Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-27

the bailiff looked "quite like gentle
man."
"Well, DEAR" my father begins. as we
sit down to dinner, IL saw old Mr.. Bar
ton, and he has advised Inc to pay, and
settle the matter at once-in fact, he
candidly told me that he thought was
in the Wrong-so after dinner We will re-
lease your friend. dare say something
warm for his inside and some golden
ointment for the palm of his hand will
soon put matters right. Old Barton is
ageing very much, my father continues,
as he rehectiv, " sips his wine HE was
very pleased to see me. had quite a
long chat with him. He says that his
| nephew, whom he intends to succeed him
is very clever. He is fine-looking fell
low, I should say, Judging from his
photograph. His uncle gave me one.
i've got it in my pocket somewhere"
And, after searching for some time, my
father pulls out from packet of papers
small-sized carte-de-visite, which he
hands to me. I take it from him, ard
look at it. One glance is sufficient. I
dash it from me, and, burying my face in
my hands, I cry out:
| ~, udu, udu, TIC OdAllA!
"Where, where, girl?" asks my father,
springing from his seat, and upsetting his
wine, as he looks eagerly about the room,
as if expecting an ambuscade of county
court myrmidons.
80, what shall do?" l exclaim. ''Tell
me, implore you, father, that is not Mr..
Barton's likeness you are only joking
know you are!' and looked at him pite-
ouslY.
Joking, grill" he repeats. "What do
on mean9 W hose likeness do you imag-
n cit to be9" .aEE
'The bailiff's -the man I've locked up
the ruinr
"Whewl' whistles my father. "That's
it, is it2 Here's a pretty kettle of fish /!
you've locked up the young lawyer from
London! Gentlemanly bailiff indeed Ac-
ton for false imprisonment damages ten
thousand pounds. Well, you are nice
young Iady-quite heroinew o.
My fathers eyes twinkle merrily as he
fires off his jokes at my expense. do
not mind his chat, but I think it too
bad that he should make me go with
him to release my prisoner, as he insists
[ on calling him. Out into the dark we
go. I linger behind, hoping that my
father would arrive at the run before /
do. Alas,he has no such intention, fol, he
calls me to him, he places my hand under
his arm and makes me keep pace with
him, while he INDUCES in dismal fore
bodings as to the condition in which nv
prisoner will be found. He rings the
changes on suicide and melancholy mad
ness. The ruin is at last reached. Tho
delicate aroma of a fragrant cigar which
salutes our nostrils tends to remove our
anxiety as to the prisoners being totally
destitute of comfort. My father pushes
me toward the door.
"Open it, grill" he says, with melodra-
matte sternness.
am trembling all over, but with great
effort l manage to turn the key and give
the door feeble push. telt the door
pulled open. dare not look. My eyes
are cast to the ground, and my cheeks
are on fire. as in scarcely audible voice
1 say, II am so sorry, Mr.. Barton. I did
not mean to- took you for a--a-" 1t
is too much. I break down, and, ingno-
miniously bursting into tears, run to my
father and bury my face on his shoulder.
"There, there, my grill" cries my faith
er, soothingly. He holds me to him. and,
softly patting me with one hand, he turns
to Mr.. Barton, and says, ave must ask
your forgiveness, Mr.. Barton; and am
sure you will give it when explain how
my little girl has made great mistake.
In fact, she took you for Country Court
bailiff!" and my father explains every
thing to him. -
When he was finished, raise my head,
and, looking shyly at Mr.. Barton, say:
II am so sorry. do not know how I
could have made such mistake. 1t was
so foolish; but I was so frightenedv
1t would be useless to relate the many
kind things Mr.. Barton said. He made
so many excuses for me, and was so kind
and good-natured, that by the time we
had reached the house I had recovered
my self-pofsession sufficiently to be able
to laugh at an amusing anecdote he re-
lated to US.
Fortunately dinner had not advanced
very far when I discovered my mistake.
We made very merry party that night.
My father brought out some Of his cher
ished port that saw the light only on very
great occasions; and as he insisted on Mr..
Barton staying all night, and the next
morning in saying 'Good-by" gave him
a pressing invitation to come and see us
very often, think am justified in be-
lieving that my prisoner had created a
very favorable impression on that adj
amantine structure fathers heart,
Three months later. A sharp winter
has set in, and the stream still. The lake
is frozen over, and am sitting on the
bank while Mr., Barton is assisting me to
remove nv skates l have been receiv.
ing my first lesson in skating. Itwas SO
pleasant was not at all afraid. My
teachers arm was so strong and he held
my hands SO tightly!
"Do you remember the afternoos when
locked you up?" I ask, as we carry our
skates into the ruin.
Remember" he cries, looking me full
in the face. 81 should think I dol It
was the happiest day of my life."
/ Stupid little goose that am, begin
to tremble, and my foolish cheeks flash
the tell-tale color. The skates fall to the
ground as my hands are quickly grasped
and my prisoner makes me captive.
try to release myself, but my efforts
Cedsc DIS my CdptoLS IL dIAnOSO UIedCu1esS
words, tells me he loves me. do not
know whether give any answer, but in
moment he has drawn me to him. /
pillow my head on his breast, his arms
are around me, and know that am his
, and that be is mine!
"Hey-dayr exclaims voice, as my
father suddenly appears on the scene.
"What does this mean9"
. "Only the man in possessionl" replies
Mr. Barton. grasping my fathers readily