Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-04

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 fash
Toned 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 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 contrar y he moved about q
few minutes and then, TO the consterna-
ton of our friend on the roof, he began 10
ascend the ladder. If ever Squire But
terield 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 mis- hands, bit
his lips until the blood came, but never
theiess the Intruder made his way slowly
but surely up the slippery incline.
Goodness gracious! What in Sam
Hill shall l do." murmured the Squire
in his desperate fear. I'd give anything,
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 reacherous ice on the
roof! Unexpectedly, suddenly, without
generalization or malice aforethought,
the 'Squire's feet shot forward from un-
der him, and with accuracy of aim and
swiitness of motion seldom surpassed The
bore down upon the stranger. That in
dividual's hold was very weak and un-
certain at best, and he was lily prepared
for such an onslaught. Therefore when
the Squire struck ne too assumed an un-
expected momentum, and both passed
over the roof together, the stranger de-
scending feet foremost into the rain bar
rel 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 a moment; then they
extricated themselves and stepped out
into the moonlight the Squire with coat
torn clear up the back and the stranger
very wet and dripping. And thus and
there. face to face, they met.
Brother Butterfeld"
Mr. Grimp!'
There was momentary silence after
these EXPLANATIONS of astonished recog-
milton. Mr.. Grimp was the first to
break it.
Will you allow me TO inquire, Brother
Butterfield, what you were doing on the
roof of my house at this late hour?"
Sartainly you may, Mr.. Grimp. |
came-because-that isl came to sarve
that writof yourn," answered the Squire,
relieved to find some excuse.
"Ahw
Eyes; an I'd like TO know what bust
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 thrust is not known, for just
then the door opened and Tom HARDWOOD
and the widow, alarmed by the noise,
came out. Both the Squire and Mr.
Grimp would gladly have avoided an in
terview; indeed they turned to hasten
away, but were too late. The widow
recognized them at once.
"Why, Mr.. Gyimp! and Squire But.
terfield, toom she exclaimed with the
most charming of smiles. "Why,
thought it was burglars, or horse-thieves,
or something, and / was so frightened
And, why, Mr. Grimp! you are real wet
aren't your Ii but her ir'n tatEe 2SndP Gt g caEfeh
And s!hlfah Ed drops. " w ~ " ''''"
I y" No, marin, faint snowin', or rainin'
either. Ye see, Mr.. Grimp was jest
| shown me the pdter prtDiieges about the
place, an tryin' to see how much rain
| bar'l would hold" responded the Squire
sarcastically, pointing toward the aiore-
said barrel.
Brother Butterfeld, will you be so
kind as to attend to the business on
which we Gamer" said Mr. Grimp sternly.
"Sartainly I will. Here, Widow
Barney, is writ from Mr.. Grimp, mott
fyin' you to give up these ERE premises
81 will take charge Of that" said young
Harwood rather haughtily. i will call
upon you tomorrow, Squire, and settle
the matter would say, also, Mr.. Grimp,
that, the time for redemption not having
expired, the mortgage aud costs on this
lady's place have been paid in 10 the
County Clerk, and you will not be
troubled in caring for it further"
After that--well, Mr.. Grimp made some
indistinct reply, and the Squire very pro-
fuse and incoherept apologies: then they
took their leave as best they could, feel
ing very awkward, mortified and humil-
lated. They did not go home together
either, nor ever after speak Of the even
ing's experience to each other. Howey-
er, month later, when Tom Harwood
married the widow, the Squire was Oh.
served to shake his head mournfully and
murmur:
"Ifit hadn't been for old Grimp comm
Jest as he did that night, things would
have been different. Widow Barney new
er would would have married that con
ceited Young Harwood--L ever|
AS for Mr.. Grimp, his face and bis
prayers grew losger day by day, and the
Sunday following the marriage he spoke
feelingly of "ihis vale Of tears" the
vanity of human expectations" and the
" uncertainty of earthly things" and
when the collection was raised for the
poor he sadly gave torn bit of currency
his grocer had refused the day before
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