The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-04-30

Il mean heart. But don't be afraid,
Smallbones'' -stroking AIS dark curls
tive won't hurt him, not bit; make
your mind easy about that. He shall
live to take you a-fshin' again.
''It does him good to wake him UP
once in awhile" added Ned Morning
star, "he's such turtle. think see
his face when we all shout april
foorr'
At dusk the next evening, after
Grandmother Lord had gone to the
sewing society. six or seven dread
Unlocking objects came splashing
through the mud up the road
which led to her cottage. They were
dressed in uncouth garments of all sizes
and colors. Hats, brimless, or with
brfms very much turned up or very
much turned down, two flaming red
turbans, and a round, handleless basket,
through the open wicker-work of
which the hair of the wearer struggled
in the most outlandish and porcupinish
manner, constituted their head-gear.
The leader carried gun. The others
were armed with hatchets, knives and
clubs. All their faces were hidden by
paper masks painted in various colors.
''This is the house," said one of them,
in voice that seemed to come out of
the ground beneath his feet, as they
ranged themselves on the front porch,
and he raped sharply on the door with
the stick he carried. 1t opened, and
there stood Lady Harriet, gazing out
with horror-stricken eyes upon the
motley gang. "Your money or your
ifer' demanded he of the gun, at the
same time pointing the weapon at the
trembling boy.
Lady Harriet turned pale, and shrank
back. II have no money" he said, in
faltering voice.
"Then we must have your life," was
the gruff reply, "unless you consent to
become one of us. Seize him and search
himr'
"Do 90 away, and leave me Alone"
implored the boy falling upon his knees
and clasping his hands. ''There is no
use-making me-join your gang" he
continued, with chattering teeth. e.
couldn't be a-a-what you are-to save
my life."
But the young desperadoes paid nc
attention to his entreaties, and while
two of their number rifled his pockets
the others, lighting couple of lanterns
they had brought with them, followed
their leader on tramp through the
house with much noise and deep growl-
ing. On the return of the latter, the
pocket-searchers presented the Captain
with half a stick of peppermint candy,
n vnn6voSf0 6Svron n email hnnH <SSThn
Language of Flowers''), and some vio-
lets wrapped in handkerchief.
Prisoner" said the Captain, stern
ly--that is as sternly as the pebble he
had under his tongue would a1low-"if
you make an attempt to escape, the
consequences be on your own head.
Right about face! March,
And away they went, dragging poor
Lady Harriet, begging and imploring
to be set free, with them.
"Did you ever see any fellow so
scared IN all your life?' whispered
Charley Bennett to Hen Rowe, as their
victim began to cry and scream.
Never" said Rowe. 81 begin to
feel sorry for him. But what baby he
is! Why don't he break and run? He
can make good time with those long
legs wher he's mind to-
"Haltr' cried the Captain. when
they reached the cedar woods. "This
has gone quite far enough. We want
no towards among us. Boy, you are
-" And the mouths of his followers
simultaneously opened for a tremend-
Gus shout, when
81 perfectly agree with you," inter-
rupted the prisoner, quickly, Wrestling |
himself at the same time with dex- |
ferrous movement from the grasp of the
two boys who had held him; and then
he went on in his usual soft voice ard |
slow way: IL mean this jokes gone
quite far enough. You came half an
hour or SO before expected you, but
I think we've all acted our parts first
rate. Good-evening, Captain Morning
star. Good : evening, desperadoes.
Farewell, April-fools. And he turned
and walked leisurely toward his home
again.
"Jiminyr' exclaimed Ned Morning.
star, snatching off his mask and pulling
a long face. Somebody has
Blundered," said Hen Rowe.
"Fools to the right of me,
Fools to the left of me,
Fools ev'ry side of me
Oh, how they wondered!
But what's the use of being GUM about
it. I've an idea it serves us right.
Three cheers for Lady Harriet. He's
not such fool as he looks
GAS we look, think" said Roy
Wheeler.
And then, like the jolly boys they
really were, they gave the cheers with
q will, and followed them up with a
roar of laughter that wakened all the
echoes for miles around. - Margaret
Eytinge, in Harper's Young People.