, having first replenished and lighted
his pipe, arose to go.
After the departure of her old friend,
Mrs. Best did not sing about her work so
cheerfully as she had done before. There
was teverish nervousness perceptible in
her manner; and she kept her eye on the
children, making them stay just about the
door
Dinner time came and passed; and in
the middle of the afternoon it was with
feeling of great relief that she heard the
returning cart. 1t didn't take a second
bidding to induce Mr.. McCarty to again
enter and do honor to her brewing And
now she kept him, by one device and an
other, rs long as possible, and felt more
lonesome than ever after he was gone She
could not rid her mind of the gloomy fore
boding of coming danger. She assured
herself again and again that her fears were
groundlesS. but all to no purpose.
As the sun went down she stood in the
doorand looked wistfullytoward the bridge.
Il wish John was at homer she said,
almost ready to cry. Then she reused her
self, called the little ones in, and closed
the door.
After their frugal supper, the children
were soon put to bed, but the mother sat
up, trying to overcome her restlessness
with fatigue. Then, at an hour that was
quito late for one of pastoral habits, she
rolled up her work and began to prepare
for bed
''It is cheerful for John, and he always
expects it when he is coming home at
night" she said to herself as she placed
lighted candle in the window, first having
to pin cloth across the sash, where John
ny's ball had knocked out n pane of glass.
Then she undressed and laid herself beside
her sleeping children, but not before she
had offered up an earnest prayer for their
preservation through the night and the
safe return of her husband.
1t was long before she fe:l asleep, and
then her rest was troubled but at last
overtaxed nature yielded, and there sue
ceeded some hours of dreamless repose.
Then her mind began to work again. At
first it was merely 4 sense Of depression.
Then it seemed as IL some underlined. dan
ger were impending over her little ones.
1t was as if great cloud had cast its chill
ing shadow over her. Finally the atmos-
phere began to clear, and the dread spec
TIRE took the form of something's man or .
animal-crceping stealthily toward her. :
She essayed TO start up--terror paralyzed
her limbs She tried to cry out-her
tongue Glove To the roof of Ler mouth
And,stilI the danger pproached-nearer. j