Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-19


''We cAlkiIated. bein' there
was so many tramps and roughs a-prow-
lin around the country since ourt week,
as we'd Letter leave some one to hum to
keep house: and she didn't seem pa
anxious tn come"
''Should hev' thou't she'd a.wanteh to
get acquainted with the young folks,
said Mrs Tackaberry.
Mrs. Perkins smiled and smoothed
down the founces Of her dress. "Sheil
get acquainted before long, | guess, said
she, calmly.
''Not very young, Is'pOsei" said Miss
Tsckaberry.
"About sixteen" answered Mrs. Per-
kins. with suppressed triumph.
swell, l never!' sail Miss Tacka-
berry. ''She must find it awful dull
herel"
''Not so very" returned Mrs. Perkins.
"Been here longi"
ga week."
"Me and sister Typhosa II call to.
morrow" said Miss Tackaberry. II
was always one to believe in sociability."
But here Mrs. Parsons feebly an
nounced that "supper was ready" and in
the blind rush that ensued, Mrs. Perkins
and Miss Tacksberry got separated
At the "D1nation Farty' everybody
ate as much as they possibly could, and
nearly everybody put something In his
or her pockets for the children at home.
Gallons of scald;ng tea and luSewarm
coffee vanished; tons of indigestible cake
disappeared as if by magic; monster
dishes of sticky preserves were ever and
anon renewed; relays of hot biscuits
arrived every five minutes from the
stove ovens, and still tie cry was ''more i"
But the meal was, luckily for Mrs.
Parsons's equanimity, drawing to close,
when Joel Fullerton, a handsome,
swarthy- browed young giant, popped
his head in at the door and looked
around.
"Dcacon Perkins's folks here2" said
he.
"That's me-" said Mr.. Perkins, with
his mouth full of biscuit and honey
''Old horse amt got loose, has he9 1
tied him close to the"
"No, it amt the horse" said Joel.
"Jest step out here. l want to speak to
you minute"
Mrs. Perkins uttered a shrill little
shrek.
81 knowed it, said she-'T knowed
it perfectly well. Somethin's happened.
The new Alderney COW is lamed, or else
the houseis took on fire, and the 'insur-
ance run out only yesterday"
Something's happened" said Joel,
with an anxious look, though l don't
rightly know how nor what. Mother
she Just came across lots to your house
| to get the receipt for maxim soft soap, and
although she could see your niece asset
tin by the fire, she couldn't make hel
hear, though she knocked fit to rattle
the side of the old house down. And
don't be scared-she, sort o. thinkin
Miss Chatty's in fit or hurt or su'thin',
so she sent me down here on Speckle-back,
while she stayed by the door to sort O.
keep guard"
"Jerusalemn - muttered Mr.. Perkins,
fumbling to unite the horse. "Why
didn't you kick in the door, or smash
the window-panes, or su'thin'"
''As for the door, tried my leve
best" said JOEL" but them timbers
would stand an earthquake. And
mother she wouldn't let me break thu
window, for fear the fyin' glass should
hurt your niece"
''Git in, mother!" said Perkins, hoarse
ly. "Quick! There amt no time Il
lose dunno what on airth l shall say
I to Brother Clayton, down in York, il
anything has happened to the gal that's
all he's got in the world"
II knowed it'll was sire on'tr
shrilly walled poor Mrs Perkins, rocking
herself back and forth. 'She's beer
murdered by a slungshot by some o
them miser'ble creetcrs ASCOT loose from
Dilktown Jail. Wo never oughter a
left her there aloner'
''Don't mother, don't!'' said Perkins
family, ducking his head as if her words
were shower of hailstones. ''P'rap'
things amt so very bad arter all. P'raps
-she's-asleep."
''Not very likely" said Joel, trottins
alongside of the wagon on Speckle- back
a stout four-yea:-oid colt. ''Nobody
could ha' slept much with mother hol
lerin' and rappin' on the glass like mad
and INC a-kickin' at the door so that tn,
very clock tumbled o / the shelf"
Of you ketch hold O. my arm tha-
way, mother, said poor Perkins, de
spairingly, 81 can't drive yard furder.
/ Even in that solitary and thinly peo
pied neighborhood little group hat
already collected around the windows o
Deacon Perkins's house, peering through
the tangle of tall lilac bushes and dense
growing cinnamon roses to get glimps,
into the tiny-paned easements, and ;
line of curiously minded people had fol
lowed from the Catfield parsonage, unde
the vague impression that something
was wrong at Asa Perkins's place"
"Just look for YOURSELF" said Joe
Fullerton.
81 can't!" muttered Perkins, passing
his hand across his forehead, as if ther,
was some unwonted pressure there
sect me a screw-driver, something
outen the back shed. I'll get in here, 0
I'll know the reason why!"
/ ''Father!" squeaked his wife; ether
amt no need for no screw-driver. TIL
buttery windows wide open, witt
nothin' but a few meshes o. mosquit
nettin' over it. You can scramble il
there as easy as not, and open the from
door from inside"
The suggestion was instantly carrie,
out, and in moment, as it were, III
crowd was inside the door, staring in
terrified way at the figure wrapped il
shawls, which had fallen to one side il
the old rocking-chair, with its fac