The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-07
/ HE OLD BRIDGE DIARMID.

DiarMld is a narrow village walled in
by two lines of wooded hills. East street
and West street run for a mile parallel.
Between them is the river and the sus-
pension beidge. There was an old rum
bic down wooded bridge there once,
whiah was held in high vcnera'lon By the
oldest inhabitant. He could just remem-
Der its dedication.
At the west end of the bridge, up over
mead among the beams and rafters, was
Thoff Skeletons retreat; his den, the boys
called it, Here he had laid down few
boards. making rough sort of floor,
tossed up pile of straw for a bed, and
here he came when things were more than
commonly uncomfortable at home.
Diarmid was tidy village of white
houses, and green blinds, and trim yards
but down at the foot of West street, under
a sanu-bank, there was wretched build
ing going to ruin in the midst of litter
Of rubbish. It looked as though all the
dust Of the clean street had been swept
Out there and left for the winds to blow
away. But the winds had failed thus far
to 10 it, and so the Skeletons lived there.
jim Shelton, father of Thoh, had a pc
cuiiarity which intertered with his rela-
tons as a parent, to wit, the habit of
drinking great deal too much of every
thing but cold water. The consequence
was that Thoff's life had begun to be a
burden to him as soon as he could re-
member, and, in fact, some time before.
''There.' he said to himself one night.
He was quite out of breath, for he had
-l,n half mile, clambered like monkey
up the beams, and was now safe on the
straw of his den in the bridge. The old
chap won't get hold Of me in a hurry
now, guess"
':The old chap" I grieve to say, was
Thoff's father. It was bad manner Of
designating him. but another result Of
the peculiarly aforesaid. A boy who
tor 10 offense whatever has been pur-
sued by his parent, armed with a pitch
FORK, and who has just found his kittens
head two rods away from her other be-
longings, such a boy will not mention
the author of his being respectfully as I.
who tell this tale, could wish.
"Weil, I say think this is rather hard
lnces On a Teller" Toff went on.
Il hant had ane supper, an breakfast
I'll be nowhere, AMI wish I was out O.
this, I do. Oh, If I only had some
money!
1t had grown quite dark; an April
night, the air mild and sort of patter
Of rain on the bridegroom. Thoff sat
staring down at lamp which burned
dimly just below him, "a depressed-look-
ing lamp, which suffered Grossly, as
though saying, Pm supported by the
own, and know it," Thoff understood
wnat it was to have aid from the
town."
The evening train from Boston came
shrieking up the valley, passed the end
OF the bridge, and rushed into the dark.
ness and stiffness. Thotf sat quiet along
time. He was getting drowsy when he
heard footsteps approaching from two
directions. There was quick greeting
on the bridge just below him, and then
he caught the Words,- ~5'f
Up in the pasture on Spruce Hill
Lost :he wallet with five hundred dol
lars in it." " @'"i g '... r.. =
Five hundred dollars! thought he
was smarter than to be carryin' around SO
much money. Spruce Hill, too. WHY.
it's all alders and second growth III
there" ri" @#7s:. r. .@< @ja's -
Yes, know; an tbs bad job. You
see he was coming down to the bank, and
stopped to look up a southdown that had
strayesl away. When he got to the village
he'd lost the wallet, and now wants YOU n
NE to start of with him tomorrow morn
ing n see it we can find it, "', -55!@ ).
50 s>"Find it!'' cried the man. t.E ".}I u
i ''Sh-hf not SO loud" WHISPERED The
first speaker, looking cautiously round
"Don't you see we've got to keep still
aboutltS 1t some folks should get hold
Of the story they MT come in ahead. find
the wallet, and then it never'd be heard
of again. 2 |.1., :a[ "a. :. .
"Whatll he pay for finding it?r
-Four dollars day." was the slow
answer H- @@ - ~
That amt enough. If he wants the
siectmen O. Diarmid, he's got to pay &C.
! cordin'. I'll 60 for sixn
| 'All right he won't stand tor two dol
lars I guess. Eight O'Clock tomorrow
! morning. I'll stop for you Keep dark
! The men parted, and Thoff sat in the
dlmness OF his den thinking. He was
not sleepy now. Five hundred dollars
lost among the rocks of Spruce Hill! H.
knew every foot OF ground up there. Il
was not in vain that he had lived away
from nome anil eaten strawberries for :
week at time. II any person in Diar:
MID could find the wallet, Thoff knew
himself to be that person. r-1I
The Old town clock was shrinking five
the next morning as the boy climbed the
wall and started up Spruce Hill.
NOW I'm three hours ahead of thu
I squire n his men," said Thoff. s:Bu1
they'll know where to look, and I've go1
= ts guess at it."