The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-08-13

locked young zaccheus up in the cow
house.
We stood still, apart from each other.
saw her lip quiver. Was it for him ?
Had he Tilted herY That was tit for tat
anyhow.
But she was pretty, and so sad, and SO
winning that felt my heart give one
great throb. took step nearer, she
took another.
"Oh, Frank" cried she, "I can't
stand it, if you keep angry with me. 1
have always liked you best, but you've
been so awful cross"
And then she was crying on my
shoulder.
Did you ever make up with some one
you'd quarreled with, loving her all the
time ?''
Did you ever feel, holding the dear
face between your two palms, pressing
sweet kisses on the dear soft mouth, that
it had all come back, all the old love and
trust, and sweetness, and hope that you
thought deadY If you have you must
know what felt that minute.
] found myself again. was Frank
Wollmerath once more. How strange
it was
But 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 flame. The cow-house
was on fire, and had locked poor inno-
cent young Zaccheus up in it, there to
be roasted alive!
"Oh, Maggie" 1 cried, glaring at the
sight. "I'm murderer-a murderer,
don't touch me-"
And away flew to undo my mischief,
if there was time. There might be, per-
haps. Never was such a run as l took
across the long meadow. When l reach
ed the door, plunging my hand in my
pocket for the key could not find it.
had dropped it somewhere. 1t was not
about me-
Zaccheus !" cried I" Zaccheus, are
you there? am on the outside. Cour-
agel"
There was no answer.
For heavens sake, if you can speak,
do,"I shrieked, but silence answered
me.
Doubtless the smoke had already
smothered the poor fellow, but set to
work and tore away the burning boards.
was scorched-my hair, my face, my
eyebrows. Twice my clothes were on
fire, but 1 rolled on the dew-wet grass,
and was up at the flames. Oh, it was
horrible
If he had been my rival it would have
been bad enough, but an innocent young
fellow his sweetheart waiting for him
somewhere
What monster L was
Heaven have mercy on him !" cried
1. "Let me save him, don't punish me
by making me murderer |" and L tore
and wrenched the boards with my burnt
hands. And in moment more - well
it was the roof that fell, think l
don't know.
X "
He'll do very nicely now," said one
sc very nicely; plenty of nourishing
food, and the wine as directed. No dan
ger, though his escape is wonderful -
1t was the family doctor and was on
the spare bed in the bedroom, with a
bandage about my hands.
Mother sat there; so did Maggie
Father looked over the bed foot. Maggie
Wermeskirchen, Lizzie Rhu, Frida
Hensel, Angelica Hensel, and one whose
first name is not known by me were also
visible.
"And why he was so set on saving
that old shell, can't tell, said mother.
He must have had something precious
there"
They did not know, then, sat up, in
bed and looked at them ALL
6 1t wasn't the shed,' said /. 60 Moth
er, father, Maggie, it was Mr.. Zaccheus.
L had locked him up in there. I've
murdered him.
No you haven't" " said another, voice,
and some one came around the bed.
"I'm alive, you see. You didn't
think I'd stay locked up in cow-shed
when 1 had an engagement with lady,
did you just burned the lock off with
my cigar, and came away. intended to
give you a fright in return for your
trick. suppose it's called practical