Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-05-27
MEET ME ATTIRE GACE.

palo. Last summer ne spent S2tl re-
pairing that front gate, putting in new
ones and experimenting with various
kinds Of hinges, and after all that the
gate swung through the wintor on u leath-
or strap and piece OF elothes.lino, and
there was peace in the household, and
the man grew fat. But when the April
days We're nigh, it soon became apparent
to the man that his troubles were at hand,
anxiety soon drove the roses nom his
damask checks and robbed his ribs OF
their substance. He used 70 climb over
the fence to avoid calling attention to tho
disrcputable-looking old gate, but his
self-denial was no avail Ono evon-
ing his eldest daugbtor, Sophrona, said ;
Pa, that horrid old gate is the most
disgusting thing on tho street. II you
can't afford to have il fixed, I'd take it
away and put M stio.'
And pa only groaned. An evening or
SO later, his youngest daughter came in,
and said with considerable warmth:
Pa | wish you had that beasty old
gate tied about your neck, that's what
wsh.'
And she dissolved in tcars and evapo.
rated in misty cloud, whio her sister
followed closely, casting roproachful
glanoes Mt pa. And tho nuxt evening
his third daughter, Alalea, camo bounc-
ing into the room about 9 80 p. NJ, with
her gloves in u condition to indicate that
she had been patting gravel, and said,
with some energy, that ii pm had no feel
ing other people had, and She wished she
was dead she did, and she hoped that tho
next time pa went out of that old cato
ho'd fall from Arch street to the bridge,
so she did. And she broke down and
disappeared with staccato accompani-
ment of sobs aud snitles. And the next
timo that pm went out Of that gate he
found it PROSTATE between tho two posts,
and saw That tho fragile strands OF the
clothes-lino had parted, under some ex-
traordinary pressure, and that was what
allied Azalea' 3 gloves. Pa saw there was
nothing for it but new gate, and he
groanod aloud as he Vowed tho dreary
prospect Of furnishing gates to support
the manly forms of the bost young men
of Burlington Tor another summer. lie
pondorcd, and pondored, and ponderod,
lie became the confident of carpenters +;
he was often seen guiltily showing Ger
tain plans and drawings to blNcksmiths
and cunning workers in iron and steel.
And in duo time no had nov gate up
IA massive gate, with great posts, orna-
mented and substantial the seven
sisters woro pleased They read in the
little brass plato that informed them that
n patent was applied for the words, for
I30 pounds, but they didn't know what
it meant until last evening.
Last evening the weather, though suf-
Gciently cool to be bracng, Admitted a
test Of tho now gate. A murmur Of voic-
es arose from that vieinily-the popular
lovers retreat-as Sophronia swung to
and fro on It's heavy frame. Presently u
pale faced man, who held his hand upon
his broast to still his beating heart, rs he
crouohed in dark corner Of tho porch,
heard Rodolphus say:
But, believe mo, Sophroniaa, my own
hearts idol, between the touches of tho
rude hand OF til
As he began tho word he leaned for
ward and bent his weight upon tho gate
aud with sharp click littlo trapdoor
In the side Of the post dew open, and a
gNunt, many Jointed arm OF steel will
an iron mob rs big asa Virginia goa I'd
on tho end Of it., few out, and with .hC
rapidity OF lightning hit Kodolphus two
rssoundng pelts between the shoulders
that sounded like u bass drum explosion
'Oh.h h, gosh = no roared I'm
stabbed, I'm stabbed = and without wait
ing to pick up his hat, fed shrieking for
the doctor, whilo Sophronia rushed into
the house, crying, Pa pa pa ! Rodol
phus is shot, and svoonod,
The palo-lacod man said nothing, bat
shrank still further into tho shadow, aud
thrust his handkerchief into bis mouth
to stine smile. Pretty soon he knew
tho voico OF his daughter Azaloa at tho
gate saying good night. But rich, man
ly voice detained her, and tho measured
swing of the cato was Again heard in tho
, distance. Soon he heard Lorenzo say,
as ho made ready to climb upon the gate
But whatever Of sorrow may await ouI
future, dear one, would it might lal
, upon me-
And Just rs no lifted his last foot from
, the ground, the trap opened and the
giant arm reached out aud tell upon him
with that big knob four times, and cvofy
time it reached him Lorenzo shIieked
Bleeding heart ! Oh, mercy, mercy,
Sir. man Oh, murder =
Aud rs he ambled away in the star
light waling for arnica, Azalea fec
wildly to her home, shrieking oh pa
, pa pa Somebody is numbering Loren
zo.' Aud on the porch palo-inced mar
thrust tho rim OF his felt hat into hi
I mouth To- reinforce his handkerchief anC
himself in placid content.
I Pretty soon tho mans fifth daughte
j. came home from party, aud she To-
n perehed on tho gate. And in momen
4 or two Alphonso said
Bot, my own Miriam, would / ooul'
r tell you what | ieel-'
a But he didn't, for just as he loaned up
on the gate the gaunt arm reached OH