Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-12

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and high-heeled shoes, with roses in them.
The whole group reminded Rip of the
figures in an old Flemish painting in the
parlor of Dominic Van Schaick, the vii
liage parson, and which had been
brought over from Holland at the time of |
the settlement.
What seemed particularly odd to Rip |
was. that though these folks were evil |
IDENTIFY amusing themselves. yet they |
maintained the gravest faces. the most |
mysterious silence. and were, withal. the !
most melancholy party of pleasure he
had ever witnessed. Nothing interrupt
ed the stiffness of the scene but the noise
of the balls, which, whenever they were
rolled, echoed along the mountains like
rumbling peals of thunder.
As Rip and his companion approached
them, they suddenly desisted from their
play. and stared at him with such a fixed
statue-lilie gaze. and such strange. I'M
couth, lack-luster countenances. that his
heart turned within him, and his knees
emptied the contents of the key into
large flagOns. and made signs to him to
wait upon the company. He obeyed
with fear and trembling; they qualified
the liquor in profound silence, and then
returned to their game.
BY degrees Rips awe and apprchen-
sion subsidized. He even ventured. when
no eye was fixed upon him, to taste the
beverage. which he found had much of
the flavor of excellent Hollands. He
was naturally thirsty soul, and was
soon tempted to repeat the draught.
One taste provoked another, and he ret-
Grated his visits to the fagon so often
that at length his senses were overpower-
ed, his eyes swan in his head. his head
gradually declined, and he fell into a
deep sleep.
On waking he found himself on the
green knoll from whence he had first
seen the old man of the glen. He rubbed
his eyes-it was bright sunny morning.
The birds were hopping and twittering
among the bushes, and the eagle was
wheeling aloft, and breasting the pure
mountain breeze. "Surely." thought
Rip, IL have not slept here all night.
He recalled the occurrences before he fell
asleep. The strange man with the keg
of liquor-the mountain ravne-thf
wild retreat among the rocks-the woe
begone party at nine-pins-the flagon-
"Oh. that wicked flagon." thought Rip
Winlile:''
He looked around for his gun. but il
place of the clean well-oilcd fowling
!, piece. he found an old tire-lock lying 10y
him, the barrel ncrusted with rust. til,
} lock falling off and the stock worm-eaten
He now suspected that the grave royster
ers of the mountain had put IA trick upon
, him. and having dosed him with liquor
had robbed him of his gun. Wolf. too
had disappeared. but he might have
: strayed away after a squirrel or par
, fridge. He whi>tled after him. an,
: shouted his name, but all in vain: tn
: echoes repeated his whistle and shout
: but no dog was to be seen.
2 He determined to revisit the scene q
the last evenings gambol. and if he me
with any of the party to demand his do
e and gun. As he rose to walk. he foun
= himself stiff in the joints. and wantin
= in his usual activity. These mountai
, beds do not agree with me. thought RiI
f land if this frOlic should lay me II
= with fit of rheumatism, shall have
i blessed time with Dame Van Wrinkle.
e With some difficulty he got down int
: the glen he found the gully up which h
!. and his companion had assembled the pre-
:, ceding evening; but to his astonishmer
e a mountain stream was now foamin
II down it leaping from rock 10 rock, an
d filling the glen with babbling murmur
p He, however, made shift to scramble u
d its sides. working his toilsome wa
V through thickets of birch, sassafras, al
t. witch-hazel; and sometimes tripped u
t. or entangled by the wild grapevine
d that twisted their coils and tendrils fro
$ tree to tree, and spread kind of he
If work in his path.
N At length he reached TO where II
d ravine had opened through the cliffs
: the amphitheater: but no traces of SUI
r. opening remained. The rocks presentC
,r high impenetrable wall, over which Il
H. torrent came tumbling in sheet
10 feathery foam, and fell into broad de,
i. basin. black from the shadows of Il
d. surrounding forest. Here, then. po
,e Rip was brought to stand. lie aga
ot called and whistled after his dog; he W
ht only answered by the cawing of Il flo,
hit of idle crows, sporting high in the 1
ne about dry tree that overhung sum
in precipice; and who secure in their eley
ad ton, seemed to look down and scott
V the poor mans perpleXities. What W
n to be done: The morning was paSsil
ge away, and Rip felt famished for the wa
yn of his breakfast. He grieved to give