Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-02-12
Mishaps of a Night.

In the thriving. village OF Hoilythorn
there was, as is common in such places,
church, a post Office, a couple of stores,
and district school, the said school
being taught by young lady who had
a widowed mother and brothers and
sisters to assist in supporting.
For the sake of economy, Miss Eva
Stanley boarded around among the
scholars and was considered paragon
among the teachers Her father had
been respectable mechanic but died
after about two years of illness, which
utterly impoverished the family. Eva
had, however, she being the eldest,
received q good, plain education before
the great calamity came upon them,
and, noble-hearted and unselfsh, be-
gan her work of assisting in their sup
port.
The week previous to the holiday va
cation, she had been boarding with a
Mrs. Carpenter, who was making gi-
gantic preparations for the guests she
expected from New York.
You never met my brothers, Eva"
she said, and then began to give the
pretty young teacher description of
them; "There's Sam, George, and
Johnny, the youngest; such times as
they have when they get out here and
rusticate, as they call 1t! But, dear me,
/ don't get much rest OF peace, for they
are like lot of boys let out of school.
Such tricks and no one ever saw! The
last time they visited mo together.
Sam and John actually cut pane of
glass from the window and pelted
George ont of my best room with snow!
You see there is always strike for
that particular room, for the bed is
spring one, and they don't sleep in any
other in the city. But they don't get
it this time, that's certain, for intend
to give you that room, and so end the
controversy. lam so afraid that they
will break or ruin something, that l am
glad you are here"
Il had just as soon occupy some 9th
er room. Mrs. Carpenter, and do not
wish to incommode your brothers
have no right to do So"
"No, you shan't, Eva!' peremptori-
ly exclaimed her hostess; "and what
is the use of your going home vacation
week? You can stay here just as well
as not, and do your sewing on my ma
chine. Your mother has enough to
feed, and won't miss you"
The subject was dropped, and the en-
tire house retired early. for on the NOR
row the brothers, young, ardent, and
full of life, were to bethere. But with
out sending any word oftheir intention,
they had concluded to take the even
ing train, which would land them at
Hollythorn about bed time. George
and John did so, and when safely
seated in the cars began to speculate on
the absence of Sam.
+ "No reason on earth why he should
not have been along" said George.
"No, for he told me this morning he
would certainly be on hand, said John.
at can't make it out, unless he has
taken the FIVE o'clock train through
mistake"
"Not a bit of it," laughed John, who
fancied he understood the entire pro-
gramme.
"It is more likely he took the train
on purpose to get into Hannah's spare
bedroom, and make us take up with
straw ticks and feathers"
st didn't think of that, but l reckon
you are right. We must contrive to
get him out somehow"
/" Bet your life on that"
The brothers put their heads togeth-
er and laughed merrily over some
scheme for outwitting Sam, and accord
ingly when the train reached Holly
thorn, about eleven o'clock, they APP
preached the house Of their sister in a
very stealthy manner. m
Climbing the fence in the rear, they
softly opened the window and obtained
access to the pantry, where they de-
molished a mince pie and quantity of
doughnuts. -.i'a
Then, with appetites appeased, they
removed their boots and prepared to
investigate the " best room" stole
along the hall, which was dimly lighted
by the moon, ascending the stairs and
reached the door. The faint rays OF
the moon disclosed a chair piled with
clothing, and they could distinctly
trace the outlines OF q form beneath
| the bedclothes aud had not the renot-
est idea that Sam was enjoying sweet
repose but Hannah's best bed.
A few whispered words We're ex-
changed, and then as softly and as
lightly as if shod with down. they drew
near.
Quick as thought they seized upon
the form Of the unconscious sleeper,
bedclothes and all. bore it swiftly down
the stars, and were just about to depos-
il il in a huge drift. when a shrill
scream broke the stiffness of the night.
and oh! it was that Of woman! And
| in their CONSERVATION they dropped
their burden plump into the middle Of
the drift. +
"Good heavens!' exclaimed George.
"It ish't Sam, but some woman, as
sure as I am q sinner. and she has