The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-24

At last II. QUITE sat down on 4 door
step and gave himself up to despair.
The stake was before him. and his
Imagination conjured up all the horrors
of his position. chained about the waist,
and dancing in the midst of the flames.
All at once a familiar voice smote
upon his ear-the voice of his eldest
SON. a ray of hope penetrated his
breast. He rose from his seat and
walked to meet his tirst-born. That
young gentleman was returning from
the masquerade ball at which he had
been figuring. He had imbibed con-
left home, and he had absorbed a little
more during the pauses in the dance.
He was accordingly scarcely sober. and
and as he returned, he sang or talked
to himself at the top of his voice But
now he saw something which sobered
him instantly. This was nothing else
than his own masquerading habit OF
bear-skin, which he had left hanging
over the back of chair, walking
deliberately towards him, as though
the spirit of the departed Bruin had re-
tenanted his forsaken skin, and was
coming in the dead of night to demand a
reckoning with him who had dared to
use it as a carnival habit He stood
and looked at it with pale face and
staring eyes, whilst a shudder ran
through his frame.
If it had been within the limits of
physical possibility, he would have
his own name articulated in hollow
tones from the muzzle, he turned heel,
and fled like the wind. In vain did
NJ. QUITE call after him; the louder he
called, the faster fled the youth. and
the distracted father was obliged to
pursue his son. The race was run
with the utmost speed by both parties.
The young man was urged on by terror
lest the skin should Overtake him,
and NJ. Oufe dreaded losing sight of
his son, lest he should at the same
time lose all chance of reganing his
home. When NJ. Quite, le jeune,
turned his white face over his shoulders,
he saw the creature gaining on him,
and heard its hollow calls. He lodged
from street to street, but he invariably
saw the bear-skin double the corner
and rush after him, turn where he
would. 1t was in vain for him to hope
to throw it out, and at last he ran
straight for home. This he had left by
the garden. 1t was his custom to leave
the house By the back door. and clam
Der over the garden rails, whenever he
went out on his night expeditions, and
now he made for the garden, hoping
to climb the rails and escape through
the door and lock it before the skin
could overtake him.
He reached the railinrs. 1t wa 4
difficult and delicate mat r - sur
mount them with the time at ii, d spD.il:
but now that it was to be accom- u III |
in no time atall, it was hazard ,!' in the
extreme. NJ. Quite, junior, had reached
the top, and was preparing to jun p
down, when a furry paw grasped his
ankle and held him as though in
a vice. for the monster proceeded to
climb the ratings, holding on to his
leg. The poor youth endeavored
to break away; he writhed and
strained to be free. Holding the iron
bars with his hands, he yociferated
loudly for help. The creature reached
the top; and clasped him round the
waist, whilst the hideous snOut was
pokcd close to his ear over his shoulder.
Both leaped together, and were brought
up with Jerk. The rails were topped
with sharp dart-heads, and one of these
caught in the hide, so that NJ. Oufle
and his son were suspended from it in
mid air, the latter in the arms of his
father. Both cried together for assist
ance; the young man louder than ever
when he heard the sonorous howls of
his captor in his ear.
Lights appeared in the lower apart
mentS at the back of the house, and
presently the garden door was opened
by troop of terrified male and female
servants, provided with blunderbusses,
swords, and pistols. In the rear ap-
peared Madame Ouhe, half dressed, but
with her night-cap on her head. The
young man called TO his mother, and
the moment she saw the hope of the
family dangling in the grasp of the
monster, she tainted away again.
There was an old man, servant of
the house, who claimed and exercised
supreme authority in the household.
He came forward with pistol in each
hand, and the youth cried out to him
to shoot the creature through the head.
In vain did NJ. Quite shout to him to
desist. His words were lost in the
mask, and he would undoubtedly have
received a couple of bullets through
his head, had not the buttons of the
dress just then given way with a burst,
and slipped NJ. Guile in a heap upon
the ground, leaving the habit torn and
dangling on the spike of the rails.
Thank goodness exclaimed NJ.
Quite, sitting up; 1.-THE spell is off mer'
"My father!' cried the flower of the
family.
my husbandr' calculated the lady,
recovering from her fainting fit.
MY Masterr' exclaimed the gray
haired servant.
Let Us embrace all round" said
NJ. Ouf1e.-Dr. John H. CouttS, IN
BaLlOu's MagiZine.
A GERMAN TREASURY.