Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-10-16
A MESSAGE THROUGH
THE AIR.

month Oh August Ilal L sat on
the porch of old Uncle Toby's
house, not yet entirely recover
ed from the impressions made
by glorious sunset, which G.
ven then left its footprints up
on the clouds that hoYered in
the western sky.
My horse stood at the gate
already saddled awaiting me,
but / was determined not to
leave Uncle Toby's house until
Il had carried my point, and be-
ing his nephew, l had enough
of the old blood in my veins to
make me. as perseyering as he
was obstinate.
"Uncle Toby, I must have
that bird"
"Wa'al, neffy, askme for any.
thing else in the house except
that, and it is yours"
81 don't want anything else,
Uncle Toby, but that you must
give me-" jo
"Wa'al now, neffy, you know
that 'ere carrier-pigeon took the
prize at the county fair"
(Which fact will only make
me prize it dearer. Come, now,
Uncle Toby, be generous.
"Wa'al, boy, the bird is
your'n. You always had your
own way with old Uncle Toby"
To say that l was delighted
would but family express my
feelings. The bird was a beau
ty, as may easily be imagined;
and as 1 bid old Uncle Toby
goodnight and mounted my
pony, with the cage in my hand
containing the prize / SO dearly
coveted, l drove home with a
light heart and a brain filled to
overlooking by with plans in
which the birds speed would be
tested. Numerous valuable pri-
yes seemed already to be within
my grasp as / reached home, and
having stabbed my horse, as
cended to my dark and lonely
room.
l was but 16 years of age at
the time, and OH the night in
question / was the sole occu-
pant of my fathers mansion;
the other members of the family
had gone on a summer trip to
the mountains, leaving me in
charge. Ny room was on the sec
ond floor overlooking the road,
and thither | had taken my bird,
where in my solitude | could
quietly admire its beautiful pro-
portions.
Distinguishing my lamp, [ sat
by the open window, contented-
ly smoking my pipe and enjoy
ing the cool breezes that swept
across the lawn laden with rich
odors of the flowers, when my
attention was attracted to some
dark objects that appeared to
be approaching by the road that
led by our house. ets
/ listened intently, and a.
bove the whispers of the sum-
mer breeze 1 thought / could
detect the hum of whispered
conversation.
1t was no unusual occurrence.
for tr6mps to pass our place at
that hour, and the circumstance
caused only . ripple of curiosity
to arise in my bosom, until L
heard a latch of our gate lifted,
and distinctly the tread of many
feet fell upon my ear.
/ was so surprised and star
tied at this unexpected intrusion
that / was momentarily dazed,
and before / could decide on a
plan of action they had ascend
cd the door-steps, and / knew,
from the splintering of wood,
that they had already commenc-
ed operations to force an en-
trance into the house.
BY the light of a dark Ian
tern, which they carried, | dis
covered that they were six, IN
number, and all wore heavy
black. masks, the more effectual-
lily to prevent recognition in
case OF discovery. Then my
voice come back TO me and
thinking to make up for my
youthful years in the volumes
of my voice, yelled out ID
laundering tones:
"IIello! What are you doing
there?"
The dark lantern was closed
like a flash, but yet l could de-
fine distinctly the dim outline
of the robbers as they stood
like dark shadows in contrast
with the white balcony beyond.
For a moment the stiffness of
death ensued, when / received
oql lnq 'IoqqS!0u lsolu9u 9ql
a reply, uttered in tones ! shall
never forget, and with an en-
phasis that clearly indicated a
purpose to carry out what was
Threatened; s
81 say, youngster, just take