The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-05-18

| AOuS IA4C.
Revenge is sweet now and then.
do not pretend to have none Of the old
Adam in me.
I'd been there about half an hour, and
the chirp, chirp, chirp of the crickets was
lulling me off to sleep, when suddenly l
heard a little, light step close by me, and
saw woman's white dress flutterinp
and, jumping up, stood before Fanny
Martin.
The first thought that came into my
mind was that she was looking for her
beau, and it made me fiendish.
Is that you, Miss Martin ?' said I.
eyes, Mr.. Burling," said she-and.
though I had said Miss Martin, how it
hurt me not to be called Ben. "I came
over to see your mother. Is she in?"
NO." said I.
"Then I'd better go home" said she.
But she fingered.
"Not looking for any one else ?'' said (.
,"No,' she said very sadly. "Good
night
But 1 could not let her go without a
cut
II thought you'd be on this wonderful
moonlight drive" said l.
Then you were Mistaken" said she.
Did he forget to come for you?" said
l. "Mr. Williams, you know"
haven't been asked to the drive, |"
said she. II don't know why you speak
so. Mr.. Williams, suppose, is with the
lady he's engaged to. She came down
last week with her mother"
son. said l, and began to wish I'd
asked few more questions before l
locked young Williams up in the cow
house.
We stood still, apart from each other.
| saw her lip culver. Was it for him ?
Had he Tilted her? That was tit for tat,
anyhow.
But she was so pretty and so sad and so
| winning that l felt my heart give one
great throb took step nearer0she took
another.
ooh, Bent" cried she, II can't stand
it, if you keep angry with me. ALWAYS
have liked you best, but you've been SO
awfully cross"
And then she was crying on my shout
der.
Did you ever make up with some one
you'd quarreled with, loving her all the
| time?
Did you ever feel, holding the dear face
between your two palms, pressing sweet
kisses on the dear, soft mouth, that it had
all come back, all the old love and trust
and sweetness and hope that you thought
dead? If you have, you must know what
l felt that minute.
l found myself again. I was Ben
Burling once more. How strange it was.
Out Of all my life I'd like to have that
one moment back; it was the sweetest I
ever lived through.
Up in the midst of far meadow rose n
column of flame.
The cowhouse was on fire, and had
locked poor innocent young Williams up
in it, there to be roasted alive.
ooh, Fanny" l cried, glaring at the
horrible sight, "1'm murderer-a MUIR
derer-don touch me-"
And away flew to undo my mischief,
it there was time. There might he, per
haps.
Never was such run as took across
that long meadow.
When reached the door, plunging my
hand into my pocket for the key, could
not find it. l had dropped it somewhere.
1t was not about me.
Williams!' cried; Williams! are
you there? l am outside. Courage!w
There was no answer.
For Heaven sake! if you can. sneak
do" shrieked, but silence answered me.
Doubtless the smoke had already
smothered the poor rellow, but l set to
work and tore away the burning boards. l
was scorched. My hair, my face, my eye
brows. Twice my clothes were on fire,
but rolled on the dcw-wet grass, and
was up at the flames again. Oh, it was
horrible!
II he had been my rival it would have
been bad enough, but an innocent young
fellow; his sweetheart waiting for him
somewhere!
What a monster l was!
Heaven have mercy on me!' cried I.
Let me save him, don't punish me by
making me a murderern' and tore and
wrenched the boards with nv burnt
hands. And in a moment more-well-
it was the roof that fell, l Think don't
know.
Hell do very nicely now" said some
one very nicely; plenty of nourishing
food, quiet, and the wash as directed. No
danger, though his escape is wonderful"
1t was the family doctor, and was On
the spare bed in the bedroom, with band
ages about my hands.
Mother sat there; so did Fanny. Father
looked over the bed foot Phelim and
Jane Maria, the servant, were also Wis.,
ihle.
And why he was so set on saving
that old shell l can't tell" said mother.
" He must have hid something precious
there"
They did not know then. sat up and
looked at them all.
" 1t wasn't the She'd" said l. "Mother.
father, Fanny, it was Mr. Williams. /
had locked him up there. I've murdered
him.
mo, you haven't" said another voice,
and some one came around the bed. II m
alive you see. You didn't think I'd
stay locked up in cowshed when l had
an engagement with lady, did you?
just burned the lock off with my cigar,
and came away. intended to give you
fright in return for your trick. l sup
in the country-but I didn't think of any
thing serious. I'm really sorry"
l don't know what l said. I know
felt very foolish; but that was not halt as
bad as feeling like murderer.
l had pretty pair of hands for the
next four weeks, but didn't mind it as
much as if Fanny had not fed me with
hers.
She petted me as if were hero in
stead of an idiot. believe she thought
had done something noble and grand
And she's been my wife now-how
long, Fanny?
Not SO long as to have forgotten to be
lovers, though my boys head is on lev
ell with his mothers shoulders and my
own is turning gray.
Last Hours OF Barney Williams.
There is something sad in the thought
of the last daua of the charminn Irish