Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-11-05

for the village.
Mrs. Riggs called her daughter into
the kitchen.
You've done it now,' she said. Jed's
dressed hisself in his Sunday best and
gone off somewhere, like as anyway to
git him
I don't carel' retorted Malvina,
though she looked somewhat dismayed.
I don't know what I've done.
Jed returned little after dark, and
went in the front way, so no one should
know he had come. He meant Malvi-
ma should think he had stayed out all
the evening. He went into the parlor
and sat down. No one was there, and
the room was dark.
A window which looked on the back
porch had beed left open for air, and
through this came to Jed's pricked-up
ears the murmur of Malvina's and his
rivals voices, mingled with the strum-
ming of the guitar.
Poor Jed guashed his teeth as he
heard it.
4 should like to break it over his
ylaguy head!' he muttered.
After a little time, Mrs. Riggs voice
was heard, calling her daughter to
come and 60 to bed.
As she and Billings came near the
parlor window, they stopped moment
before separating, and Jed distinctly
heard the dandy say:
AT 10 o'clock, then, beautiful NAL
vina, They will all be asleep then.-
Sweet angel, till then adieu!'
Jed's hair fairly stood on end.
What did it mean? Could they be
going TO run away together?
No sleep for him till he knew, at any
rate.
He sat still, thinking, The house
gradually grew quiet. Then Jed went
around and closed and fastened all the
windows below except one. He locked
all the outside doors and pat the keys
in his pocket.
At the foot of the stairs, down which
any one must come to leave the house,
was door opening into the kitchen.
This Jed left open also a window by
the outside door.
Then he seated himself in dark
corner, where projecting cupboard
partially concealed him.
The moon shone in brightly, making
objects pretty distinct, except where he
sat.
The hours wore on, till it was nearly
IL at last
Jed had never shut his eyes.
They shan't get out without my see
ing EN-, any way he said, srlmly.
Presently he heard step. Some one
was coming down the stairs.
1t was Billings.
He hesitated IA moment at the front
door, and tried it; and then, as Jed had
calculated, turned into the open kitch.
en-.
lie hadhis guitar with him, and
Jeds wonder deepened.
lie tried the kitchen door, and seem
ed vastly annoyed at not being able to
get it open. lie finally brought chair
to the window, which stood so inviting
ly wide, and deliberately climbed out.
Jed waited minute, and followed
him. He went round the house till he
was under Malvinas $ bedroom window,
when he sank gracefully on one knee
and began to sing and play.
Jed stared minute, and went back
to the kitchen.
I'll fix him!' he said, grimly.
Out from the kitchen, and reached
by descent of II few steps, was a sort
of storcrOom, half cellar The outside
door of this room was exactly like the
outside door of the kitchen, and there
was also window beside it.
This window was open, and beneath
stood the big tub of apple butter, the
pride Of Mrs. Riggs hert, set there to
cool, previous to putting away in stone
jars for the winter.
Jed stopped and felt of it.
It's cold,' he said.
Then ne went and stood just inside
the kitchen, holding the door a little
open, and waited patiently.
Billings played and sang u good
while, and Malvina put her head out of
her window and talked to him IN ST.
cred whispers, mingled with some tit
tering.
Everybody else seemed sound asleep
The serenader tore himself away ut
1,ct onl oronaa1aJ IN arrh of his