The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-05-06


away I'll take any amount of talking
just now. am as meek as a lamb. But
who is it we've played so shabby trick
on ?" replied George.
Trick | should think it was. Why
it is Eva Stanley, our school teacher, and
this is her week to board here. | don't
believe the poor girl will ever get over
her fright 1t is too bad; | shouldn't
wonder if she had taken her death, being
dragged out of warm bed this time Of
night and dropped into snow drift in
that fashion. No wonder she cried, poor
thing"
"Cried, did she ?" repeated George,
with groan.
81 should think she did. l just took
her in my arms and let her have her cry
out, while | explained to her how she
happened to be mistaken for Sam and be-
came the victim of your mad pranks."
"That was neat in you, Han" said
George. 81 am glad you hugged the poor
little thing. Wish you had given her
a brotherly squeeze for me-"pon my
honor | do"
"And how on earth do you expect us
to stay and take the consequences ?" asked
John, beginning to look serious. "I am
for taking myself off instanter. had
rather face 4 masked battery than this
pretty teacher, after making such fools Of
ourselves"
al don't care if you had" answered
his sister, Indignantly, "Thc only way to
do is to stay and brave it out, both of.you,
and apologize for your rudeness." I"
But Sam, how the deuce are we to
get along with him? You know well
enough, Han, we shall never hear the end
of it from him.
"If you two can keep the secret, I'll
find way to silence Bridget, and it is
subject Eva will not care to have discuss
ed, and fortunately my husband is away
from home. So 60 to bed and rest con.
tented.
She showed them to the bed she had
intended them to occupy, aud soon the
house was once more hushed in slumber.
Meanwhile their brother Sam had reach
ed the depot few minutes too late. He
found the train he was to have taken al
ready gone, but on consulting timetable
he found that another train started two
hours later. He figured to himself, as he
impatiently crowded into an empty seat,
and was being whirled along at rapid
rate, how snugly his brothers had enscon-
ced themselves in the best bed, which by
right belonged to him, he being the eldest,
and consummated plan to get even with
them.
Sometime after midnight he was depos-
tied in Hollythorn, and reaching his sis
ter's house he secuted around till he found
a way of entrance into the kitchen, where
he deposited his luggage and removed his
boots. Then he quickly stole up stairs
and opened the door Of the best room.
"Surc enough" thought he, "my fine chaps
you are in cloverw For there were not
to be mistaken signs Of the room being
occupied.
To think of coping with their united
strength by dragging them forth was not
practicable, but there stood the pitcher of
water, and he knew that good dousing
with the icy adid would bring them out
quick enough.
He lifted the pitcher, approached the
bed, raised it and suddenly dashed the
contents upon the sleepers.
Such a torrent Of screams as be had
never before heard rang through the house,
and before Sam could collect his scattered
senses the door opened, and Hannah,
George and John rushed in, clothed in
scanty apparel-Hannah with a frightened
look upon her face, aud lamp in her
hand that revealed the entire scene.
There, sitting in bed, with hair dripping
like mermaid, her night-dress deluged,
was the young school mistress; and there
was Sam, with the empty pitcher in his
hand, the very picture of imbecility, star
ing around like an idiot at the havoc he
had made, Hannah, George and John
instantly understood the situation; and the
latter, at the command Of their sister,
dragged Sam away, while she assisted tho
drenched and terrified girl to dry clothing,
and then took her to her own room and
bed, explaining for second time the mis-
haps of the Eight. "a
I'm keep you with me now, my poor
chld,' said she, though with difficulty
keeping back her laughter. "The boys
are nicely come up with at any rate, and
if it were not for your being SO terribly
frightened, and the way my best bed has
been nsed, wonldu't care. But you are
safe now"
Hannah kissed her charge, and went
down to see the boys, who, as soon as they
were finally shut in the regions below,
began to appreciate the joke; aud now that
Sam was as deep in the mud as they were
in lhs mire, gaxa-no- quarter.
YsTll be blamed if l know what Il all
MEANS aid Sam, boxing IL cohfusIon d
his bro,hss, Who we're Wlliugand kicking
| in,eppgplsipps of laughterw enoo ,,ve3
N ~