Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-08-03

you have, you must know wha
/ felt that minute.
found myself again, was Be
Burling once more. How strange
was.
Out of all my life I'd like to hav
that one moment back; it was tn
sweetest ever lived through.
Up in the midst of the far meadow
rose a column of flame
The COW house was on fire, and
had locked poor innocent young
Williams up in it. there to be roasted
alive.
"Oh, Fanny" 1 cried, glaring at the
horrible sight; Il am murderer
murderer-don't touch me-"
And away / flew to undo my mis-.
chief, If there was time. There might
be perhaps.
Never was such a run as / took
across that long meadow.
When reached the door, plunging
my hand into my pocket for the key,
I could not find it, 1 had drop
ped it somewhere. 1t was not about
me.
"WiIliamsl" cried, "Williamsl are
you there? / am on the outside.
Couragei"
There was no answer.
"For Heavens sake, il you can
speak, do," shrieKed, but silence an
swered me.
Doubtless the smoke had already
smothered the poor fellow, but / set
to work and tore away the burning
boards, L was scorched-my hair, my
face, my eyebrows. Twice my clothes
were on fire, but / rolled on the dew
wet grass, and was up at the flames
again. Oh, it was horrible.
If he had been my rival it would
have been bad enough, but an inno-
cent young fellow; his sweetheart
waiting for him somewherel
What monster / was!
Heaven have mercy on mel"
cried 1. LET me save him, don't
punish me by making me a murder
erl" and tore and wrenched the
boards with my burnt hands. And
in a moment more well-it was
the roof that fell. think-I don't
know.
He'll do very nicely now," said
some one-"very nicely; plenty of
food. and the wash as di-
rected. No danger, though his es-
cape is wonderful"
1t was the family doctor, and 1
was on the spare bed in the bed
room, with bandages about my
rr
Mother sat there; so did Fanny.
Father looked overl the bed foot.
and Jane Maria, the servant,
were also visible.
And why he was so set on saving
that old shell 1 can't tell" said moth
er. "He must have hid something
precious there"
They did not know, then. sat up
In bed and looked at them all.
1T wasn't the shed,' said /. Moth
er, father, Fanny, it was Mr.. Williams.
l had locked him up there. I've
murdered him."
mo, you haven't" said another
voice, and some one came around the
bed. I'm alive, you see. You didn't
think I'd stay locked up in a cow
shed when 1 had an engagement with
a lady, did you? just burned the
lock off with my cigar and came away
I intended to give you a fright in re-
turn for your trick. I suppose it's
what you call practical joke in the
/ didn't think OF any
thing serious. Pm really sorry"
don't know what / said. know
l felt very foolish; but that was not
half as bad as feeling like murder
er. f
1 had a 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 il / were a hero
instead OF an idiot.
/ believe she thought 1 had done
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
a level with his mothers shoulders,
and my own is turning gray.