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

side, watching the approach of the thun-
der-storm, now almost ready to burst.
AT every few seconds frightful gleam
of lightning tore open the heavens. fol-
lowed by burst of thunder that seemed
to shake the world.
"Hullol Come income in!" said the
governor, cheerily, 'tottering goutily to-
ward me and placing a chair. l hope
we shall have little cooler weather
after this" Indicating the storm.
In a few minutes had placed him i'll
possession of my case. He looked very
gravely at me indeed, and pursed up his
lips into little round o.
Young man, that lady intends to
cowhide YOU, sir. George Powders
widow! By Jove! sir, I'd rather face
battery of artillery any day."
There was knock at the door; SER
want appeared.
Governor, Mrs. Powders compli-
ments. She is out here in the hall, sir,
and would like to have short private
conversation with you, sir" ..
He was knowing servant, and
smiled darkly, I fancied, in my direc-
ton; and no wonder, for l was as pale
as death.
Tell Mrs. Powder that shall be at
her service in one moment" said the
governor; and the man retreated. My
friend he seized my shaking. ha ID
There is absolutely no escape for you,
except by going upon the balcony until
have succeeded in getting rid of her. "
I made a dash for the window, and
lie shut me outside. At the same IN
stant the thunderstorm burst in all its
| fury, and, there being no protection
whatever, | was soaked through and
| through. Positively, could not have
been wetter if had deposited myself
at the bottom of a river.
The thunder and lightning were ap-
palling, and, as l am naturally afraid Of
| the clements, my situation may be i'm
| agined; and for full hour l was thus
entrapped, and still no prospect of re-
| lief or of the storm ceasing. In despair,
| | glanced over the balcony and saw
| that there was another beneath, and in
"A moment had let myself down by my
hands and secured footing there.
The window was up. the room ap-
parently untenanted, and / stepped in.
Scarcely had l done so when there was
a shrek from the bed; lady sat up and
began screaming Robbers" and !
rushed to the door and gained the cor
| ridOr, and so at last my own chamber.
An hour afterward l was in a ra /
way train. speeding from the White
Sulphur rapidly as steam could carry
me.
Six months had passed away; the
events of the summer were growing
dim upon my memory, and l was in
New York. We were endeavoring to
get up a charitable concert for the bene-
it of sufferers by flood somewhere, and
| | was the most active agent in the enter
prise.
am, I believe, first-rate amateur
tenor, and you have, perhaps, seen my
name pretty freely in the newspapers in
connection with semi-pubiic concerts,
| Our programme was all arranged and
a capital one, except that we needed n
! solo cornetist, or something of the
kind. l recollected my old friend
| Birdseye-not a cornetist, but the very
best flute-player in the State. He had
his own private and particular flute,
mounted in silver and gold, and pre-
sented to him by some musical society
worth at least a thousand dollars
and it was well-known that the public
would come to see that flute as we'll as
tC hear it.
Bir1seye, according to report, hat
lately retired from public flute-playing
and positively declined to engage il
any musical enterprise whatever. | de
termined to see him personally, and, i
possible, alter his resolution. | called
home; but, if my business was very
important, | might see his wife.
walked in and took a seat, and ;
light, rapid footstep sounded in the hall
The door swings open-enter Mrs. Pow
der! sprang to my feet and got he
hind the table, horribly frightened:
81 wished to see Mr.. Birdseye-"
81 am Mrs. Birdseye," she returned
in voice sweeter than Birdseye's valu
able flute, and have been so for severa
months. Mr.. Birdseye is out of tow
at present; his health is very delicate
and he is in the country"
Then she recognized me, and her eye
dilated with fiery g,eam.
, Madam, we have met BEFORE"
stammered; land fear l was guilt
fconduct-"
You decidedly were, SIR" she re
turned, advancing upon me.
stepped from the table to a larg
arm chair, trembling in every limt
and casting about for the most direo
I lOulc lOI Tue uOOT.
:" was guilty of conduct which tn
wife of no fute-I mean no gentle
{ man"
"No gentleman, sir -" she repeated
in a rising echo, making another ste
in my direction; and believing that
fracas was inevitable, | plunged vic
: lently toward the door, rushed throug
! and closed it behind me.
a At the same moment / felt her han
on the knob on the other side; exertin
= all my strength, held the barrier fas
D locked it and fed.
e | felt now that I should not be in
: condition of safety while remained
New York. That woman might pount
e upon me at any time. AS for appearir
4 at the concert, it was out of the que
e tion, and, pleading illness, packed
t my things and started southwark.
a About a month afterward, living
= Washington, had letter with II
monogram of flute on it-from Birds
a eye. of course; peremptory messaI
It that he desired to see me immediatel J.
s | left that night for Richmond, and
v two weeks another letter was forwardt
;e by the secretary of my club in Ne
2. York, with another flute monogramt
p on it. The handwriting was bold an
ID aggressive, but of a strictly feminil
', character, and a tremulous examinatiC
p revealed the authoress-Mrs. Birdsey
+. Again it was the peremptory messaj