The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-01-07
Gbe Gimes, Mem Bloontfelo, pa.


sketch his death a. cold eff he staid there
any longer" and that he didn't believe the
doctor would come that night, anyhow,
when the elder, looking through the branch
es of the hedge, suddenly exclaimed:
"There he is Duck your head, dea-
con ~
The doctor fastened his horse to the ty
ing-post, and knocking brisklyl at the door
of the parsonage, passed few words with
the person who opened it, and entered,
closing the door behind him.
"Back doorr' muttered the elder
"That's suspicious"
"Where's that light?" asked the dea-
con. "Aint that in Missis Gray's room"
eyes" said the elder, "that corner
room in the second story is Missis Gray's
chamber, an there's somethin' goin' on
there, too. Jest see them shadders."
The curtain of the room was not drawn,
and the two eavesdroppers, looking up
ward at the windows, could plainly see
the ceiling and small segment of the op-
posite wall. Upon this portion of the plas-
terng was cast a singular complication of
moving shadows, giving apparent evidence
of there being several persons in the room.
Who they were, or what they were doing,
the elder and his companion, not being
favored with view of the whole apart
ment, were unable to determine.
"Hi ~ exclaimed the deacon, after vain
ly stretching his neck for several moments.
'"That's the DOCTORS fgger!'
And so it was. AS the deacon spoke
person advanced to the window for an
instant, and then quickly turned away.
But in that instant both of the watchers be-
low had recognized the familiar outlines OF
Doctor Amadeus Brown.
"Wall," exclaimed Elder Pilberry, ris.
ing to an erect position, {" never would
hev believed it to my dyin' day eff hadn't
seen it with my own eyes %
ain Missis Gray's own chamber ~ said
the deacon. "And her husband away
This is subjec' for vestry meetin',
elder"
"We must find out about this" observ.
ed Pilberry. "Ef it goes afore the select
men we must have facts. l calculate that
it's our moral dooty, Deacon Tarbox, tc
see whats goin' on in that there chamber ,
"How kin it be done ?' asked the dea
con. "' Twont do to go bustin' the door
open, an if we ring the bell he'll take the
alarm"
"We kin do better than that" replied
the elder. "There's a rain-water barrel
at the corner Of the house, right by the
settin' room winder. Now, eff we kin gil
another barrel to put on top of it, we XIII
git up to the second story easy"
The deacon approving of this idea, they
searched cautiously through the parson'i
woodshed and succeeded in finding head
less barrel, which they duly placed on thu
top of the water-butt at the corner of th'
parsonage. On the barrel the elder balanc
ed board, and mounting this unsubstan
tial structure with the deacon's assistance
he succeeded in gaining a good view of th'
sitting room on the first floor, but fount
himself considerably below tie window-sil
Of the upper chamber. The lower room
was quite empty, but lamp was diml.
burning on the centre-table.
"Kin you see ?" whispered the deacon il
voice which might have been heard for
hundred yards.
"No," returned Elder Pilberry, "no
high enough"
"Hey ?'
"Not high enough"
"Will the choppin'-block do?" aske
the deacon, with a gesture towards tn
wood-pile.
eyes, hand it up"
1t was rather heavy, but the deacon sue
ceeded with much difficulty in bringing
TO the water-butt and passing it up to tn
elder. The latter placed,it firmly i'll the Ger
tire of the board, and mounted it carefully
holding on to the spouting to steady hin
self. With the aid of this last addition t
his pedestal, Mr.. Pilberry now found th
rim of his hat about on level with til
lower panes of Mrs. Gray's windows. lie
ting go the spout, he raised himself on h
: tiptoes and prepared to take leisurely SUI
, vey of the apartment; but at this critici
juncture the parsons dog which was chair
E ed in the barn, suddenly became suspicion
that something was going wrong, an
U forthwith set up such a terrific bowling an
, barking that the deacon was frightenG
nearly out of his wits. This sudden loi
d of his nresence of mind IN the mart of Daa
con Tarbox was fatal to the success of Il