The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-03-16
LODGE NIGHT.

It was lodge night, and there had |
been an unusual press OF very important |
.basineSs, which had kept AIr. Ioskins |
out Esuch later than he had anticipated. |
He came home, however, in apparent |
good order and well conditioned. Airs. |
JoskiDs. knowing his reliable character, |
and Trustworthy habits, had not waited |
nD tor him, and when he crept into bed |
he was met with very sleepy inquiry |
in regard to the hour, aud the reproach |
conveyed i'm the inquiry was so slight |
that Mr.. Joskins instantly rcpented Of |
the lie he had intended to tell, and only |
told little one, only an hour and 3 |
quarter long, saying, with an off-hand |
scagelessnesS, that he guessed it mnst be
pretty near Ii, when he knew it was |
1915. And sleepy Mrs. Joskins, with
her weather-eye on the sitting-rOom
clock, which she could see through the
open bedroom door, just before Joskins
turned out the light, knew it also, but
she didn't say anything. Mr.. Joskins,
although he breathed very heavily, did
not 60 to sleep Immediately. He NOON
began to fidget. His breath appeared
to come with difficulty; he actually
gasped.
ttGood land 20 he exclaimed, .sisi't
this room awful close 90
Mrs Joskins didn't know. She was
awful sleepy, she said, and the air of
the room felt very comfortable to her.
s'I3y George" said Mr.. Joskins, after
- few minutes of restleSsness, "is's close
as vault to me. Would it hurt if
opened one of the windows"
His spouse drowsily replied that it
wouldn't give her cold, AMI he might
ventllate the room ali he wished. And
with this permission she went TO sleep,
ard Mr.. Joskins got up with great de-
liberation and proceeded to raise the
window.
"It's little ways up now," he said
s'I can get my fingers under it.''
And he caught grip on it, gave a
tug at Il, but It didn't come. Mr.. Jos.
kins was surprised. sIs never stuck 50
before" he said. Then he got a fresh
hold under il; and lifted as though he
would pull that side of the house up by
the roots, but it didn't come.
swell, I will be blowed, p muttered
Mr.. Joskins, with a heavy accent on
the esbe" And then he caught hold
again, and showed his fingers as far un-
der as they would reach, and braced
himself for a lift that would have
slIamed derrick.
"Uh! Uh! 'mph Il um-m-
pnh II and with final grunt Mr.. Jos
kins sank back exhausted.
swell, You can eat my boots, ht
muttere1, with some warmth. "If
don't ift tins window up, or Pn pul
the house over. You hear me-"
And he caught hold and tugged and
lifted and strained until he was sur,
that every succeeding tug would eithe
lift tho side of the house or pull his fee
through che floor. He paused a9ail
for breath. with his head SO full ofl,lcoC
that his feet was cold.
StJocks," he snarled, ssI'd give tel
million dollars it had the carpente
here who put in that window. be
I'd'Iift him, the wooden-headed idiot
Now then.''
And he stopped down and caught
fresh hold on the window, and set hi
teeth and shut his eyes and held hi
breath and put his whole soul and bod,
into his arms AS he began to straight
en- up he could hear sound like th
cracking Of timbeFs, and It inspired hin
with renewed courage.
ssSomeshin9's coming, gospel sure
he sid, and redoubIed his efforts.
At that instant he became aware of
glimfner Of light in the room. He rails
ed his closed lids and beheId Mrs. Jos
kins ssanding beside him, like . whit
robed ghost with q lamp in her hand
At the sight Of which apparition Nj
Joslxias ceased lifting, but held his gEil
stWhat,s the matter ~ he asked.
His vile said nothing, but locke
steadily and severely into his iDquirin
eyes, Mr. Joskins felt troubled unde
her steady gaze.
ssVhat is it - he repeated. "Whs
did ycu get out of bed for ?''
She looked him straight in the cy,
for 8 moment. John JOskins," !" 81
said, solemnly, ssgo back 20 bed. wi
raise the window for you. Don't say
word 70 me. Tomorrow we will tai
sbous any continuation Of these Iodg
nighs8.
Speechleas and confused, Afr. 10
kin's eyes fell, ard as they did 50 he b
held his hands. The window was sh'
as tinht as wax, and he had deal
grip on the broad window sill.
"Well, anyhow" !" he thought, as
crepf back under the blankets, "theTe
one thing certain Il she hadn't got .
when she did, I'd had the whole vii
dow casing. sill and all, showed ha
mp the side of the house IL .anoth'
tug.n
Which was very poor consolatio
for what he knew was coming, but
was the best he had.--Bty1tagto
Haaok-Esye