Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-20

e" hoi ShpoIiiiS low IL, Il IudTTlcu son.
Another son was expected home
ON the very day they left, but the
girls declared that I-nine years old
then-was plenty Of protection. aud,
even if Jack did not come, they were
not in the least afraid.
. half believe they were delighted
TO have the house TO themselves, for
no sooner had the elders gone than
! Dorcas sent out invitations for two
miles round for an evening party, and
| carried them, on the back of old
Prescott, the family horse. | remem-
Der it took me all day, and at every
| farmhouse they were making cider.
81 would not dare tell in these tenn
perance times how many mugs of
sweet cider | was obliged to drink.
Certain it was that | ate two dinners
and an unlimited amount of cake; so
much, that when | returned and
| smelled the sweet ouors of more cake
| Just out of the oven. which had been
| prepared for the party, l ran away
| from the house in disgust as soon as |
had delivered my errand.
Well, the party came off, and
happy, frolicsOme party it was. Very
, different, Dora, from yours last win
| ter, where the girls were SO loaded
down with trimming, tlounces, and
bouquets that they could do nothing
but dawdle through quadrilles, and
| fan, and do the polite.
1.-The girls who came to my sisters
party wore neat and pretty dresses. |
don't remember a tlounce, and | ~
sure such thing as a train was un-
heard OF. know some of them wore
nice little aprons with pockets in
them, and others, little more fash
ionable perhaps, covered their hands
with a sort Of lace mits. There was
no dancing. but good. downright old
fashioned, honest plays, that set the
room in a roar with forfeits.
"The party, though got up on such
short notice, was success. The only
drawback was the absence of my elder
brother, who was great favorite
among the young ladies. BY twelve
O'Clock the last carriage load had left
the house; two girls, sisters, remain
ing by special invitation.
Il was on the great hall steps from
under the porch OF which our COM
pany departed, when. as the Hills
covered wagon drove Oft l thought
saw man pass stealthily along in the
shadow of the beech trees. 1t did not
startle me at the moment, rs | was
exchanging adieuS and wishes, but be-
fore ! went in again, | turned round
to look, and the figure had passed from
sight
- did not say anything to my Sis
ters about this, but took especial pains
to see to all the fastenings, even to an
inner window that was seldom locked,
and that led from the kitchen into the
dining-roOm.
1.-The girls, meantime, were having
plenty Of fun while they looked after
the remains of the feast, locking them
away in the great kitchen closet, and
dancing back and forth in the bright
yellow blaze Of the fire. They laughed
and joked with each other over some
fancied conquest, which was natural,
not needing that the old clock was
rapidly telling off the minutes toward
one.
ut was bright moonlight night,
and | stood at the window, still a lit
tie anxious as | looked through the
bars, for the window was grated half
way up.
SO this is the only man in the
house, said Sally Stlaie, a lively lit
tie brunette. DO you feel equal to
the protection of four helpless women
she asked, coming toward me, and
looking, as l thought. rather down
upon me, because | was 50 small.
q dare say blushed, and looked
awkward and annoyed, for Dorcas
spoke up.
I'D as lief have Neddy as Jack;
he's brave in every inch of his little
heart, she said. with a bright smile.
Yes, Ned will protect us and the
family Jewels. BY the way, believe
I'll sleep with the rent-boX under my
head. and if any thief comes with
"Iour money or your life" why,
I'll give up--my money | suppose,
like any other coward. Ned wouldn't.
though. Ned would fight, wouldn't
you. little brother?'
81 was very grateful for her de-
Tense, and, being rash boy, ! was
ready at almost any time for a fight,
but did not feel very brave just then.
- Just look at the boy; he is actual
" putting up the bar said Jane, as |
lifted the heavy oaken stick, that, like
the misunderstanding, was seldom, if
ever thought of.
al like that, responded Dorcas,
land was going to suggest it, only |
feared it might be thought silly in me.
"In a little while the lights were
put out and the household wrapped in
slumber. | remember | tried to keep
awake, but was soon asleep.
1T was two o'clock in the morning.