Litchfield enquirer., 1878-08-08

her chickens that she said she would mucl rather wait and hear it all together. We found everything in perfect crder,-the garden wa even free from weeds, a thing had not expect ed. If it had not been for that cloud on tn front fence, should have been happy enough Pomona had said it was all right, but sh could net have paid the taxes es-however, would wait andI went to the barn.
 When Euphemia came in from the poultry yard, she called me and said she was in a hur " to hear Pemona's account of things. So went in, and we sat on the side porch, where 1t was shady, while Pomona, producing some sheets of foolscap paper, took her seat on tn upper step.
 T wrote down the things of any accoun what happened, said she, ''as you told me to and while was about it, thought I'd mak II like novel. It would be jist as true, ant praps more amusin'. 1 suppose you don mind ?"
 No, we don't mind So she went on.
 Il haven't gotno name for my novel. I in tended to think out one tonight wrot, this all of nights. And don't read the frs chanters, for they tell about my birth and m, pasealtage and my early adventures. I'll jus come down to what happened to me while yo, WIS away, because you'll be more anxious tc hear about that All that's written here il true, jist the saule as if told it to you, bu I've put it into novel language becauseit seems toeeme easier to me-"
 And then, in a voice somewhat differen fron her ordinary tones, as if the ''novel Ian guage" demanded it, shs began to read
 aChapter Five. The Lonely House and tho Faithful Friend Thus was left alone. Non, but two dogs to keep me com -pa-ny. I milk ed the lowing kline and watered and fed thu steed, and, then after my frugal repast, clos ed the mansion, shutting out all collection of the past and also foresights into the future TIat night was memorable one. 1 slep sOtmdly until the break of morn, but had the events transpired which afterwards occurred what would have happened to me no tongue can tell Early the next day nothing happen ed. Soon after breakfast, the venerable Johl came to borrow. some kerosene oil and hal pound of sugar, but his attempt was foil-ed 1 knew too well the in-sid-i-ous foe. In ths very outset of his vil-li-an-y sent him home with g empty can. For two long days wan der-ed amid the ver-dant pathways of the gar den and to the barn, whenever and anon my duty called me, nor did ere neglect tht fowlery. No cloud o'er-spread this happy pc ri-od of my life But the cloud was rising in the horizon although 1 saw it not.
 'It was about twenty-five minutes aftel eleven on morning of a Thursday, that l sa ponder-ing in my mind the question what tt do with the butter and the vegetables. Here was butter and here was green-corn and lima beans and trophy tomats, far more than 1 ere could use. And here was'a horse, idly crop ping the foliage in the field, for as my em ployer had advised and ordered had put thu steed to grass. And here was wagon, non' too new, which had it the top taken off, ol even the curtains rolled up, would do for Ii cen-ced vender. With the truck and butter and mayhap some milk, could load tha WagOn-"
 70, Pomona" interrupted Euphemia "You don't mean to say that you were. think ing of doing anything like that?" ...
 Well, was just beginning to think of it, said Pomona, ''but of course 1 couldn't hav' gone away and left the house. And you'll her novel. "But while my thoughts wer, thus employed, I heard Lord Edward burs into bark-ter-"
 At this Euphemia and I could not help burst ing into laughter. Pomona did not seem a all confused, but went on with her reading.
 1T hurried to the door, and looking out, saw wagon at the gate. Repair ing there, saw man. Said he, Wilt open this gate i? l had fastened up the gates and removed eve ry steal-able a-ticle from the yard.'
 Euphemia and looked at each other. Thi explained the absence of the rustic seat anC the dipper.
 ''Thus, with my mind at T could le my faithful friend, the dog, (for he it was) roam with me the grounds, while the fierce bulldog guarded the mansion within. Thel said 1, quite bold, unto him, No. let in nt man here. My employer and employ-er-es -es' are now from home. What do you want Then says he, as bold as brass, I've come te put the lightning rods upon the house. Opel the gate What rod ? says I. The rods as was ordered says he, open the gate stood and gaz-ed at him. Full well 1 saw through his pinch-beck mask. 1 knew hi tricks: In the absence of my employ -er, ht would put up rods, and ever so many more than was wanted and likely too, some miser able trash that would attrack the Tightening instead of keeping it off. Then, as it would spoil the house to take them down, they would be kept up, and pay demanded. No sir,' says 1. No light -en-ing rods upon thi house whilst 1 stand here' and with that walked away, and let Lord Edward loose The man he. storm-ed with passion. Hi eyes flashed fire. He would cen have sealed the gate, but when he saw the dog he did for bear. AS it was then near noon, strOdt away to feed the fowls: but when did return l saw sight which froze the blood within my veins-"
 ''The dog didn't kill him ?" cried Euphe mia.
 ''Oh no, ma'am!' said Pomona. ''Youl see that wasn't it. At one corner of the lot in front a base boy, who had accompa-ni-e ed this man, was banging on the fence with { long stick, and thus attracting to hissef tht rage of Lord Edward. while the vile intrieg- -e of a Tighten ing rod-der had brought ladder to the other side of the house, up which ht had now ascend-ed, and was on the roof. Wha horrors filled my souli How my form trem bl-edr This, continued Pomona, lis the enc of the novel" and she laid her foolscap page. on the porch. .8 >-
 Euphemia and exclaimed, with one voice, against this. We had just reached the mos exciting part, and, I added, we had heard nothing yet about that affair of the taxes.
 ssYou see, sir. said Pomona, Sit took me so long to write out the chapters about my birth, my parentage, and early adventures that hadn't time to finish up the rest But can tell you what happened after that list a. if had writ it out" And so she went on much more gibly than before, with the account of the doings of the lightning rod man.
 ssThere was that wretch on top of ths house, a-nXln ms oiQ ro0S ana hammer1n away. for dear life He had brought his lad der over the side fence, where the dog. a-bark in and plungin' at theARy outside, couldn't see him. I stood dumb for minute, an ther 1 know'd I had him. I rushed into the house got piece of well-rope, tied it to the bull dogs collar an dragged him out and fastened him to the bottom round of the ladder. TheI | walks over to the front fence with Lord Ed wards chain, for knew if he got at that bull dog there'd be times, fur they'd never been al lowed te see each other yet. So says to tht boy, Pm going to tie up the dog, so yot needn't be afraid of his jumpin' over the fence, which he couldn't do, or the boy would hay, been corpse for twenty minutes, or may bt half an hour. The boy kinder laughed, anC said needn't mind, which didn't. Then went to the gate, and clicked to the hors, which was standing there, an off he starts, as good as. gold, an trots down the road. Tn, boy, he said somthin' or other pretty bad an away he goes after him; but the horse was a trottin pretty fast, an had good start.'
 How on earth could you ever think of do ing such things ?" said Euphemia. sThat horse might have upset that wagon and brok en all the lightning rods, besides running ove don't know how many people," <
 But you see, ma'am, that wasn't my look out, said Pomona. ''I was a-defendin' tn, house, and the enemy must expect to hay, things happen to him. So thenI hears an aw.