South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-01-26

the hfsGK6 Cd.
well" said the wife. "they matte
no secret about IL to me You neei not
go fOr To tell it to all the town-poor
sonis.'
Not l." said tie man; "but. they
will publish it. never fear: leave women
folks alone for making their own troubles
with their tongues"
There the subject dropped. rs man
and wife have things to talk about be.
sides nei2hbors.
The old women at the toll bar, what
with their own fears and their jobs
comforter. began To shivcr with appre
tension as night came on. However,
II sunset the carrier passed through tue
gate. and ut the sight OF his friendly
face they frightened up. They told
him their care, and begged him To sleep
in their house that night. .'Why, how
can II" said he. Il am due at -,
but l will leave you my dog" The dog
was u powerful mastiff.
The women looked at each other ex.
pressively. "lle won't nurt us, will
he" sighed one OF them family. Then
he called the dog into the honse, and
told them to lock the door, and went
away whistiing.
Tn. women were left contemplating
tho dog with that tender interest appre.
hension is sure to excite. At frs, he
seemed staggered mt this ofr.hand pro.
ceeding OF his master; il confused him,
then he snutred ut the door; then, as
tho wheels retreated. he began to see
plainly that he was an abandoned dog !;
he delivered fearful howl aid flew nj
tic door, scratching and barking furi-
ously.
The OLD women fed the apartment
anal were next seen at an upper window
screaming to the carrier; Come back (!
come back, John! lie is tearing the
lissusc aown..' ----.-----.'v -
brat the varmint!" said John and
came back. On the road he thought
what was best TO he done. The good.
natured fellow took his great coat out
of the cart and laid il down on the floor.
iiic mastiff instantly laid himself on il.
Now" said John sternly. "let us have
10 more nonsense you take charge of
that till come back, and don't You let
nobody steal that there. nor yet wives
brass. There now SAID he kindly to
the women. II shall he back this way
at breakfast time, and he won't bulge
till then
And he wont hurt Us, John?"
Lord. no! Bless your heart, Inc is
as sensible as any bristian only.
Lord sake, woman. don't We 90 TO take
the coat from him. or you'll be want ~
n new gown yourself, and maybe n pet.
ticoat and all
lie retired. anil the old women kept
a respectful distance from their pro.
teCtor. te, i,sNer Inolested tneal, aud,
indeed. when they spoke cajolngly to
him lie even waggcd his tail in dn.
bious way. but still rs they moved a
bout, lie squinted ut them out OF his
bioodshot eye in way that checked
any desire on their part to try OH the
carriers coat. Thus protected, they
went TO bed earlier than usual. but they
did not undress; they were too much
afraid of every thing especially their
! protector. The night wore OIL and pre-.
I sently their sharpencd senses let them
know that the dog was getting restless
/ lie sEuffed aud then he growIed. and
( then he got up and battered about.
mutteriug to- himself Straightway with
\ furniture they FABRICATED the door
through which their protector must pass
to dcvcur them.
But 10y and by, listening acuteiy. they
heard scraping and grating outside thc
window OF the room where tie dog was
and lac continued growing low. This
was enough; they slipped out at the
back door, ant tlen lett ti.cir money 10
save their Ives; they got into the vii
lage. IL was pitch dark. aud all tile
houses black ; one was the public house.
and the other vas the blacksmith
/ house. "Oh! Jane the thieves have
come - aud t,ey told her in few words
all that had happened.
/ Nay, Jane, we heard tie scraping
outside the window. Oh. woman, call
your man. and let him go with US.
my man-hc is not here"
/ Where is be thel?'
/ ~ suppose nc is where the other
workingwomen's husbands are, at the
public house" she said. rather bitterly,
/ for she had had hrr experience.
The women wanted TO 20 To the pub.
lie housc for him but the blacksmith
wife was a courageous woman. aud. be
sides, she thought it was most likely a
false alarm.
way. nay" said she, last time I
went for him there got fine anrOnt
"Fll come with YOU" said she. III take
the poker 0nd wo have got our tongues
to raise the town with. I suppose" SO
they marched TO the toll bar. -'Yhen
taey got near II, they saw something
that staggered this heroine. There was
actually a man half in and half ont OF
the window. This brought the black,
smiths wife TO a standstill. aud the tim.
I'd pair implorcd her TO 20 back 70 tbc