Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-24


Three nights after Christmas wps mild
and open, and was watching busy lit
tie set of fingers prepare the tea, while
my uncle was mapping in his easy chair,
with yellow silk handkerchief spread
over his face. / had been whispering
very earnestly, while all my impressive
words had been treated as if airy moth
lngs; ana more then once had been
most decidedly snubbed. l was at last
sitting with very lachry NOSE counter
ance, looking appealingly at the stern
little ryrant, who would keep looking
so Overwhelmingly pretty by trying to
frown with beautiful little white brow
that would not wrinkle, when the parlor
maid came up, and announced Brown
sem.
$40, Sir muttered my uncle;"Ill put
stod-- stop" the rest was 1naudiSlc.
1.-THE keeper waits to see you, uncle
DEAR" whispered his late sister child. in
her soft, kittenish way.
Keeper, sir; yes, sir, I'll give him
Bless my heart, Jennyl" exclaimed the
old gentleman, starting UP, dragging off
his ndkerchief, and. bringing the
heart, jenny; why, ] was almosr asleepH
"Here's Browsem, UNCLE" said.
"Show him up, show him up" cried
my uncle, VINO would not have accorded
more attention to an ambassador than he
did to his keeper-that gentleman being
prime minister to his pleasures.
Browsem was shown up-a process
which did not become the keep at all,
for he came in delieately 70 pace, not APP
pearapce, and held his red cotton hand
kcrchiel 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
brightness.
Nov, Browsem," cried the old gentle
man, as the keeper was pulling his fore
lock to Miss Jenny, thereby making the
poor fellow start anu stammer-"now,
Browsem, whom have you caught?"
Caught, sir2 No one, sir. Only the
cat, sir, Ponto run her down, but she
stretched one of his eyes Almost out
"Cat--what cat2" said nv uncle, lean
ing forward, with hand on each aim of
the chair
"Why, you see, SIR" said Browsem,
confdentially, 'there's dodge in it,"
And then the man turned round and
wlDked at me.
"Confound you, go on'' cried nay
uncle, in most exasperated tone of voice
when Browsem backed against Jenny's
little marqueterie workable, and, over
turning it, sent bobbins, tapes, reels,
! woods, silks and crochet and tatting ap-
paratus into irredeemable chaos.
''There, never mind that trash" shout
ed the old man-''speak up at once"
"Well, SIR" said Browsem, "tkey've
been a-dodgin of me-"
"Well?" cried my uncle.
Tied lanthorn to q cats neck, and
sent her out in the open, to make belief
as it were dog driving the partridges.'
"Well?"
"And this was only to get US outer the
way, for heard gun down Bunkin 5
spnneg."
"Welll" shouted nv uncle.
"And I've come to know what's right
to be done"
'Done" roared my uncle; "why, run
down to the Spinny, or there won't be a
pheasan. left. Here, my stick-my pis-
tols-here, -scoundrels
Look sharp"
And then he hobbled out of the room
after the keeper, when, warm with the
excitement of perhaps having brush
with the poachers, l Was following, but a
voice detained me on the threshold
Richard, y whispered Jenny; and ther~
was something In the earnest eyes and
frightened look that drew me back in an
instant, Richard. YOU won't go-those
men-danger-oh, Richard. pray! There
don't. What would your uncle say?"
81 didn't know, neither did pause 10
think, for the newly awakened earnest
ness whispered such sweet hopes that,
darling oack, 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, Richard?"
"Di-l i-ii-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
geon; while Browsem, grinning anc
showing his teeth. was quietly twisting
the leathern thong of short, stout stat
round his wrist.
''All right, my darling" said the ole
man, turning to the pale-faced Jenny
who had come guilty downstairs t
where we stood. Don't be alarmed, We
shall take care of one another, ana marcl
half dozen poachiag- Here, com,
along, or we shall miss the scoundrels. +"
Browsem led the way at a half-trot
and, graspiDg my arm, the old gentle
; tleman followed as fast as his sometime
) equity leg would allow him. We wer
soon out of the grounds, and, clamberin,
|; gate, made our way toward the wood
) where the keeper had heard the gun.
'.Confound them!" growled my uncle
"that's where that poor fellow was sho
J ten years ago."
"Bang- uang."
, There they are, sir" growled tn
! keeper, hating to let us get up along
side.
, And now 1 started, for in the dusk be
hind, and apparently lodging my heels
! was tall figure.
It's only 1OOuS, SIT, grOWleQ tn
keeper; and Todds, his helper, growle
in response.
\ "Tha is right"
> "A'mos. wonder that they came her
sir" whispered Browsem. "Never know
ed 'em to do it afore, cause they're feare
5 o. Munday's Ghost"
"Munday's Ghost2'' I said.
Eyes, sir: pore chap as were sho
a They do say as be walks still; but there
a sight OF pheasants here"
l was one of those dark, heavy nigh
J late in winter. The wind lust sighed b
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