The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-02-12

did not seem to satisfy him, and like his
''illustrious predecessor" he, too, passed
round back of the little kitchen. The
SQUIRE became alarmed He would be
discoverd now certainly! What should
he do? He glanced about hopelessly
until he caught sight of the chimney
a large, old fashioned one, running up
from the kitchen close against and on
the outside of the main building. With
a quick movement he scrambled to his
feet into the shadow of its deep corner
and stood close against the wall.
MAYBE" he thought, "the man will
go way pretty soon, confound him!"
But the stranger seemed in no hurry
to leave; on the contrary he moved about
a few minutes, and then, to the conster-
nation of our friend on the roof, he be-
gan to ascend the ladder. If ever
Squire Butter6etd perspired in his life,
he did then. Although 1t was cold
night, he was in a profuse sweat from
head to foot. He gritted his teeth,
clenched his hands, bit his lips until
the blood came, but nevertheless the in
truder make his way slowly but surely
up the slippery incline.
Goodness gracious! What in Sam
Hill shall 1 do?" murmured the Squire
in his desperate fear. "I'd give any
thing, yes, anything, if l was safe at
home, I wish all the widows were in
Guinea. l wish
But the sentence never was completed.
/ The ice-alas the treacherous ice on the
roof Unexpectedly, suddenly, without
premeditation or malice aforethought,
the Squires feet shot forward from un-
der him, and with accuracy of aim and
swiftness of motion seldom surpassed,
he bore down upon the stranger. That
individuals hold was very weak and
uncertain ri best, and lie was lily pre-
pared for such an onslaught Therefore
when the Squire truck him, he, too, as
sumed an unexpected momentum, and
both passed over the roof together, the
stranger descending feet foremost into
the rain barrel and the Squire making
sad havoc with the widows grapevines
and arbor
For a moment the stranger remained
with the barrel and the Squire among
the vines where he had fallen, both too
amazed and confounded to know what
to do. But only for a moment; then
they extricated themselves and stepped
out into the moonlight, the Squire with
coat torn clear to the back, and the
stranger very wet and dripping. And
thus and there, face to face, they met
"Bro;her Butterfeldr'
"Mr. Grimp!'
| There was a nomentary silence after
these exclamations of astonished recog-
milton. Mr.. GrImp was the first to
break it.
| "Will you allow me to inquire, Broth
er Butterfeld, what you were doing on
the roof of my house at this late hour?'
"Sartainly you may, Mr.. Grimp. !
ame-because-that isl came to sarve
that writ of yourn," answered the Squire,
relieved to find some excuse.
"Ahr
Yes; an I'd like to know what busi-
ness you had up there, Mr.. Grimp?"
81 came to see you serve it," said Mr.
Grimp, with perceptible tightening of
his thin lips.
: "Well," said the Squire, rapidly re-
covering his composure, "if your writ
don't stick better'n you did on that 'ere
roof, it won't amount to nothin,' that's
all.''
What reply Mr.. Grimp would have
made to this request is not known, for
just then the door opened, and Tom
Harwood and the widow, alarmed by
the noise, came out. Both the Squire
and Mr.. Grimp would gladly have
avoided an interview; indeed they turn
ed to hasten away, but were too late.
The widow recognized them at once.
"Why, Mr.. Grimp! and Squire But
terfeld, tool'' she exclaimed with the
most charming of smiles. "Why, /
thought it was burglars, or horse-thieves,
or something, and l was so frightened.
And, why, Mr.. Grimp! you are real wet,
aren't you? Is it raining OF snowlng?"
And she held out her little hand to
catch the falling drops.
"No, marin, 'taint snowin,' or rainjn'
either. Ye see, Mr.. Grimp was jest
showin' me the ardter privileges about the
place, an tryin' to see how much rain
bar'l would hold" responded the Squire
sarcastically, pointing toward the afore-
said barrel.
Brother Butter6eld, will you be so
kind as to attend to the business on
which We came?" said Mr.. Grimp stern
ly.
"Sartainly I wiN. Here, Widow Bar
ney, is writ from Mr.. Grimp, notifyin'
You to give up these ere premises"
"I will take charge of that" said
young Harwood, rather naughty.
will call upon you tomorrow, Squire,
anu ScllAe LtlS L WOuld
so, Mr.. Grimp, that the time for re-
demption not having expired, the mort
gage and costs on this lady's place have
been paid into the County Clerk, and
you will not be troubled in caring for il
further"
After that-well, Mr.. Grimp made
some indistinct reply, and the Squire
very profuse and incoherent apologies
then they took their leave as best they
could, feeling very awkward, mortified
and humiliated. They did not go home
together either, nor ever after speak ot
the evenings experience to each other
However, month later, when Ton
Harwood married the widow, the Squire
was observed to shake his head mourn
fully and murmur:
"If it hadn't been for Old GrimI
comm jest as he did that night, thing
would have been different. Widow Bar