The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-24

VICTIMS OF the missiles were The
cooks two sons, bright little fellows
OF S and 10 years OF age Wherever
they were the stones fell thickest-
/ in the avenue, among the trees. iu
their own hat or in the detached
kitchen On mentioning this cir
cumstance to nv brother he imme-
diately sent for Manuel, told him tc
punish his children at once, and
make them understand that be
would have no more ofthls tomfool.
cry going on, and ordered them to
be shut into a room alone all night,
and q guardian placed at the door
TO watch. | was quite aghast at
this summary and, as | thought,
cruel behavior, but | only attempt
ed faint remonstrance, and made
up my mind to reserve the rest OF
my exciting adventure for a more
sympathetic ear.
Next morning the guardians de-
elined to watch the children any
longer, as stone had left large
bump on bis forehead.
Il shall stop this" said the now
angry master of the household.
According Manuel's bows were
dispatched to the school at Rose
hill. some two miles off, with a note
20 the schoolmaster asking him to
receive them as boarders for a few
weeks. We heard nothing further
for twenty-four hours, when the
boys and a polite note were stimuli
taneously handed back, to say that
the sehoolmaster declined having
them any longer, as since the ART
val of his youag visitors his own
head had been nearly broken BY a
mysterious stone coming through
the root, which, howerer, remained
intact. Next day, after my brother
had gone to town. was in my bed
room when | heard the patter OF
naked feet on the veranda outside
my open window, and piteous cries
for "grande Ma'amselle, as they al
ways called me from my height |
ran TO the window to find ten or
eleven clamorous creatures crying,
wringing their hands, Manuel in
their midst, a sobbing child in
either hand, telling me iu accents of
despair that whenever the children
seated themselves to eat q dish of
rice an invisible hand seized and
flung the dish some three feet OF.
scattering the rice all around and
that as he and their mother were
beside them they heard the slick,
click, of pair Of scissors, and the
children7 beautiful silky hair was
living on the ground, sbOrn off 10
Jagged. uneven masses. The two
boys were in a great state Of terror.
sobbiug ana trembling. their father
the image of misery and wickedness
| consoled them as best I could
tried to laugh away their fears,
albeit my own We're increasing; and
desiring Djuman to bring me bunch
of bananas | fed the little ones out
of my own hand at the window
In order 10 be able to coufute my
brothers ideas as to the completely,
If not active agency, of the boys,
armed myself with a large umbrella,
and taking the children with me |
to their own hut-a regular
'cose'-filthy and malodorous, but
the excitement of my own nervous
system was such that | would have
gone through Il good deal to find
out the origin of the mystery
1t was day OF intense heat, but
stood in that baking,reeking hut
where all there was in the way of
beds were some filthy-looking mats /.
where old clothes hung on the be- |
grimed walls. and where the only |
air was admitted by high, narrow /
windows-with the two small cul- /
prits before mt, their only attire lit /
tie shirts and nankeen trousers,
| thought if they threw up the 1
stones by any quick movement | |
could not tail TO see the motion of
their hands ten minutes, quarter 4
Df an hour, elapsed, and nc sign, |
vas beginning to feel faint from I
heat and bad air. when bang went i
)ne and another on the roof, and /
two stones fell before me, one mar.
rowly grazing my nose
| dismissed the children, who
evinced great fear, and recommen-
,ed sobing, and rushed out of the
cas-" canoning in my flight against
he coachuan, who was waiting at
iome distance to hear the result of
ny courageous exploit.
Have you ever heard ofthis sort
# thing before ?" | mustered up
utficient creole 20 say. /
" I'll fait. Ma'anselle: 81 faitl" he
eplied and told me forthwith some
-hasily tales, ending most indig-
iantly with and they say, some of
hem, that | am at the bottom of
- /,
Nonsenee," " | said. and rushed
ut of the binding vertical sun-rays
n the comparatively cool veranda
o encounter Diuman. nv own ser
ant, who next respectfully asked if
ia 'amselle had seen or heard any,
hing.
wonder what it can bel"
aid more 10 myself than him.
lie Diablel" promptly respon-
led Djuman.
Nonsensei" said again, this
ime quite sharply for, though /
.ad vague idea in my own mind
hat perhaps ''le diable" was at the
'ottom of it somehow, my honor :
nj self respect required ne to keep |
Up an appearance OF courage | was 5
ar fron feeling before these timid I
indians, who all looked to me as {
rock of defence-an infalible au- 4
hority as well as a most welcome ]
utlet to their feelings as an au- &
ience.
To their mistress they did not at I
empt to speak for she was too
frightened by the whole proceeding :
D listen even to an experience.
81. Ma'amselle, 81; there is a lit 4
ie book, " continued Djumen "they g
onsult, and it is some one in the
ouse who is doing it, and the little /
COX is called the Petit Albert and I
,ara 70 oyl,, opa ,Or,- H. ;,J,,J - I C