The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-08-25
Miscellaneous.
ny CHARLES READE.

Two women, slstcis. Kept the toli-bar nj
a village in Yorkshire II stood apart from
the village, and they often felt uneasy at
night, being lone women. ..rt.
One day they received considerable sum
of money, bcqueathed them by relative,
and that set the simple souls all in aut-
ter.
They had friend in the village. the
blacksmiths wife so they went and told
her their fears. She admitted that theirs
was a lonesome place, and she would not
live there, for one-without man. Her
discourse sent them home downright misera-
lie.
The blacksmiths. wife told her husband
all about it when he came in for his dinner.
"lrhe fools p said he show is anybody to
know they have got brass in the house?'
WELL" said the wife, "they make no
secret of IL 10 me but you need not go for
to tell it to all the town---poor souls"
mot ], !" said the man "but they will
publish it, never fear leave women folk
alone for making their own trouble with
their tongues" n-
There the subject dropped, as man and
wife have things to talk about besides their
neighbors.
The old women at the toll-bar, what with
their own fears and their Jobs comforter,
began to shiver with apprehension as night
came on. However, at sunset the carrier
passed through the gate, and at sight of his
: face they frightened up. They told him
their care and begged him to sleep in the
house that night. "Why, how can II? said
he. I'm due at; but 1 will leave you
my dog" The dog was powerful mas
tiff.
The woman looked at each other express
sively. "He won't hurt us, will he?" sighed
one of them family. "Not he," said the
carrier, cheerfully. Then he called the dog
into the house and told them to lock the
door, and went away whistling.
The women were left contemplating the
dog with that tender interest apprehension
is sure to excite. At first he seemed stag
gered at this off-hand proceeding of his
master it confused him then he snuffed
at the door then as the wheels retreated, he
began to see plainly that he was an aban-'
doned dog he delivered a fearful howl and
asw at the door, scratching and barking
furiously, 81 rtV
The old women fed the apartment, and
were next seen at an upper window, scream
ing to the carrier. "Come back come
back, John He is tearing the house
down l'' ...a.-.-..a...s.
"Drat the varmint p said John, and came
back. On the road he thought what was
best to be- done The good natured fellow
took his great coat out of the cart and laid
it down on the floor. The mastiff instantly
laid himself on it. "Now," said John stern
ly, ''let us have no more nonsense |; you take
charge of that till I come back, and don't
you let nobody steal that there, nor yet
t'wives' brass. There now" said he, kindly,
to the women, 'I shall be back this way
by breakfast time, and he won't bulge till
then" .h3lm1p fel EIiWNuTE
"And he won't hurt us John?" =
"Lord, no. Bless your heart he is as
sensible as any Christian only, Lord sake,
woman. don't ye go to take the coat from
him, or you'll be wanting new gown your
self, and maybe apetticoat and ALL"
He retired and the old women kept at a
respectful distance from their protector. He
never molested them; and, indeed, when
they spoke cajolingly to him he even wagged
his tail in dubious way; but still, as they
moved about, he squinted at them out of his
blood-shOt eyes in a way that checked ali
desire on their part to try on the carriers
coat.
Thus protected they went b bed earlier
than usual they did not uadress they
were too much afraid of everything, espec-
tally their protector. The night woe on and
presently their sharpening sense let them
know that the dog was getting restless he
snuffed and then he growled, and then
he got up and pattered about, muttering
to himself. Straightway with furniture
they barricaded the door through which
their protector must pass to deyour them.
But by-and-by, listening acutely, they
heard scraping and a grating outside the
window of the room where the dog was; and
he continued growing low. This was enough;
they slipped cut Of the back door, and left
their money to save their lievs /; they got in.
to the village. It was pitch dark, and all
houses black but two one was the public
house, casting a triangular CLEAN across the
road long way off, and the other was the
blacksmith's house. Here was piece of
fortune for the terrified women. They burst
into their friends house. sob! Jane, the
thieves have come |" and they told her in
few words all that had happened.
"La !" said she Show timorsome you are!
ten to one he was only growing at some one
that passed by"
Nay, Jane, we heard the scraping out
aide the window. Oh. woman, call your
man, aud let him go with u.s."
my mamie is not here"
"Where is he, theni"
II suppose he is where other working
women's husbands are, at the public house."
she said rather bitterly, for she had her ex-
perience
The old women wanted to go to the house
for him, but the blacksmth's wife was a
courageous woman, and besides, she thought
twas most likely a false alarm May,
nay" said she. last time / went for him
there got fine afront. I'll come with
you," said she. "I'll take the poker, and
we have got our tongues to raise the town
with, suppose. So they marched to the
toll-bar. When they got near 1t, they saw
something that staggered this heroine. There
was actually a man half in and half out o.
the window. This brought the blacksmith,
wife to stand still, and the tiinil pair EN-
plored her to go back to the village. Nay
said she, what for? | see but one-and
hark lit is my belief the dog is holding o.
him." However, she thought it safest 10 b,
on the same side with the dog, lest the maj
turn on her. So she made her way into tht
kitchen, followed by the other two and
al. fbat han al