The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-05-13

player, George Birdseye, from consump-
tion; poor George had blown all his
vitality through the orifices OF his
favorite instrument. His widow was
free TO pursue her life-dream of ven
geance.
1 started for Florida.
Here, among the oranges and alliga-
tors, peas and strawberries in winter
and other attractions, ] began, little by
little, to, not exactly forget, but to cease
to remember with such distinct acute
ness the complications of the past: The
mind becomes enfeebled in Florida, and
the emotions subside 10 q state OF
apathy.
l was in this condition of languor
when, one day, entering the hotel, l
carelesslv glanced at the register. Mrs.
George Birdseye" stared me in the facet
"How long has this lady been hereF
l asked.
Just arrived, SIR" said the clerk.
/ went directly to the elevator and
got in. Up we started and had got half
way, when, with hideous wrench, the
machine stopped between two floors.
"Oh!" cried a voice near me, in
alarm, "we have met with an acci-
dent"
l become conscious, for the first time,
of a companion. 1t was a lady. and she
lifted her vail. 1t was Mrs. Birdseye,
and felt that was alone in cage with
an infuriated tigress.
81 always hated these elevators" she
said, with frightened anxiety;
wish I had gone to my room by the
stairs! Do you think we are in danger
of. being precipitated to the bottom
sirP"
shoo'. my head.
A ventriloquial controversy began up
and down the shaft between the SER
wants and the elevator boy.
1.-The thing has caught" shouted the
boy. "Give it shake"
Mrs. Birdseye sprang up.
| "Oh. for mercy's sake! don't shake il,
or we may be killed" She seized my
arm. Command them not TO shake it,
sir. Threaten them with damages, sir,
if they expose our lives in so reckless a
manner! Will you speak, sir, or are you
deaf and dumb?"
"There is not a particle of danger,
think, madam" said 1. 1.-The elevator
| is new one, and fear that they do not
| know precisely how to manage it.
| She recognized me.
! "Mr. Blueberrym
| l prepared to defend myself.
| "No violence, ma'am. Don't get ex-
cited. Act calmly and reasonably"
Il have come to Florida expressly to
lind you, if possible, Mr.. Blueberry. l
have written reams of letters, and have
followed your trail like detective. 1t
almost seemed as if you were trying to
avoid me-
"I-I state unhesitatingly that l
shall be compelled to defend myself,
Mrs. Birdseye."
She looked at me for minute little
| puzzled.
"Oh!" she returned; 81 suppose you
refer to your absurd attempt to get up
a firtation with me at White Sulphur
I don't mind that now-indeed, | had
| quite forgotten it-although, OF course,
ut the time / was little vexed. / re-
member you talked about me as gay
widow. and l really was provoked
enough ut first to have called you to ac-
| count; but Governor Aydslott said it
was only fun, ar d afterward poor George
Birdseye said he knew you intimately,
and-and l dismissed the matter from
my mind"
I breathed deep sign of relief"
but why have you been 50 long in
pursuit of me, Mrs. Birdseye?"
"Well, George, you know, is dead,
poor fellow, and before he went he
charged me with commission. For
years he had been writing his musical
menoirs-a most interesting work-en-
titled, Notes-by Musician Know
ing you to be literary man, he wished
you to take charge of the materia! and
put it in proper shape edit it, you un.
derstand. And in consideration of thi;
| &c r1H fri 1,h in hn hoc loft
Mr.. Burberry, by his will-what dc
you thinkP-his gold and silver flute!'
l shook hands with her silently, anC
wiped the corner of my eye with m!
handkerchief.
1t shall be DONE" I murmured, in {
broken whisper, still holding her small
and plump hand.
- am g ad to hear you promise m
that, for thought you would refuse me
l know how eccentric you are, MI
Blueberry, and really, after that occur
renee in our parlor-the day you locke,
me in-I positively considered you in
sane. was shut in there four or fiv
hours, unable to get out, sir, and final
was obliged to call assistance from tn
street."
"It was pre-occupation, Mrs. Birds
, eye. My mind was absorbed in pre-
fOrnd literary projects, ana scarceI
knew what l was about. l was the
tracing the missing link between th
oyster and the clam, to the exclusion {
all other subjects whatsoever. Yo
j., forgive meP" l pressed her hand bt
: seechin9ly.
Certainly. But really, this is rathe
|, a curious situation, isn't itP How muc
l longer are we to be imprisoned here
Please ask the how
4 "How long, oh, Catiline, wilt tho
: abuse our patience?" shouted.
. "A man has gone for the carpente
sir" came back the reply.
= Either the man or the carpenter mao
a his haste very deliberately, Tor Mr.
= Birdseye and myself remained in clo
( communion in the elevator for an hol
! longer.
But it was short hour-indeed, d
lightful hour. When we were release
q I surreptitiously bestowed upon Il
c boy banknote, to his great bewildt
ment.
:. I lam now engaged upon the memoi
a of my late friend George, and find Il
q assistance OF his widow valuable.