The Osceola times., 1883-03-10

my Wnlskcrs.
"Who was it, my dear?" ventured to
inquire:
"Mr. Thomas Bunsby."
"Tom Bunsbyw l yelled, springing to
my feet, while my eyes rolled about fear
fully.
oh, il was an awful, terrible sight. ]
know, for there was mirror directly in
front of me.
"Hap
Nothing that you ever heard ON the
stage could equal that blood-curdling
"Haw Of mine.
Ny daughter fell at my feet the pic
| turc of terrified terror or horrificd hor-
ror. can't tell which. The whole bus
mess was simply grand and awful in the
extreme.
"Girlp said /, in voice of thunder
and lightning, "did you know Tom Buns
by's Gather?"
moo"
"0r his mother?"
"No."
"Or his grandfather?'
mo"
"I'm sorry" said |, making a terrible
effort to calm myself, "Tm very sorry you
didn't know his grandfather, very sorry
indeed, because the old gentleman kicked
me out of his door once for daring to
make love to his daughter, and by Jove,
girl, if young Tom Bunsby comes here TO
see you I'll serve him in the same man.
ncr. Oh, revenge IS sweet, girl-'tis very
sweet"
Julia got up then.
Gan ! go now, father" she meekly
asked.
"Yes; but, remember no more of Tom
Bunsby. Goodnight"
Time passed on, and Julia seemed the
same as usual. Whether she saw Tom
or not did not know at the time, tho
have since learned that they were in the
habit of meeting quite frequently.
No, did not know that they met, but
| suspected that they might, and TO pre-
vent any chance of an elopement, never
allowed Julia to 90 out in the evening
unless / went with her, and at ten o'clock
every night the doors and windows were
all made fast against burglars and lovers,
and we slept secure until morning. You
see by this that ! am not one of those
who wait until the mare is stolen before
locking the stable.
Well, ii was one night about month
ago that, after locking up the house as
usual, retired to my room. and, disrob-
ing this lovely form of mine, crept into
bed. l had just finished my first nap,
and had just turned over for second, as
the door bell rang And how did it ring
Egad thought they'd pull it down.
Was it fire, burglars, or did somebody
mistake my house for the doctors? did
not stop to think, but, throwing on my
clothes in the shortest possible time, |
rushed down stairs and threw open the
do II, holding my revolver straight out
before me as l did so.
"A note for you, sir" said small boy,
handing me folded paper. My first
thought was that il was a telegraph dis
patch.
"Anything to pay?" asked.
"No, sir" and the boy vanished in the
thick darkness.
Closing the door tore open the note
and read;
Mr.. McSTIvERs Your daughter will
clope with Tom Bunsby tonight, if she
has not already. If you find her not in
her room, run to the hotel-room Is, the
first flight. Adieu, JOE kERR.
All the tiger in the McStivcrses was
aroused. dashed madly up stairs, and
throwing open Julia's door. rushed in
Alas ! was too late. She was gone-the
bird had flown. She had not been in bed
that night
/ did not continue the search there
but flew on the wings Of the wind out OF
the room, ,out ofthe house, and along the
street, till reached the Tadmo1th hotel
The clerk was doing in the office, and
lid not see me when | entered. did
not speak, but crept cautiously up siairs
and along the corridor until ] reached
number l5
death to Bunsby!" | muttcrcd thro'
my clinched teeth.
Oh, how fcrocious must have looked
| Ny blood curdles eveu now, when stop
to think fit. knocked at the door.
81 will cali him out and shoot him in
his tracks," said l. "I'm insane now
Mcfarland was nowhere compared with
me, and no jury will convict me-"
But no one answered the knock.
tried the door. Ha, ii was unlocked.
entered the room.
The above last four words are of terri
BILE import, and | want you to consider
them well.
The gas was burning, but all was still
save the soft breathing Of a sleeper
whose face was hidden from me by the
curtains of the bed. sprang forward
tore open the curtains, seized bare arm
and, with the celebrity Of lightning, yank.
ed the sleeper into the middle Of the
floer.
The ex-sleeper screamed. / yelled
once, and then, with musical groan
| fell to the floor, tearing my hair as
went.
"Rhoderickw said the screamer.
"Oh, heavings, where are 2" gaspea
"Ma-mary, is it thou? And where isis
Bunsby 2"
Dead"
"And you~.
'Pm a widow; and you?"
"I'm-rm widower," answered witt
a groan.
Il have always loved you, Rhoderick,
said she.
"And you're just as handsome as ever,
said !.
"You'vc acted very improper tonight,
said she.
INTERNALLY So" said I; where is you
sonp'
"a .now Eot. lie loves your daughter
and she loves him-and | love you.'
Mary blushed. Considering that sh,
was in very light evening costume, i
wasn't strange that she should.
! "And Dunsby's dead ?"
"Bunsby's dead
AAIa -. y .oil aAIn,-. ma. L L 4. ......