The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-11-19

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no notice of my letter, b1t reminding
me that the hslf-year's rent was this
day que.
The same evening about six was
told that David, the fisherman, was
In the kitchen, and wanted partieu-
Iarly to see me. David had been my
guide and companion in many 3
pleasant fishing expedition a wiry
little fellow; his face lined and
scanned with smallpox I; with quick,
intelligent eyes and long, 1.-the hng-
ers, that were deft at anything
DRvid's wife went out as q nurse, and
in that capacity she had been retain.
ed by my wife for her approaching
trouble.
"Beg your pardon, sir" said David
touching his forelOck in sslutstion, 81
wish to speak with you very partied'
lar; yes.n
With that / took David into ms
own room, where / kept guns and
fishing tackle. "BeR your pardon
| siT,u be said, breaking forth suddenly
into speech, "you'll think me q very
impudent fellow, but do you owe Mr.
Tranter any money ?"
"Not why do you ask, David 90
"Well, sir, as happened to make q
call at the Skinners' Arms just now,
my cousin, Hugh Jones, came into
the bar, not seeing me, and he said to
the man he was with "Is ii 3 good
Job I will have at Brynmor to-mor-
row T "Cspital," said Morris-for
that was the one be was with-"there
Will be 3 weeks possession, and then
the sale and between Mr.. Trsnter
and me we will skin the young En-
giishman nicely" There's for your
This Morris, it seemed, wss an auc-
tiOneer and agent in small way, bai-
liff of the county court, and wrecker
la general. A burly, downcast-look-
ing man, going about in q silent,
stealthy manner; respectful to obse-
quiOusDess to persons above him in
position, but with q hard, cold eye
that boded III for any one at his mer-
cy. But / was in no danger Of any
person of law. What could Morris be
1 to me ? Then in an instant recalled
the fact that this was legally the rent
day, aud that the law accOrds to 3
landlord, without notice or process,
the right to seize bis tenants effects
and take possession Of his premises.
I 0ANg OAACNT 80 eAAA NAAAo hoohCo
me, "rranter would never venture on
such an outrage"
'Indeed be would care little for
what was said of hlm II he could make
trifle and listen, Captain-I beard
Morris say be had taken q fancy to
your furniture, and meant to get 1t all
for the half-year's rent"
/ Then / realized for the first time
that was in q very desperate posi-
tion. I had only few pounds In my
pocket everything was locked up in
this woeful bank. Trsnter had come
to the conclusion that I was socially
mOri iIund, and hoped to have the pick
ing of my bones. Tomorrow my
cherished home would be In possess
sion of the roughs and to my wife
such q shock would perhaps be fatal.
What should ! DO I? 1t was q cruel
thing to contemplate quietly this in
vasiOn Of my home at such a crisis.
Surely any man with a heart not al.
together of stone would withhold his
Land If he knew all the circumstances
of the case. With q violent effort /
would humble myself before the man
and ask his forbearance.
"WAit here, David" said, 81 may
want you !" and hastily took my
hat and went out to Tranter's cottage.
1 thought I saw his face at the win
dow as passed, but when his house,
keeper came to the door she laughed
ia my face and denied that he was at
home. He had gone out, and proba-
bly, would not be back till the next
day. Evidently Mr.. Tranter had ta-
ken precautions not to be spoken to
on the subject. / returned home de-
j.cted and miserable. The housemaid
was looking out for me as / reached
the gate. Her mistress was taken i'll:
David had been sent to seek his wife,
and must go and fetch the doctor.
At midnight things were still in
suspense. The doctor and the nurse
were in the house, but Jane was still
in her trouble. The doctor talked
cheerfully but looked little anxious.
In one of the intervals when he came
town stAirs for a little refreshment, l
told MIN OF the position in which
was placed.
"You must keep them out" !" he said,
''at all hazards. II my patient has
anything to sgitate her, it will be her
death."
took Dayid, who still remained
about the premises, into consultation.
He frightened up when I told him
what l intended to do, and entered
heart and soul into the enterprise.
We were to stand siege; it was nee
esssry to lay our plans carefully, and
there was snort time for preparation.
At any time after daybreak the enc
my might be upon US. In the tirst
place, as to the Outworks-the stable
aud cOaIhouse-these must be locked
up, and the pony IN some way got rid
of, for it would be impossible to feed
MIN during the blockade. David vol
unteered to ride off with the pony,
and leave him with friend up in the
hills, among whose pastures he would
be safe from possible capture. Then
We must get ria Of useless mouths.
Cook and housemaid must go home
for holiday, and David undertook to
get them out of the house. 1t would
Oe my business to look to the inner de-
fenses of tine citadel.
The house was long and low, with q
gable at each end, and q covered porch
| between. In one of tine gables was
the kitchen, and the servants bed
rooms were above that. The other
wing contained dining and drawing
rooms, over which were our bedroom
and the Ruest-chamber, with another
small cluset bedroom lighted from
the roof My own little snuggery was
at the back on the ground floor. To
this room and the kitchen determin-
ed to confine myself while the siege
lasted. Invent round the house, there
fore, with gimlet, screws, and screw
driver, fastening all the windows, Sc
curely closing and barring all the shut
ters. muff1led all the bells in the
| house. There was no knocker to the
nall door, the upper part OF which was
glazed to give light to the ball. The
windows of the upper rooms secured
in the same way, except that OF my
wifeis chamber, and of the bedroom /
occupied myself, the catches of which
were perfect, and closed by strong
| springs. Tue back door l b0lted and
barred, but the hall door / simply
IockedSthis to provide for sudden in
gress or egress on the part of the gar
rison. These precautions taken, felt
| rather easier in my mind, and sat
down to reflect upon the conditions Of
the contest, and my relations with
the outside world.
First, as to supplies-breaG would be
indispensable, aud milk. For the rest,
there was a quarter OF mutton hang
ing in the Iarder, and the cellar was
pretty well stocked with wine ana ale.
1 had almost forgotten the necessity
of firing, and that our Goals were kept
10 a shed outside. Bringing this to
mind with a start, took coai-scut-
tie and pail, anu brought into the
house as much as would suffice for q
few DAYS consumption.
David presently returned in high
glee at having saved the pony from
the enemy's hands, and to him con-
fided the difficulty as to the bread and
milk. The latter he undertook to
bring night and morning in q can, and
at concerted signal was to lower
cord and hook from the upper window
aud hoist it up. Bread enough for
three days supply he undertook to OBJ
tain.
Night dragged Wearily on-a long
night of trouble and anguish for my
poor wife, of anxiety almost amount
j ing to despair on my own part. she
was passing through the shadow OF
death for my sake, and 1 could not put
out hand to help her. The doctors
-