The Penn's Grove record., 1885-09-26

IlluSl bb AlGAC HJblis ~ L XVI W NY btA
room window, and watch the road till
l see him coming, and then | rush to
the door, and opening it on the chain,
cautiously whisper to him
Be careful, father, and when | open
the door come in as quickly as you can;
but look round first to see if anyone is
watching, as the bailiffs are here, and
have been trying to get in"
l cautiously unlock the chain, and
open the door so gingerly that father
has to give 1t quite a push before he can
get in.
''On, dad dear" l cry, as l kiss him
81 am 5 o glad you are come back ! I've
had such an awful fright. The balliff
has been here, and would have got into
the house but that | was too clever for
him." And 1 clap my hands, and
laugh gleefully, as | relate to my father
the exciting events of the day; and he
calls NE his ''brave little girl" and ga
heroine" but only laughs when l assure
him that the bailiff looked ''quite like
a gentleman"
"Well DEAR" my father begins, as
we si5 down to dinner, II saw old Mr..
Barton, and has advised me to pay, and
settle the matter at once-in fact he
candldly told me that he thought | was
in the wrong-so after dinner we will
release your friend. | dare say some.
thing warm for his inside and some gol-
den ointment for the palm of his hand
will soon put matters right. Old Bar
ton is ageing very much, " my father
continues, as he refectively sips his
wine. 'He was very pleased to see
me. 1 had quite a long chat with him.
He says that his nephew, whom he in
tends to succeed him, is very clever.
He Is a fine-lookIng fellow, l should
say, Judging from his photograph. His
uncle gave me one. I've got it in my
pocket somewhere"
And, after searching for some time,
my father pulls out from a packet of
papers a small-sized carte-de-visite
which he hands to me. L take 1t from
him, and look at it. One glance is suf-
6cient. l dash it from me, and, bury
ing my face In my hands, l cry out
"Oh, dad, dad, the bailiff !"
"Where, where, girl ?" asks my
father, springing from his seat, and
upsetting his wine as he looks eagerly
about the room, as if expecting an am
Uuscade of County Court myrmidons.
'Oh, what shall 1 do ?" 1 exclaim.
''Tell me, l implore you, father. that
that is not Mr.. Barton's likeness l You
are only ioking-I know you are l''-
and l look at him ~pitiously.
"Joking girl !" he repeats. "What dc
you meanp Whose likeness do you inn
agine it to be ?"
1.-The bailiff's-the man I've locked
up in the ruin ~
"Wnew whistles my father.
THAT'S it, is it ? Here's a pretty ket.
tie of fish ! You've locked up the young
lawyer from London! Gentlemanly
bailif indeed Action for false i'm.
Observation-Disclosures ten thousand
pounds Well, you are a nice young
lady-quite a heroine /"
My fathers eyes twinkle merrIly as
he fires off his jokes at my expense. /
do not mind his chaff, but | think 1t toe
had that he should make me go with
him to release my prisoner, as he insists
on calling him. Out into the dark we
go. l linger behind, hoping that my
father will arrive at the ruin before |
do. Alas, he has no such intention,
for, calling me to him, he places my
hand under his arm and makes me
keep pace with him, while he INDUCES
in dismal fOrebodings as to the condi-
tion in which my prisoner will be found.
He rings the changes on suicide and
melancholy madness. The ruin is at
1nuA xnankn1 fNE.n 1altoafn rar,n oe n
fragrant cigar which salutes our nos.
trils tends to remove our anxiety as to
the prisoners being totally destitute of
comfort. My father pushes me towards
the door.
"Open it, grill" he says with melo-
dramatic sternness.
/ am trembling all over, but with a
great effort | manage to turn the key
and give the door q feeble push l fee
the door pulled open. l dare not look.
My eyes are cast to the ground, and my
cheeks are on fire, as in a scarcely audi.
BILE voice | say
~ am so sorry, Mr.. Barton. l did
not mean To- L took you for "a
a" 1t is too much. l break down
and, ANONYMOUSLY bursting into tears,
run to my father and bury my face or
his shoulder.
''There, there, my girl I" cries my
father soothingly. He holds me to him,
and, softly patting me with one hand,
he turns to Mr.. Barton and says, "We
must ask your forgiveness, Mr.. Barton.
and I am sure you will give 1t when ]
explain how my little girl has made a
great mistake. In fact. she took you
for a County Court bailiff i"-and my
father explains everything to HIM.
When he has finished, I raise my
head and, looking shyly at Mr. Barton,
say
81 am so sorry. l do not know how
/ could have made such a mistake,
1t was so foolish; but l was 80 fright.
ened p
1t would be useless to relate the many
kind things Mr.. Barton said. Hemade
so many excuses for me, and was sc
kind and good-natured, that by the time
we had reached the house | had recoy.
cred my self-possession sufficiently to be
able TO laugh at an amusing anecdote
he related to us.
fOIluldttly ulHIlti udu uOt
very far when l discovered my mistake.
We made a very merry party that night.
My father brought out some of his
cherished port that saw only the light
on very great occasions; and, as he in
sisted on Mr.. Barton staying all night,
and the next morning in saying Good
bye gave him a pressing invitation to
come and see us very often, / think |
am justified in believing that my pris-
oner had created a very favorable i'm.
preston on that adamantine- a fathers
heart.
Three months later. A sharp winter
has set in, and the stream is still. The
lake is frozen over, and l am sitting on
the bank while Mr.. Barton is assisting
me TO remove my skates. / have been
receiving my first lesson in skating. 1t
was so pleasant ! Twas not at all afraid
teachers arm vas so strong, and he
held my arms SO tightly
do you remember the afternoon
when / locked you up2" l ask as we
carry our skates into the ruin.
Remember p he cries, looking me
full In the face. ST should think l do