The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-04


pig of character.
Sophronia passed a troubled night. Her
past enjoyment of the penny dreadfulsn
visited her now in tho tangIe of Dreams
and whenever she woke it was to q shud-
doring recollection of Aaron Miller's savage
voice and the impending fate of the IN
known ''he." But morning came at last,
still dreary with bowling winds and gusts
of rain. Hiram had risen early, taken a
cold bite and gone after his pig; and So
phronia, in the fashion OF lonely women,
made her scant breakfast, standing at the
pantry shelf, Of tea, and bread and butter
watching through the green-paned little
window before her the draggled fowls pick
ing their slow way through the wet mire Of
the barn-yard, uttering discomh ed croaks
about the weather, much like their fellows
the unfeathered bipeds. Suddenly the
telephone rang: cup and saucer, bread and
butter, fell from her hands. She made
haste TO seize the horn.
Within her ear the inevi table "HullopJ
resounded.
That you, Aaron ~
"Tain't nobody elsen
Little he knew that Sophronia heard it
all.
"Wen, have YOU did it!"
Yes hes done Tor"
"Where did you find him."
"Snoopjn' around the mill, as poplar as
though he was inspector of b'ilers."
"Haw, haw! What yo done withthe re-
mains."
They're deep enough where nobody
won't lind 'em this hundred year"
"Hml that's good"
Sophronia dropped the horn; she stiffened
ha,. a,.giA
right in the neighborhood! Blu then she
had always expected it. or something like
it, of those Miller's. While she stood con-
sidering, Hiram drove into tie yard in
neighbours wagon, the Cheshire boar lying
ANONYMOUSLY bound Therein, squealing
with all his piggish might. Hiram backed
up against the stye, which he had rein
forced at early dawn, and teftly slid Mas
ter Piggy over the tail-btard, cutting his
bonds as he helped him aong, for well he
knew the danger of setting such captive
free too soon.
He had just finished tie risky proceeding
when Sophronia appeared at the shed door
with her apron over her head.
"H--ram" she screamed. NJ want ye
to wait minute! I've got to go in to Stan
ton. l must, right off. Won't Barber's
folks let We keep the team a spell9'
Il guess 500 was the gruff response.
He knew perfectly well that he had Dor
rowed the team to go to Stanton himself
and get scythe-snath. Such is man!
All the way Sophronia preserved an aw-
full silence; she felt the magnitude of the
situation and revolved her plans in her
mind What she did when she reached
Stanton, after receiving proper advice in
the matter, need not be detailed. in fact,
don't know what she did But the very
next morning Aaron aud Joseph Miller
were arrested on a charge of murder, and
were brought before the proper authorities
for preliminary examination.
There was Sophronia too, who with much
excitement and many needless words, de-
poned and testified to what she had heard
on the telephone; a grim smile distorted
Aaron Miller's face, and Joseph muttered,
"The old fooln under his breath; but it
was only muttered, so Sophronia did not
resent it,
Judge Stopcocll was the model Of rural
magnate; fat, red in the face, pompous,
crowned with sleek, brown wig, and a
tall shiny hat, tilted slightly aslew; he ad-
ministered Justice much as Mrs. Squeers
administered birthstone and treacle, Sc
verely with spoon. Throwing his head
DdCh, GAS pm, MS ONtI MS SJOiIlt%Cil'
closing his eyes and pursuing up his mouth
he began his queries.
"And you, hum, the-ah, prisoners; what
nave you to offer as, hum, aw, reouttal of
Miss, ha, Perkins statement" Here he
opened his eye suddenly, and darteI
judicial glare at thu offenders.
''Nothln'" browled Aaron. 81 done it."
"O-o-ohn'
And with a delicious girlish scream a
pretty, rosy. curly -aeaded girl rushed
across the courtroom, and flung her arms
around Aaron Miller's neck; she had just
come in at the door.
HE never! she sobbed addressing as
founded Judge Stopcock with courageous
scorn. He never! he's he best and kind
est and dearest man in the world"
Miss Sophronia prepared to FAINT.
"You shut up, Fanw said Aaron, with a
peremptory voice and a tender smile.
Go ahead, Jedgel l killed him. and
buried himl now want the hull caboodle
of we to come along and dig him up, SOS TO
hang me right off slick; and not DO Il. maxim
no more fuss about it. Joe, did you send
arter the teamW
"Yea-ah!" responded Joseph, with a
wink, an undeniable wink at the deputy
sheriff, a bullet-headed Irishman, who had
regarded the whole proceeding up to this
time with subdued chuckles, as an exquis-
tie joke.
Now Mike roared aloud with laughter.
"Silencen shrieked the outraged Judge,
growing redder than turkey-cocS
"Well, come along" went on Aaron;
"there's Slacl1's omnibus out of the door,
and l want the hull posse commoua US to
come out an dig him up, as | said afore;
there's spades enough out there"
"Ye can han'cuff me and Joe, il you
wanter."
This was singular and improper pro-
ceeding, and the judge snorted and pulled
good deal about it; but in rustic com.
munity the majority is apt to have its way,
and nobody there believed Sophronia's
accusation for an instant. Curiosity and
rude justice swept the proprieties and
Judge Stopcock into the corner.
Mike volunteered to sit between the
prisoners with an arm locked in each of
theirs on either side, and Fanny Manning,
an orphan niece of the Millers, whom they
had literally supported and educated for
the last five years, sat next her uncles.
Sophronia, too went along; no prohi-
bition of law or gospel would have de-
TERED her now; the finale of this tragic
business was at hand.
| So judge, and sheriff, and prisoners, and
witness, and as many OF the crowd as could
find room in the omnibus" bowled away
/