Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-10-15

think 50, decidedly"
az certainly does," continued Mis-
Mabel "to fall In with two such ele
CANT young men, AMI SO early in ou
journey but Ned Is my favorite."
"Theodore is mine, May" said Fan
ny. "I'm In love with him already"
(I began to think life had not lost al
its charms.)
swell, then, we're both suited"
Here came a knock at the door, and
heard:
"The gintieman's clothes, ma'am.
"Gentleman's clothes !; there's NJ
gentleman here" said Fanny.
Wasn't there 7 Oh, heavens wha,
should do ? There were my clothe!
going off before my very ears. and M
knowing whether l should ever Sc.
them again. There was no help for 1t
and I heard Pats bewildered tones as
he turned away from the door to looi
elsewhere for the ''gintleman."
This episode over, Fanny aud Mabe
commenced what appeared to be dis
robing process, and was reused from
my apathetic state of despair by hear
ing the former remark
II declare, my bones are nearly al
broken, May. What shall l do ?"
A vision of my dear one with hel
beautiful limbs fractured so tortured
me that was on the point OF rushing
to her assistance when I was horriied
by hearing her cousin reply:
"Never mind dear. / have a skele.
ton in my trunk that will lend you. II
Goodness gracious, was dreaming I
What sort Of people were these that
b oke their bones and inserted new (or
old) skeletons at their pleasure My
blood grew cold and hot by turns.
lost all thought of my own predica-
ment in my horror still the disror.
ing of the maidens proceeded. Then
heard the refreshing sound OF splashing
water. imagined-well, no matter
what. l do not think / am accounta-
BILE for all that passed through my be-
wildered brain at that time.
All this while 1t had seemed to me
that could bathe and dress regiment
In less time than it had taken those
two young women. had grown so
nervous that was in imminent danger
of either laughing or crying aloud-it
seemed quite uncertain which.
What would Ned think had become
Of me How was / ever to get out of
this place ? How get my wearing ap.
parel ?
"Where under the sun are my
rats ?" demanded Fanny.
Here was new food for thought.
Were they Chinese ? Were the rats to
be cooked for their supper Are these
specimens of woman as class
"Tne odore," said to myself, "in
what state Of ignorance have you liy-
ed, my boy How innocently you
have always regarded the sex
The rats seemed to have been captur-
ed without difficulty, though, in spite
of my sufferings, l listened for squeals.
''Are the irons hot, Fan ?'
Horrors heaped upon horrors. Could
those two lovely girls be about to put
rats to death in that most inhuman
fashion ? must protect against it
and yet, the disgrace of being found.
No the rats might die before I would
venture a word In their behalf.
/ find myself utterly unable to give
any adequate idea Of my feelings dur
ing that terrible time, and occasionally
the thought of the ridiculous figure I
should present, could any one have
seen me, over came all other emotions,
and came near laughing aloud.
AT last (as near as could iudge) the
young ladies had completed their toll
cts. The rustling of silk told me that.
if was ever to get out of my prison, l
should soon have the opportunity.
The tea-gong sounded, and felt like
shouting for JOY. The old gentleman
knocked at the door of the room. and
as the young ladies opaned it, l heard
the voice Of my friend Ned. How
CHEEKY it sounded. how refreshed he
seemed to feel, and how I wanted to
throttle him, as il he had been the
cause of my misfortunes. At last their
retreating voices and footsteps assured
me that I was safe, and with bound I
sprang from my hiding place, making
at once for the bell rope and door-key.
Just as I reached the latter. the door
opeped, and Ned stood before me
Meyer shall I forget his expression.
Surprise, horror, incredulity, dismay,
everything that mans face could con-
vey, was there.
''Thode Marston
"Stop, for Heavens sake, Ned, and
help me-" exclaimed, piteously /; aud
in as few words as possible I told my
dismal tale.
" n A. - T~.~ -