Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-18

the shaaOW, as they TELL little behind the
others, he would not kiss her.
| And you want me to help.yonY'
said out loud. ssMeln F-aKs
YES" he said. 'sPlease.
Come along | said. z I'll show yot
| what have got" Tia S#8t
On the farm that was mine there Was
one building, little cow shed. We put
the tools in there sometimes, and / had 8
paddock for the door; the key was in my
| pocket
ltcame into roy head thatI could spoil
this evening for him, and spite Fanny
too, by locking him in this shed And il
he had spirit enough to fight me for it af.
forwards SO much the better.
/ led the way down into the meadow
where it stood. and unlocked the door.
| !" just look in" said l, and see if that
| will suit you.''
" Can't see anything" said he. It's
pitch dark. Wait, ! have match"
He took one from his pocket, and
| stopped to strike il ON the sole of his boot,
and then gave him push and over he
went, fiat on the floor, and | had the key
in my pocket. e. n--pu
You'll not make any one hear very
kiss Fanny Martin going over the bridge
this evening""
Then I went away and laid myself fiat
upon the porch in front of our house and
felt happier than had felt before for a
long time. a e.. "a
Revenge is sweet now and then
do not pretend to have none ofsthe old
Adam in me.
I'd been there about half an hour, and
the chirp, chirp, chirp of the'crickets was
lulling me of TO sleep, when suddenly
heard little, light step close by me, and
saw woman's white dress tluttering,
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 /.
Yes, Mr. Burling,n said she-and
though had said Miss Martin, how it
hurt me not to be called Ben. Il came
over to see your mother. Is she ?"
mo-" said |.
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 / could not let her go without a
cut
Il thought you'd be on this wonderful
moonlight drive" said /.
"Then you were mistaken" said she.
Did he forget to come for you?" said
I. " Mr.. Williams, you know"
81 haven't been asked to the drive, !"
said she. don't know why you speak
SO. MIR. Williams, suppose, is with the
lady he's engaged to. She came down
last week with her mother I" fas Hzfa
"Oh," said /, and began TO wish I'd
asked a few more questions before |
locked young Williams up in the cow
house. s.... s-...r. ..ea n.s4g
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 / felt my heart give one
great throb. took a step nearer-she took
another.
"Oh, Ben" cried she, 81 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
deady If you have, you must know what
felt that minute.
| found myself again. / 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 ]
ever lived through.
Up in the midst of far meadow rose a
column of flame.
The cowbouse was on fire, and had
locked poor innocent young Williams up
in it, there to be roasted alive.
"Oh, Fanny" cried, glazing at the
horrible sight, "Im a murderer MUIR
derer-don touch me-" ~
And away | flew to undo my mischief,
If there was time. There might be, 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. / had dropped 1t somewhere.
1t was not about me.
Williamsp' cried; Williams! are
you there? ! am outside. Couragew
There was no answer.
For Heaven sake! If you can, speak,
do" ] shrieked, but silence answered me-
Doubtless the smoke had already
smothered the poor rellow, but / 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 dew-wet grass, and
was up at the flames again. oh, it was
horrible!
If he had. been my rival il would have
been bad enough, but an innocent young
fellow; his sweetheart waiting for him
somewhere ..
What monster / was!
Heaven have mercy on mep' cried /.
/" Let me save him, don't punish me by
making me a murderer" and tore and
wrenched the boards with my burnt
hands. And in moment more-well-
ii was the roof that fell, think don't
know.
"He1l 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"