The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-08-11


chuckled Andy. eve had good right
to take our revenge"
Lessen Us call ourselves de reTeng=
ers," suggested Pop.
"That's the name for us, 4" cried Andy.
you've hit it this time, Pop. sReveDge
is sweet, you know, and J reckon we
never felt better t.sn we do now. Tim
and BohM never hear the last of this"
This was Thursday. Every Thursday
night there was prayer meeting held "a
Crosstown Methodist Church, situated
mile from Miss Faithfups house.
4 Andy and Pop always went not be
cause they liked it, b'ss because Miss
Faithful, who was deyout member Of
the congregation, was afraid to leave
them at home, for fear they would burn
the house down OF commit some other
desperate deed of like nature.
Please let us stay home to- night,
aunt, )" pleaded Andy, as he sat with her
at supper, while Pop slcwly polished the
tins at the eink, averaging rub every
two or three minutes.
"No, don't ask it," was the decided
reply I" I can't trust you. Like as not
| you'd burn the whole place down before
I'd got half to Crosstown. Come, Por
sit down and eat, while I clear away the
dishes, and then wen start. YOU both
deserve q thrashing for going off this
afternoon without leave, and attending
meeting is small enough punishment,
goodness knows.
| The church was full. It had boon pre-
viously announced that Deacon Ellis and
Deacon Snow, of Chenille, who were
visiting Deacon Marley for few days,
would give their experience, aid the at
tendance Yves consequently very large,
for these gentlemen were looked upon as
"shining lights, and great respect was
shown them. Miss Faithful had invited
them both to late supper when meet
ing should be over, snd had, on the way
to church, given Andy and Pop many and
earnest directions as to their conduct on
the forthcoming great occasion.
But neither of the eminent gentlemen
had arrived when Miss Faithful, little
late, entered the church with her two
charges Already inquiries were being
made about them, and anxiety, mingled
with disappointment, was visible on
every countenance.
Half an hour passed, and still the
deacons did not come. And then Deacon
Marley rose slowly from his seat.
my friends" he said, sI am unable
to account for the extraordinary absence
of our respected brothers. They left
my house at five o'clock with the inten-
ton of taking a walk by the river, and,
since they did not return to tea, I an
ticipated meeting them here. / greatly
fear some accident has befallen them"
Andy looked at Pop. Por turned
the look. The same idea pres, itself
to the minds Of both. It was an idea
that struck chill to the very marrow in
their bones.
"Aunt," whispered Andy to Miss
Faithful, "I'm awful sick to my stomach.
[ guess it was that piece of cocoanut pie
ate. I've got to go out. Can't Pop go
with me?"
He looked SO pale that Miss Faithful
credited his assertion of sudden illness,
and nodded assent.
The boys went out together, careful
not to glance at each other, for fear of
being suspected of their completely in
the absence of the deacons.
We've done gone an done it now.
shore huff, )" whispered Pop, with a
shiver, when they were once out of the
church.
They set off for the river with the
speed of young deer. When within a
few yards of it they heard shouts for
help.
Oats dem, said Pop. "Dey mus
be powful mad by dis time"
( The deacons were, indeed, considera-
bly, out OF temper, as well they might be,
for they had been wading around in the
shallow water near the island for nearly
three hours, shouting at the top Of their
lungs for assistance.
HolloP answered Andy, "what q
want? ?"
He asked the question by way of tax
ing every precaution against suspicion
for, of course, he knew very well what
they wanted.
"Some wicked boys stole our clothes. :"
answered Deacon Snow, and we've been
here ever since half-pa 5. Whoever
you are, I'll give you dollar if you'll go
to Deacon Marley's, and tell him to send
us something to put on.
"And I'll give you another dollar if
you'll hurry up" said Deacon Ellis.
The boys were off like fash, and re-
turned in short time with all necessary
garments, and Deacon Marley following
in their wake.
1t was too late now for the deacons
to attend meeting; the congregation
had dispersed. So they weLt at once to
Miss Faithful's, where, over a goodly
supper, they recounted the story of their
wrongs.
:" What made you think of coming
to the river" asked Deacon Ellis. as
he patted Andy on the head in a benign
manner.
deacon Marley said you'd gone there
to walk, answered Andy, in very low
tone, "and we thought you might have
fallen in"
"Good boys" said the deacon.
"You deserve holiday tomorrow for
this"
The boys did not appear very appre.
ciative to the praise lavished so freely
upon them. Miss Faithful, made sus-
picious by sad experience, detected EN-.
barrassment in their manners, and guilt
In their faces. A horrible thought
seized her as she recollected their unex.
planned absence of the afternoon. She
waited until the deacons had lighted
their pipes, and then excused herself TO,
few minutes.
Going upstairs, she opened the door
of the back attic. Pops bed was empty.
In the front attic the condition of af
fairs was the same; Andy's bed had moi
been disturbed. Suspicion ripened into
certainty at once. Miss Faithful leaned
from the window of the back attic. and
looked down into the yard below. Moth
ing was to be seen or heard. Going
softly down the back stairs she opened
the kitchen door and went out. All was
still. Exercising great caution in he1
movements she made her way toward
the barn-yard, turned corner of the
barn suddenly, and almost fell over two
small boys, who, by the light of Ian
tern, were digging with an energy she
had never seen equaled. The hole was
already nearly two feet deep. On the
edge Of ii, awaiting burial, lay heap Of
clothes.