The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-02-04

he passed over the crisp, well-trodden
snow that creaked loudly under his feet.
1t was not very long walk and he soon
reached his destination. The widows
house was small two-story frame, quite
back from the road, and surrounded by a
forest OF shrubbery and fruit trees.
From the gate path wound up to the
house under these trees, and the Squire
had to move cautiously, as the moon gave
but faint light through the foliage.
He reached the house safely, however,
and glanced up at the second story, the
corner room of which was used by the
widow as sitting-room, He saw it was
well lighted, the window-curtains not yet
down, and he was about turning toward
the door, when some one-a man came
to the window and looked out. For the
first time the Squire paused irresolutely.
Who was that man? Was it Grimp- and
had he got the start Of him after all? He
didn't wish to see Mr. Grimp at least not
then and there. He stepped back a little to
geta better view, and waited for the face to
appear again. But it did not. Then he
moved round to the end of the house and
looked up at the window on that side,
but with no better result, If he only
knew who the man was; knew certainly
it was not Mr.. Grimp, he would be salts
fed. His eye rested on the low back
kitchen, directly below the end window.
II he was only on that he could look into
the room unobserved by any one. It
could do no harm, either; and he did so
wish to know who that man was
The more the Squire thought about it
the more convinced was he that it was
Mr. Grimp = but then may be it wasn't
He aOould find out He became more
resolute then, and looked about for some
aid to his purpose. This, after some
search, he found in a small ladder, which
he placed against the kitchen and began
to ascend. He got up the ladder without
trouble, but found the roof so coated
with ice that he had to move with ex-
IRENE caution. However, the window was
reached at last, and, looking in, he saw
only the widow and Tom HARDWOOD sitting
by the fire.
"There p muttered the Squire in dis
gust after making this discovery CT
never thought of him! Why in Sam
Hill didn't | remember he was here, and
saved all this trouble? Nearly spilled my
best clothes, too!''
He turned about and was preparing to
go back, when a movement down in the
shrubbery arrested his attention and
downward progress at the same time.
For minute or two he remained per-
fectly still; then he peered carefully over
the roofs edge. He saw a man standing
below among the trees, but who he was
the Squire couldn' make out Howbeit,
whoever he might be, he seemed to be
scanning the upper front window very
closely. Indeed, this view 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 discovered 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 quick
movement he scrambled to his feet into
the shadow of it's 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
Butterfeld perspired in his life, he did
then. Although it 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 intruder made his way
slowly but surely up the slippery incline.
Goodness gracious What in Sam
Hill shall do?" murmured the Squire
in his desperate fear. ED give any
thing, yes, anything, if [ was safe at
home. [ 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
| reconciliation Or malice aforethOught,
the Squires feet shot forward from
under him, and with accuracy of aim
and swiftness of motion seldom s1rpass-
ed, he bore down upon the stranger.
That individuals hold was very weak and
uncertain at best, and he was lily pre-
pared for such an onslaught Therefore
when the Squire struck him, he, too,
assumed 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
within the barrel and the Squire among
the vines where he had fallen, both too
amazed and COMPOUNDED to know what to
do. But only for 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.
"Brother Butterfeldv'
Mr.. Grimp!"