The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-08-08
pvself. bu. I'd never have made slave

This Mr.. Zaccheus could not make
of her more precious treasure than ]
would; knew that. wss thinking
this all over one evening in the meadow.
when suddenly I heard soms one say:
"Ah Mr.. Wollmerath!"
looked up, and there was Mr. FAC.
cheus, natter than ever, with cigar in
his mouth.
If he had known just how I felt to-
ward him, Pm not sure that he'd have
come to find me alone in the great
meadow, aud thought of that Just as
l jumped up from the grass ard looked
at him. But he was smiiiBg % politely
as possible, and there il something in a
mans heart that makes it hard to do
the FIRST rude thing to one who is civil.
: Still I was not polite to him. a
"That's my nsme," said I toN him.
"Do you want me?" = .'i''
II want something Of you," said he.
There is q little exoursionl 10 night
from our house. We're going to take IL
lady. Have you any little light trap
and q horse, of course, that you could
let me hire for the EVENING""
Come along" said. "I'll show
you what I have got"
~, tbo forrx, &l,o& NINA kl,ovo 1roo
one building-a little cow shed. We
put the tools in there sometimes, and l
had paddock for the door; the key was
in my pocket.
1t came into my head that l could
spoil this evening for him, and spite
Maggie, too, by locking HIM in the shed.
Aud if he had spirit enough to fight me
for it afterward 80 much the better.
led the way down into the meadow
where it stood, and unlocked the door.
"Just look in, said /. land see if
that will suit you."
"Can't see anything" said he. "It's
pitch dark. Wait. have match.
He took one from his pocket and
stopped to strike it on the sole of his
boot, and then gave him push and
over he went, fat on the floor, and ]
had the key in my pocket.
you'll not make any one hear very
soon, my lad, said ], "and you'll not
kiss Maggie Franz going over the
bridge this evening""
Then I went away and laid myself
flat upon the porch in front of our
house, and felt happier than l had felt
before for long time.
Revenge is sweet now and then. /
do not pretend to have none of the old
Adam in me.
I'd been there about half an hour,
and the chirp, chirp. chirp, of the
cricksts was lulling me off to sleep,
when suddenly I heard little light
step close to me, and saw ~oman's
white dress futtering. and, jumping
up. stood before Maggie Franz.
The first thought that came into my
mind was that she was looking for her
bean. and it made me fiendish.
us that you, Miss Franz" said I.
eyes, Mr.. Woolmerath," said she
and, though 1 had said Miss Franz, how
it hurt me not to be called Frank.
II came over to see your mother. Is
she in?"
"No," said I.
"Then Id better go home," said she.
But she fingered.
Mot looking for any one else?" said
I.
"No." she said very sadly. "Good-
night"
But could not let her go without a
cut.
II thought you'd be on this wonder
full moonlight drive" said I.
"Thele you were mistaken" said
she.
"Did he forget to come for You, " said
/. "Mr. Zaccheus, you know"
81 have mt been asked to drive" said
she. II don't know why you speak 80.
Mr.. Zaccheus, suppose. is with the
lady he's engaged to. She came down
last week With her mother"
"Oh," SAID I, and began to wish I'd
asked ew more question before I
locked young Zaccheus up in the cow
house.
We stood still. apart from each other.
I saw her lip quiver. Was it for him?
Had he Tilted her? That was tit for tat.
anyhow.
But she was pretty. and So -ssA, and
SO winning that felt my heart give
one great throb. 1 took one step near
er, she took another. A
"Oh Frank, cried she, II cant stand
1t il you keep angry with me. l al
ways have liked you best, but you've
been SO awfully cross"
And there she was crying on my
shoulder.
Did you ever make mp with one you'd
quarreled with, loving her all the time?
Did You ever feel, holding the dear face
between your palms, pressing sweet
kisses on the dear, soft mouth, that it
had all come back, all the old love, and
trust, and sweetness. aud hope that you
thought dead? If you have, you must
know what felt that moment. / found
myself again. / was Frank Woolmer-
ath once more. How strange it was!
Out of all my life I'd like to have that
one moment back, it was the sweetest /
ever lived through.
Up in the midst OF the far meadow
rose column of fame. The cow-house
was on fire, and I had locked poor. inno-
cent young zaccheus up in it, ther, to
be roasted alive.
"Oh. Maggie. / cried, glaring at the
horrible sight. "I'm murderer-don't I
touch me-
A. L. l. - -