Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-02

dune WI the beasties i the BARN. Aw
Gamma clip it; we be vera puir folk" he
added apologetically.
Hardly had he finished speaking when
an old woman entered the kitchen. Big,
raw-boned, and masculine in appearance
she WAS nevertheless Scrupulouslv clean,
aud wore y white apron and large
white hordered cap tied neatly under
the chin with huge black bow. Court
esying humhly, she came up to where
my wife WAS sitting.
wilma yetak of yer hat, my leedyt"
she said protferiAg to assist Amanda to
disencumher herself of some of her
many wraps. Then, turning toward the
man who, from the likeness, we quick
ly discovered was her con. Ca, Jamie,
laddie, an cut ane or twa raishers o
bacon fra all the side by tns waShhooSe
door, and yer'll foind some eggs o. tina
morniu's layin' in tina soup crock in tina
cellar"
Busting about the dame soon estab.
lished a sort % feeling OF comfort
sround as only a woman can.
A cloth was spread, and knives and
forks and crockery were produccd; y
kettle boiled ON the fire, y second can
die was lit, and ii another ten minutes
smoking dish oF fried eggs and bacon
faxed by loaf of homemade bread,
was placed before us, together with \
bottle OF good whiskey, which the hot
water, with sugar, and slice of lemon,
speedily con erled into excellent teddy
than which there is nothing better for
warming and cheering the spirits, re-
storing equanimity, or composing the
nerves.
From the tiny washhouse at the back
we could hear the postbov' 8 "gutfawing"
loudly over some of JAMES Jokes which
seemed entirely 10 his liking and his
own. Pushing aside the table and light
ing my pipe l settled myself comforta-
bly, for the evening on side of the hlaL
ing hearth, while Amanda having fetch
ed her reticule, faced me on the other,
and proceeded to tat with n nimbleness
that was pleasing to behold. We We're
just feeling placidly content, and | was
just nodding off INTO a delicious doze,
after picturing many quaint fantasies,
and imaging gnomes and giant and cas-
ties and armies in the red fire glow, and
little dreaming OF the gruesome night
that was in store for us.
THE bed upstairs is quite clane an
straight, whenever tina Teddy ma wish
TO retire" said our hostess, coming into
the room. I'm afeerd yen ma be vera
weel off tina night" she continued, "but
it's tina maist NV can do for we.
Thank YOU" said Amanda, sweetly,
/" | am sure we shall be very comfort
able"
"Aweel, an indeed l hone that We
will. Dinnah fash yersel' wi tidying
up; anvil cum an do it n for We, if ye're
so moinded; an dinns gaze speering into
tina corner closet-it be jeest fule n
things a my ain, that a put there when
Jamie tauld me we're war cummin."
And wishing us both "gude night she
vanished into the back regions, where
Jamie was with tina droving BARNS"
as she called them.
"What very kind, civil, obliging
person she is, remarked my wife, after
the old woman had left us. Glow for
tunate we were in discovering this nice
cottage" Poor soul, she was so easily
pleased in those days. "Hark! how
the wind howlsl What night to be
surel"
Amanda, my pet, | think you had
better go to bed, !" said ] ,interruptipg her
interesting soliloquy. I'VE haye to
start early tomorrow morning, and
am sure you must be tired. | shall
follow you in few minutes; so don't
dawdle, that's dear"
Lighting candle ] handed 1t to my
wife, who received it blushingly and
tripped coyly away with it upstairs.
| remained yet n while Illuminating
and bordering over many things, while
the light waxed low and Mt length sput-
tered out altogether. How long | sat
thus i'll the growing darkness | know
not, for must have fallen asleep. 1t
could not have been many minutes,
however, for tine fire was fast deeaying
before unconsciousness crept upon me,
and was not yet dead when was re-
called to the things Of this world by the
most piercing shrek that ever rang in
mortal ears-a shrek so intensely wild
anu JTOlOllEbu lllhb ~ hGdIGtly HttIltli
human. II was accompanied by n heavy
thud, as of something very bulky and
massive falling, that shook the founda-
tion OF the crazy little house rs if an
earthquake we're sapping the earth's
strata. | started up in agony Of fear
and CROPPED my way instantly 20 the
latched door. Before could reach it
another protracted wailing shrek Vi
brated through the miserable dwelling,
this time more family, as if the sound
proceeded from some sitting throat in
which sufiocation was doing its deadly
work.
Thrilled with supernatural terror, I
Numbered up the steep, ladder.like
stairs, and, in far less time than il takes
to tell, was in the room whence the
dismal awe,inspir!ng cries proceeded.
II was the room where we were To have
slept. All was dark, save for the pale
light ofthe moon that was now strug.
Cling 10 cast fitful rays from behind the
storm driven clouds that sped hurriedly
in broken, dense, black masses across
the turbulent, tempest.tossed sky.
Lying prone ON the floor, Immediately
in front Of a wide-open cupboard door,
was a great apra wing mutionlpha white