Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-12-23
LANCASTER WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER % 1880.

swered my question about Christ
mas" She was evidently trying Il
| get him off the track OF compliments
| "O-I like to think of Christmas ,
| "Are You going to hang up your
stocklng?" she asked.
swell, hardly know" he answer.
ed. 81 never go to bed till after
twelve on Christmas eve, and I have
not but one pair of stockings in
the world; SO you see I'm in q bad
FIX"
GLOW you talk r. she said in q
pretty little injured tone.
Then they both laughed.
By this time they had reached her
home, and as they stood talking softly
at the gate, Rome could not help but
notice what grand mansion it was.
She invited him to enter, bat he said
the moon was SO bright, he would
rather remain upon the outside.
How beautiful she looked, Flora
Lee, standing beside the manly form
OF Rome Jerome. They were stand
ing very close together, and we are
afraid that his arm stole about her
waist, and that he squeezed her
something harder than the law would
allow. She was dressed very warm,
too. and we can see no occasion for
his trying to wrap her inside his
great coat; nor for his trying to
warm her ears against his cheek /;
and we are afraid he would have soon
had to warm her cheeks with his
mustache had not a new character
suddenly appeared on the scene.
First came two enormous cats at
full speed closely pursued by long,
cadaverous looking man. The cats
rushed under the gate between their
feet and the man followed them with
such speed as to send the gate open
against Flora and Rome with suffi.
Client force to precipitate them into q
pile in the snow. Rome picked him.
self up with the sprightliness and de.
cision of man who IS about to kick
somebody blu. the cats and their
pursuer we're far down the street,
bounding along in the moonlight, the
mans hair standing straight up and
his coat tail streaming out behind,
his long arms and legs cleaving the
air in his frantic efforts to catch the
| flying toms.
Rome helped Flora to her feet,
brushed the snow from her clothes,
and asked:
"'.. 40 in the deuce was that?"
But Flora had not lost her good
humor with her fall, and she laughed
heartily as she replied:
80, you need not mind him; he's
queer sort of fellow, who lives at
our house. He takes a great fancy
to mother, and thinks he cannot live
away from here. He calls himself
Gloomy"
"Is that all ?" asked Rome. with a
sigh of relief. Then he added with
grim humor 81 thought it must be
the missing link between the cork.
screw and the jack rabbit"
Chow you talk y said Flora, with
a pretty little pout on Der rosy lips ;
"don't you know that it takes all
kinds to make a complete whole ?"
81 guess that's fact" answered
Rome. II suppose if there were no
fools in the world lawyers would
starve, and the existence of wise men
makes it possible for printers to ex.
list; but this fellow must be queer
one"
1t was growing late-time flies
with those who watch the moon by
twos-and after little more CONVEX
sation, to the effect that they would
see each other often, they parted,
Flora carrying to her room such o
kiss as we fear would disturb her
dreams. Rome took his way down
the street while bis soul and his
thoughts fingered at the gate and
with the beautiful girl be had Just
left. So unmindful of surrounding
| objects was he that he failed to no.
tee a figure ccouching beside the
1912 monument, and only became
aware of its proximity after it had
grasped him by the collar and shook
him violently.
As soon as Rome had brought his
senses to an understanding of sur.
rounding objects and immediate
transporting events, he recognized ~
the man who held him by the collar
the same person who had so uncere.
moniously overturned himself and
lady at the gate.
Tearing the mans hands loose
from his collar, he threw him from
him and stepped hack few PAGES.
The man gathered himself and walk,
ed few PAGES toward Rome in a
threatening manner, at the same time
Kissing between his clenched teeth !:
"Wno dares steal from Coony p
Who dares steal Coony's all p
"Keep off from me !" cried Rome !;
keep off,or I'll mop the ground with
your honorable person.
Coony stopped and considered a
moment. then extended his hand to
Rome, saying:
"You have my secret. We will
not quarrel. Perhaps you can run
faster than can then you will help
me. Shake"
Rome, thinking it would not do to
qaarrel with any one belonging to
the Lee mansion, smothered bis har.
rowed temper and took the offered
hand, saying:
eyes; I'll help you'll l can. What
do you wish me to do ?"
"Come here" said Coony, drawing
Rome to seat on the frosty stone.
"Sit down. Listen. I have a great
secret. Gloomy will be rich. The
flowers, The trees, the earth, the sun
will sing of Coony. All the people
of the earth will fall down and wor.
ship Coony because of great in
venlion vouchsafed unto them but
Coony will say, depart from me,
ye accursed I know ye not And
the night" said Coony, drawing
closer to Rome and lowering bis
voice to vehement whisper, "and
the night will be turned into day, and
the darkness into light =
Roma mos MT patrxolir , o1.1