Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-22

coarse of nose, which was full and prom
inent feature and fabby, as well as fiery,
about the cheeks. In these times of much
drinking many men become pendulous Of
cheek and rudy of nose at 40 or so. but
few at 20 Mathew was not at this time
much more than 20; say ten years older
than Ralph
The kitchen. dining room and sitting
room of Norwich Mill was large. low
room, with one long window At the
sides OF the room and between the great
joists were hanging sides of bacon and
hams, besides pewter pots and pewter
dishes. brightly polished wooden platters,
china cups, brass vessels. whips, brides,
loaded blunderbuss, cudgels, strings Of
onions. dried herbs Of every kind, and all
the thousand things wanted for the con-
duct of household. At one end was a
noble fire of logs burning in an ample
chimney, and before the fire a great piece
of beef roasting. and now, to outward
scrutiny and sense of smell. ready to be
dished. A middle aged woman, full,
comedy and good natured of aspect, was
engaged in preparation for that critical
operation This was Prudence, who had
lived at the mill all her life.
She looked up as Ralph appeared in the
doorway and shook her lead. more in pity
than in reproach And she looked side
ways, by way Of friendly warning, in the
direction Of the table. at which sat an.
other woman of different appearance She
was, perhaps. Eve or six and thirty, with
thin features and sour expression, not inn
proved by cast in her eye This was
Barbara, sister of Mathew Humble. and
now acting In the capacity of mistress OF
Norwich Mill. for her brother was not
married She had open before her the
Bible, and she had found a most beautiful
collection of texts appropriate to the case
of fools in the book of Proverbs The
table was laid for dinner, with pewter
plates and black handled knives and steel
forks. The beer had been drawn, and
stood in great brown jug. foaming with
with venerable silver head. Ralph OBJ.
served without establishment that the
plate set for him contained piece of dry
bread, ostentatiously displayed. 1t was
to be his dinner
This pleasing maiden. Barbara, who re-
garded the boy with an affection almost as
great as her brothers. that is to say, with
a malignity quite uncommon, first pointed
with her lean and skinny forcfnger to the
page before her, and read aloud, shaking
her head reproachfully:
"'As man who casteth frebrands, ar
rows, and death. so is the man that de-
ceiveth his neighbor, and saith. Am not
in sportT
Solomon must surely have had Ralph in
his mind
Then she pointed with the same finger
to a door opposite, and said. smile of
satisfaction stealing over her countenance:
go to your guardian Go to receive
the wages of sin
Those, said Ralph. with a light laugh,
feeling confidence in his alder branch,
ARE not logging on this occasion. but
a fight
Before she heard his words OF had be-
gun to ask herself what they might mean,
because she was so full of satisfaction
with her texts. he had flung his hat upon
chair and gone to the next room. If
Barbara had been observant. she might
have remarked, beside these extraordinary
words, certain brightness Of the eyes
and setting of the mouth which betokened
the spirit of resistance.
The inner room was one occupied and
used by Mathew alone It contained all
the papers. account books and documents
connected with the property and business
of the mill Here, too, was the stone jar
already referred to The decks had been,
so to speak, cleared for action; that Is to
say, the table was thrust into the corner,
and upon it lay the sacred instrument
with which Mathew loved to correct his
ward. This promoter Of virtue, or dis
penser of consequences, was a strong and
supple cane, than which few Instruments
are more highly gifted with the power Of
inhicting torture, Ralph knew it well,
and had experienced on many occasions
the full force OF this wholesome quality
He saw it lying ready for use, and ho re.
fected cheerfully that the alder branch
partly up his left sleeve and partly in his
coat pocket would be more supple, equally
heavy and perhaps more efficacious, re-
garded simply as pain producer
When the boy appeared, Mathew rose
and removed his wig and coat, because the
work before him was likely TO make him
warm He then assumed the rod and
ordered Ralph to take of his coat and
waistcoat.
This day." he said, "you have dis.
gracel your family Idesign that you shall
have such a logging as you will not
readily forget. He then remembered
that he would be more free for action
without his waistcoat A man can throw
more heart into his work Such a fog
ging" he repeated as he removed it, ''as
you will remember all your life"
"Well, cousin, said Ralph, Mr. Car
naby said that the penance was the pun.
ishment. have done the penance
Silence. sir Do you dare to argue
with your guardian?" lie now began 70
roll up his shirt sleeves so as to have his
arms quite bare. which is an additional
advantage when one wants to put ont all
ones strength. II shall Dog the flesh of
your bones, you young villainl"
But he paused. and for a moment his
jaws stuck, and he was speechless, for his
cousin. instead of meckly placing himself
In position to receive the stupendous hog-
ging intended for him. was facing him,
resolution in his eyes, and weapon in
his hands
"Flogging for logging. Cousin Mathew"
said Ralph: flesh for flesh. Strip nv
bones, strip yours.
Mathew now observed for the first time
lit was most unfortunate moment for
making the discovery Ralph was a
good two inches taller than himself. that
his arm was as stout. and that his weapon
was of thickness. length and pliability
which might make the stoutest quail. also
he remarked that his shoulders were sur
prisingly broad. and his legs of length and
size quite out of the common And it even
occurred to him that he might have to en-.
dure hardness
Flesh for flesh" said Ralph. posing
the alder branch.
"villainl Would you break the Fifth
commandment"
Ralph shook his weapon. making it sing
merrily and even thirstily through the
air. but made no reply.
LAY down the switch. J"
Ralph raised 1t above his head as one
who is preparing to strike.
Down on your knees, viper, and beg
for pardon.
Flesh for flesh. Mathew. said Ralph
ffVo,, ,vfT no 90 II thor, t.ott,tar daxyil