The Republican journal., 1880-06-24

''Ni 'l''i bioPNof SitNii anu oOdhtd W
heavy rains. Where he had been wan
dcring the night before, he could not
possibly make out. He saw nothing of
the clustered houses among which he had
imagined himself. Here rude tent,
there Il ruder shanty, was all. He began
to think that he must have been very
drunk. indeed
"Ballen'S was not easy to miss by day
light. Portcous's description enabled Mis-
gill to recognize it at once. 1t was am
bitiousy whitewashed, and was thanked
by a huge hogshead, standing on end &;
this, having a sort of door cut in it, serv-
ed to shelter a few domestic animals, all
of which latter had at that time a remark
able value.
Announcing himself loudly at the front
entrance, Misgill was unexpectedly wait
ed upon by somebody who dartcd around
the side of the house like a watch dog
an angry man, whose fiery countcnacr
was covered by an abundant growth Of
vigorous red hristleS standing out straight
from chin, checkS-CarS, even and ra
dating heat and choer from every hirsute
point.
"What the - do You want, hammer
ing mans house down over his head :!
was the first impetuous query, put forth
like a volly of barks.
'lm Nisgill Of the Barnacle. | want
a land-rat named Ballen, and 90 to -
with ypu," growled the Captain in his
best chest notes.
"Well, if YOU do want me, YOU needn't
come here as if You was in command of
the whole hill" replied the other, letting
h xNi Col
ous's friend, s'posc. Expected You last
night. Walk around the back way. We
don't put on no airs in these diggin's. No
lock on the front door; 50 its barricaded.
Women folks skeery"
And rabbits were "skccry," too. one
! fed here, another started there at the
Captains approach, making, with long,
soft leaps, toY the sheltcring hogshead.
! This gaining, they turned to investigate,
with wonder stricken ears and trcmul0us
4 noises.
Mrs. Ballen excited Misgill's profound
astonishment. "What a spare rib she is"
thought he, chuckling. 'BlaSt me il
don't think her stays would pinch my
| thumb" CA reflection which he after
wards repeated to Portcousl SO withcr-
ed creature was She, indeed, that her
shrivelcd appearance seemed in some
mysterious way to hold toward her huS-
bands ntiammable temper the relation of
effect to cause, One might be pardOned
/ the fancy that She had undergone il pro
cess Of physical shrinking 50 as to present
| less surface to the fury of his WrathtUl
/ explosions. For wrinkles. the poor souls
\ countena.ce WAS a marvel; her close
I drawn lips looking exactly as If worked
round in button hole stitch What scautv
gray hair she had was twisted into a
tight little knob. Going about her house
\ hold duties With ceaseess activity. She
/ seemed like a mechanical toy Just wound
mp.
Rptnrr dinner -ti,nn NisgiI hn,r.,n hn,rt
ily ii reorrt brinr un1rterrd th4rn III
| had seen nolodv Save Tho two di.o,rrena.
| bic elders Mr. HaIlan srnIdin,r inrn7so1t-
4 * and Nls ErIIrn siant Mhn+ that
,our a NlsrjU also remarked Nth nrn
fame snnrrtilIity tn bis friend pnrtnnns
..rbat + vould cnr, whn'e shin's rrrv
~ rh, sruryv in.r tn IonI, ~ bor nnct
The Young person to Wbam porrcous
had referred came in swjnojno n raIirn
snn- bonner bv fine st,inmS whiIe thny
we're M table mora nrrfncr iii, or 1n-
concern If had neyrr h4dn I'M Cantain'u
luck to see \ shrcwd observer # strnrl,
/ him that this nonrhalaucn was assumed
Fljnrnu her head -apar acros, thc room
the girI took her place at tie humble
board. saving roolIv
.Hallo, Pa don't bust \oDr bjler."
Then ylisajIl nyolUutaIiN Glanced n,
/ BaIlcn. ana found himself nrn,nntIy turn
Inc hark the cu1s Of I'LL rourh i.rkrf
He wasn't Going to sir by and See n ..gaI
/ like that beaten IN his nrrsenrr- ..'tWns
arjn human natar,, ME yo1na nprsnn
continued in the same strain.
..Lrt off steam now betnro Won, ri, IN,
fulI-do Ma don't want 10 nicl M INV
fraamrnts dn ynn mo WhnW Mn
hunury | am !"
Th1t sha b,d haan ,I,Io to SOW, :, .n,,.I,
without interrnption was nm eyiD norfrnt
BaIIpn,s tnnfh rIa,maI IL Inolad l,m
urrous Thr Iast word had hardIv IN
| fhr oirls Inns whom he f1i,Iv Hav frnm NJ.
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