Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-06-21
SELECT STORY.
AN HOUR OF PERIL.

the help, presenting herself in the
doorway, with her arms dripping
with soap-suds, and her calico skirts
festooned about her spare form in &
way that Worth would never have
imagined, ''there's an insane man in
the barn. .
had just seated myselfto my morn.
ing task Of coloring a cluster OF blue
harebells, which Donald had brought
in, trophy of his before-breakfast
walk up the mountain. Baby was
sweetly sleeping; Tommy and little
Donald were fishing for minnows il
the meadow stream, and | was heart.
lily .congratulating myself upon the
success of my idea of renting cot.
tage for the sultry simmer months.
"a WHAT" | gasped.
can insane man, ma'am," said
Betsy. "Leastways, that's what
Deacon Gadsly shouted, as he was
gallopins by on horseback to catch
the down train, hollerin' good and
loud, as he's aware / amt quick O
hearin'. Tell your missis,' says he,
'to call the children in; there's an in
sane man in the barn. says he"
"But Betsy" cried I, involuntarily
clutching at the baby's crib, sit can't
be possible"
"That's what Deacon Gadsley said,
ma'am, and I'll take my Bible oath
to it," said Betsy, nodding her h cad
with conntenance expressive OF
entire conviction.
"Then why didn't he come to our
help:' | cried wringing my hands
helplessly.
Don't know, ma'am," said Betsy,
"unless it was because the mail-train,
like time and tide IN the spellin
book, waits for no man."
"But what are we to do p | al
most sobbed, my courage and pres
ence of mind nearly deserting me as |
pictured to myself the horrible vision
of a lunatic dancing among hatchets,
scythes and hay-cutters in the barn.
"Don't know, ma'am," said Betsy,
viewing me with a sort of mild con-
tempt, as one of the city ladies who
become powerless under the presence
of any sudden emergency, "unless
you call in the boys and lock the
barn doors as quickly as possible
looked appealingly at Betsy.
"Betsy," said l, "would you mind
locking the barn doors, like deal
good soul, while | run after Donald
and Tommy"
Betsy cleared her throat emphatic.
ally.
'NotifI know it, ma'am" said she
81 hain't no more paltiallty than
other folks for crazy people. My
uncle was assistant keeper in luna
tic asylum, and he was choked tC
death by one of the patients. And
don't mean that sort of thing shall
run in the family, ma'am, not if car
help it,"
"Then," cried I, driven to sudder
resolve, "stay here with the baby
Betsy-dont leave here for your life
while | go after the boys. Coco
heaven, If the wretch should be at
tacking mypoor children now"
With almost superhuman speed
ran down along the edge of the woods
seized Tommy and Donald each b,
one hand, and dragged them home
not even stopping to explain matters
to their bewildered little ears.
"Come, children, come" panteC
"Oh, do make haste! We must g
back to the house immediately.n
"BurI'yc left my fshin&-hool
mamlna,' pleaded Donald, witt I
longing look over his shoulder,
Can't we stop in the barn
aamma." cried Tommy, "to see j
}ir. Jones has sent the cosset lai;4l
he promised us -
"Children," said |, pausing to re
gain my breath, sat your peril keel
away from the barn. There is ;
crazy man there. Heaven only
knows what violence he may attemp
to perpetrate-run as fast as yo'
canw
And pa,sing only to see them fly
ing up the slope of the lawn, as
fastened with blanched checks ant
wildly-bcating heart to the barn, ant
was fortunate enough to secure botl
doors by wooden bars and outside
| hnttopc bnfora thp attention of +.