Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-27
mock ruin covered with ivy. 1t consists

of solitary tower with two or three mar
row silts fer windows, and rejoices in the
Keep IrememDer with joy that it has a
l creep out softly through the conser-
vatory, locking the door after me, and
dodge between the shrubs until have
placed safe distance between myself
and the flower garden, where l hear my
victim walking. In breathless state of
excitement reach the Keep. push the
door open, and enter. Ugh! What a
nasty, damp, miserable place it is-just
like dungeon in some old castle There
is nothing inside but spade and rake
and an old garden-stool-these carefully
remove. l hesitate over the stool, but
compassion is overcome. NO" say to
myself, tout you must go! If he is tired
he must sit on the ground. You would
be too handy as battering-ram"-- 1
throw it out after the spade and rake.
My next proceeding is to carefully ex-
anime the lock. This nearly foils me-
it is so stiff that can hardly turn it.
am at loss what to do, when l catch
sight OF a small bottle of oil and feath-
er standing on little ledge. Ijoyfully
seize them. 'Just the thing p cry The
bottle is verv dirty and sticky, but 1 am
too excited to heed such petty discom-
forts, so pull out the feather and begin
to oil into the lock through the keyhole.
90, you nasty, tiresome thing!'
I cry, passionately, stamping the ground.
WHO, l or the LOCKE" And, turning
around, 1 beheld my victim regarding
me with slightly astonished vet amused
look am too much nonplussed to re-
ply.
"Can assist your he inquiries; and,
without waiting for my permission, the
bottle and feather are taken from me, and
my voluntary assistant, needless of the
dirty moss coverd step, is on his kness
busily working away at the lock as if he
had been locksmith all his life. He
works on quietly for little time without
speaking, while l stand by confusedly
trying to think of some means by which
I can trap my game. There is the prison,
and there is the prisoner; but how is he
to be put inside it? "What a strong
lock this is! l should not care to be be-
answer nothing, but am ready 10
CRY of vexation. / wish that was as
strong as an elephant, so that / might
push him in nolens eolens.
81 think you will find it all right now.
1t is still little stiff, but you will be
| able to turn it."
And, rising from his knees, the victim
faces me with grave face, which all at
once freaks into an irrepressible smile of
amusement that he vainly strives to con-
ceal.
1 flush angrly at what I consider his
| impertinence. Afterwad, when I see my
self in the glass. my wonder is removed
my dress. all torn and creased, is smudged
all down the front with green moss and
rust, while across my forhead is a great
streak of dirty oil. / suppose l must
have used my greasy hands as an i'm
promptu hair-brush, without thinking of
the improvement 1 was adding to my
beauty. My voluntary assistant stoops to
clean his hands, and as he is wiping
them on his handkerchief, notice very
handsome antique ring ON the little fin
ger of his right hand. Seeing my look,
he remarks:
81 am rather proud of this ring; 1t has
been in our family for generations. 1t is
very much admired by connoisseurs;"
and he holds it out to me for inspection.
I decline to look at it, coldIy observing
that was no antiquary; and ! smile to
myself at the idea of bailiff talking of
generations" as if he had an ancestry.
He turns away as if to return to the gar
den.
Nov or neverw say to myself, and
with rapidly beating heart begin:
"Ahem! would you not like to go in
side our ruin9' "
I try to speak in an insinuating tone,
while my stupid heart thumps so that
/ wonder he does nat hear it.
SIS it really ruin9" he asks.
lam obliged to admit that it is only
an imitation one; and then I confusedly
mutter something about people liking to
see such things.
Thank you all the same" he says,
"but think will content myself with
an outside view; I dare say it is full of
earwigs and spiders, very unpleasant
creatures to. have tumbling about one,
don't you think so?"
eyes," l slowly assent, adding quickly,
as am seized with likely idea, 80,
yes! l am SO terribly afraid Of them; and
papa will make me keep my gardening
tools in there, so that am always pre-
vented from gardening unless William is
here to get them for me. / wanted to do
a little gardening now," 1 continue,
glancing at him timidly; 'but suppose
I must wait till find William" and l
try the effect of little sigh.
Success! My fish nibbles! Now to
land himl
"Can't I act as William substitue9"
i And, without waiting for my permits
sion, the unfortunate bailiff braves the
carvings and spiders and enters the trap
''Thank your; I cry, excitedly. "You
will find them in the recess behind the
door,"
Hastily following him, pull the door
turn the KEY with desperate wrench
and, covering my ears with my hands,
fly like hunted deer toward the house
Poor James wits are nearly scared
away when relate TO her my adventures
She declares that bailiffs always hunt in
couples, and that there is sure to be an
other lurking about the place. So, tt
prevent a surprise, we care fully lock anG
, bolt all the doors, and, Notwithstanding
!, that it is early in the afternoon, close an6
fasten the shutters to all the windows or
, the ground floor.
How slowly the time passes! Thre,
o'clock--four o'clock no father! If h,
, does not catch the four o'clock express
/ from Bardmour he will not reach HON,
till seven.
4 Another hour before he can arrived
try to read, but cannot settle my ideas
3 1t is equally useless to work, I tor
g ture myself with all kinds of horrible