Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-19
My Peril and Escape,

n
and my brothers and sisters often daret
and DO periiOuS feats Of various kinds
which challenges never refused OF
ten thsy set out Ia i,lay-tricks me,
but il usually happened they fell int
their own traps, while performed my
part in safety.
We live IN d large, old house, built o
Enslish OAK, ana bs-ariug its nearly
two centuries very tightly. IL opened
to the south, and Il two large parton
looked To The east and west. The di
ming nall and spacious kitchen forme0
the square OF Ine house, while al the
west add back Were the dairy and an
other I:orcn. There were three stair
ways Ieaiing TO the upper rooms and q
garret, wno,e aItple space Was broken
only by the great chimney in the
center.
We mad a gay and lively house, and
were used tv great deal Of allany
aud visitors, for my parents were great.
Iy given TO the Uld-taehiOned virtue Ol
hospitality. The hupbiest way fsrel
coming i'll ut the porch was entertain
ed kindly aud Oldden Gud-speed, at
" ell as the guest whose elegant c.r-
li,ge and span drove around to tn.
door on the southern side. tf
1t WAS summer day, and warm
bright aud beautiful. The morning
promised lovely day. just after Oul
early breakfast, u merry party Came
riding down the lane in carriages and
on ho setback, and Calling joyous y for
NY notnef and father to accompany y
them on pleasure trip. They we're
accuslo ned To this mode OF irnpromptu
f.stivtty, and gail, answered tnat tney
would sobn be ready. II was only tht
day before that my father had return
ei rom the Australian gold ftids. aud
hr d brought With him u tag IL gOl,i.
l In w he had this, for had eeen hin,
the night before counting s'ime ou'
of IT, auu putting 1t into anOti e. bag.
TaoIias brought the chaise TO tre
door. Fathers favorite black horse,
whose coat looked like lustruus velvet
and who stepped 80 proudly, Was paw
ing the ground impstieutIy as he ap
% aled. He handed in my beauIiiui
mother, and stood looking on Wit.
childish pleasure al her beauty and
rich dress that so became her.
hastened indoors again to see then
wind down The private way that leo
through our extensive groun.is, ana
half wished wers old enough TO GO
with them. Hearing a slight n0ise, 1
turned and saw "A stranger, d figure no
unusual, man with bu2ole hung
on u stick.
He Was leaning on the stone wall,
anu apparently looking after the car
riages. He came forward in nu-
ment, aud asked if he might sit down
anu rest, and II would kindly Civ
him something TO eat? OF c,urss !
said YES, and With light steps soon ha,l
HIN a substantial lunch of bread and
cheeee. which he cs,ine into the kitcb. q
to eat. Betty and Hannah were bus, i,
burrying TO finish their work, for they
were going out to tea and to spend th'
evening. They talked gaiiy about theIi
vi-it, paying little sttentfon to tn
stroller. who was quietly eating. Htl
had lain his straw nat on tie floor, anu
saw that his head WIS bald on TIL
top, and the thin hair brushed up from
behind over it.
He had prominent ears, low fore
head asd large mouth, with recedint
ch IN, where grew sfuhby beard q
grizz' Y black, like Ills tair. did no
know wny | observed all this, or h
eyes, small, ant hid under ;-rr yis
brcws, that SEEMED to glance fuitisei
around him, " hen 10 une sppeaIeC I
b, looking. HIS voice was harsh an
croaking. and had startled me when b
6rst addressed uJe.
We y ere used 10 strollers Of all kinds |
AL have said. PERHAPS WIS men.
tally contrasting his repulsi veIltass witt
nv farftrs noble and diYni6ad fea-
lures. He Seemed to me very ugly.
was glad when he had fnishsd his
neal and risen to gu. He asked lSer
o ission to light his pipe, which arr
eadlly .grapted. He went dirf C ~,
assiny accidentally through the di-
/ ~ room and out 0f the great hall
,kere he fingered for q moment
20. He had thanked me etsillS