Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-09-13


further corner of the room, threw him
self into the one nearest the fire, and
complacently lighted his long clay.
OF course the room filed fast with
smoke and most pungent odor.
"Old Blunderson hates tobacco, I"
grinned Hal.
"Bad policy, though to irritate him, "
grumbled /.
BY this time our enemy was in the
door way, gasping for breath, and shak-
ing a great hairy fist at Jack by way Of
filling the interval till speech returned.
"You - abandoned - young profit.
gate /"
Jack removed his pipe, nodded, and
quietly resumed it.
"Where-are-the other-scamps ?"
"One gone for the doctor; the other
-" and jerk of the speakers thumb
toward the door behind which we stood
completed the sentence.
Old Blunderson made two unwieldly
steps toward us.
Better not, said Jack.
"Eh ?" ...
"Typhoid fever-bad case-conta-
gious," fibbed Jack, between his puffs.
We saw old Blunderson's face turn a
CHASTITY green with fear. Still, he
looked incredulous; we had played so
many tricks before.
"Gammon !" he gasped, at length.
Jack rose slowly, walked to the cor
ner, and produced the shovel.
"Fumigating,, the room," said he.
"Better have a pipe"
And old Blunderson fairly turned and
fed with such celebrity he gained the
next floor in seconds instead of minutes
We were laughing over his discom-
fiture, when Bridget's head appeared at
the door.
"I thought I'd tell We, gentlemen, the
misthress is just comm, She has been
rampagin' like a haythen all this
blesse mornin'W
Our faces fell. Mrs. Callaghan, our
worthy landlady, was not foe to be so
readily dslodged, and her powers of in
invecive were simply unrivaled. Hal
was the only one who could soothe her,
and he came to the rescue.
"My turn" he said with look of
comic disgust. "You fellows get into
my room, and clear out of the house as
soon as she is seated"
AS we did, seeing Hal hand a chair Gas
we glided by) with the deepest of mock
reverences, and an expression of extreme
devotion on his handsome features.
"Making violent love to the old beast p
as he would have elegantly expr essed ii
1t was evening of the same day-a dull
November evening, much in harmony
with my thoughts, as leaned against
the doorpost of our house, and realized
the good old times when life was a
merry farce for all of us.
/ had no heart to work. All that day
[ had hawked my manuscripts from one
publisher to another, vainly hoping to
get loan upon them. My threepence-
halfpenny had been carefully invested
at dirty cook-shop, and I was glad to
think there must have been just enough
cold meat to satisfy the boys at dinner
and tea.
Presently would go in and hunt fol
any fragments that might remain, for
felt desperately hungry.
lOS CdI1O a 1CAuulS
figure disguised in waterproof. She
did not notice me until quite abreast,
where the light fell full upon her face.
Then, as she gave one frightened glance,
I saw two things-how pale and beauti.
full it was, and what depth of misery
lay in the startled eyes.
1t was low neighborhood in which
we lived, though separated by long
alley from fashionable West End street
"a dangerous locality for young gir.
at that hour. [ crossed the road to ac
company her unobserved, and had hard
ly done SO ere I saw her brought up by
some man, looming unsteadily through
the mist.
"Come here, my pretty dearl" said he
She gave faint scream, and tried tc
slip by him, but the drunken wretch
caught her by the loose waterproof. Ii
another second he measured his length
on the pavement; but, strange to say,
the girl sank down also insensible, drop
ping something that looked like jewel
case. My PROSTATE friend was relieving
his feelings by round volley of obscene
oaths. Not caring to await the arriva
of policeman, caught up his victim
and her case, and retreated. At th'
foot of the dilapitated stairs ! hesitated
Should 1 carry my fair burden into Mrs
Oallaghan's little parlor2 The sight o
Bridget in full fight, pursued by shril
invective and hand-brush, decided tn
point.
Bridget" said I, "this lady ha
tainted. Come and help me-"
"Ah, sure, sorl Poor dearl"
We carried the stranger to the com
mon sitting g-room, and essayed to brini
her round. Presently she opened he
eyes, and began to speak incoherently
"Delirious!" said I. 1t was q grea
relief to hear Halls springing step. FL
gave low whistle of astonishment a
he entered, and felt the patients pulse
while gave brief explanation.
Feverish-very. She must be pu
to bed at once. Where does she live9
81 have not an idea. Search he
pockets" ="
But the search was fruitless.
"Call cab, and 1 will take her t
the hospital" " suggested Harry.
/ looked at the flushed face and th
bright, beautiful eyes, and my heal
gave great, senseless throb of disar
proval.
"No; we cannot turn her away
Fetch nurse, Hal, and she shall hay
my room. You will take me in for
night or two?"
"Of course, old man," and Hal fe
{ off.
. Then I thought of our landlady.
: Bridget" said I, chow about Mr.
. Callaghanp"
r &C. Is it the misthress, sorp Sure I
tell her ye've got the faver, an she won
l come nigh ye."
: One more difficulty remained, al
that the greatest-the money probler