The Worthington advance., 1878-10-24

f1own with beautiful little white brow
that would not wrinkle, wien the parlor-
m aid came up, and announced Brown.
sem.
mo, SIR muttered my uncle; "11l put
d--st0p-" the rest was ,naudi5lc.
1.-THE keeper waits to see you, uncle
dear" whispered his late sister child, in
her soft, ki,tenish way.
"Kceper, sir; yes, cir, I'll give him
Bless my heart. Jenny!" exclaimed the
lid gentleman, starting up, drsg3ing off
his ndkerchief, and. bringing the
hair down over his forehead-"bless my
heart, Jenny; why. ] was almos, asleep!"
"Here's Browsem, uncle" said.
"show him up. chow him up" cried
my uncle, VINO would not have accorded
more attention to an ambassador than he
did to his keeper-that gentleman heing
prime minister to his pleasures.
Browsem was shown up-a process
which did not become the keep-r at all,
for be came in delicately to pace, not ap-
pearapce, aud held his red cotton hand
kerchiel in his hand, as if in doubt
whether to employ it in dabbing his
damp brow, or to spread upon the carpet
for tear that his boots might soil the
bri ghtness.
"Now, Browsem," cried the old gentle
man, as the keeper was pulling his fore
lock to Miss Jenny, thereby making the
Door fellow start anu stammer-''now,
Browsem, whom have you caught"
"Caught. sir7 No one. sir. Only the
cat, sir, Ponto run her down, but she
stretched one Of his eyes Almost OUT
"Cat--what cat2" said my uncle, lean
ing forward, with hand on each ann of
the chair.
"Why, you see, SIR" said Browsem,
confidentially, "there's dodge in it."
And then the man turned round and
wlDked at me.
"Confound you, go on!' cried my
uncle, in most exasperated tone Of voice ;
when Browsem backed against Jenny's
little marqueterie workable, and, over-
turning it, sent bobbins, tapes, reels,
wools, silks and crochet and tatting ap-
paratus into irredeemable chaos.
"There. never mind that trash" shout
ed the old man-"speak up ut once"
"Well. sir" said Browsem. "tkey've
been a-dodgin of me-"
"Well2" cried my uncle.
Tiled lanthorn to cats neck, and
; sent her out in the open, to make belief
as it were dog driving the partrid ges.' y
"Well2"
"And this was only to get us outer the
way, for l heard gun down Bunkin's
spnney."
: "Well2" shouted nv uncle.
NAn6 Two cn,,oo IN l>p1uv vho% -: ~,h%
J to be done"
"Done" roared my uncle; "why, run
down to the Spinny, or there won't be q
pheasan: left. Here, my stick-my pis-
tols-here, Dick-confound-s d-scoundrels
Look sharp"
And then he hobbled out of the room
after the keeper, when, warm with the
excitement OF perhaps having q brush
with the poachers, was following, but a
voice detained me on the threshold.
'RiChard,' whispered Jenny; and ther.
was something in the earnest ewes and
frightened look that drew me back in ar
instant, "Richard. YOU won't go-those
men-danger-oh, Richard. pray! There
dou't. What would your uncle sayY'
II didn't know, neither did pause te
think, for the newly-awakened earnest
ness whispered such sweet hopes that
darting uack, was for the instant for
getful OF all propriety, till some one
stood blushing before me, arranging
those bright little curls so lately resting
upon my arm.
but you won't go2' pleaded Jenny
''For my sake, Richard2"
"Di'l i-i.i-ck!" roared my uncle.
And, wrestling myself from the silker
chains, darted down into the hall.
"Here, lay hold OF that stick. my lad, ,
, cried my uncle, furnishing large blud.
gcon; while Browsem, grinning and
! showing his teeth, was quietly twisting
the leathern thong OF short, stout stat
j, round his wrist.
"All right, my darling" said the old
man, turning to the pale-faced Jenny
who had come 9ui lilly downstairs tc
where we stood. "Don't be alarmed, We
shall take care of one another, ana march
half dozen poaching- Here, come
along, or we shall miss the scoundrels."
Browsem led the way at half-trot
and, grasping my arm, the old gentle
tleman followed as fast as his sometimes
gouty leg would allow him. We wers
soon out of the grounds, and, clamberine
gaze, made our way toward the wood
where the keeper had heard the gun.
"Confound themw growled my uncle
"that's where that poor fellow was shot
: ten years ago"
"Bang- pang."
''There they are, sir" growled the
, keeper, balting to let US get up along
side.
And now started, for in the dusk be.
hind, and apparently lodging my heels,
was tall figure.
"It's only Todds, SIR" growled the
keeper; and Todds, his helper, growled
in response.
"Tha: is right
i; "A'mos: wonder that they came here,
sir" whispered Browsem. "Never know
ed 'em to do it afore. cause they're feared
o Munday's Ghost"
"Munday's Ghost7'' I said.
"Yes, sir: pore chap as were shot.
They do say as he walks still; but there's
a sight OF pheasants here"
was one Of those dark, heavy nights
late in winter. The wind Just 81 ghed by
US as we passed on along path through
plantation, and once or twice fapcied
heard guns to the right, far off behind
the house. But I forgot them the next
moment, for my heart beat, and the ex-
citment increased, for just in front came
two loud and distinct reports.
"They're at it," growled my uncle, for
getting his gout, and loe sing my arm.
"Now, Browsem, you and Todds 20
round, and We'll come forward; oniy.
mind, when whistle, it's for he: D."
The next moment was going to speak
to the keeper; but l started, for he was
gone; and, on looking behind. found
Iodds had also vaa,saed. quiet rs snake,
.or my uncle and stood alone.
! 'Yonll stick to me, Dicka" whispered
the old gentleman.
"C"nditlons," said, in the same voice
""What! the white feather" growled the
old gentleman.