Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-02
As II aware OF the deserted condition

crash with boisterous laughter. then in
deep, gutteral tones they inquired for
the girl they were sure they had seen
through the window rs thew had came
up, and who must be somewhere about
the house. Suggesting that they look
her up" and suiting the action To tho
word. they came up stairs. talking In
their deep. coarse voices OF blood-curd-
ling exploits of the past, and laughing
in a way that seemed to chill her very
heart blood as they limited darkly OF
other similar deeds to follow in the
near future. all the time walking bold
ly through the rooms. slamming doors.
opening and shutting drawers and
boxes and knocking the furniture
about in a wreckless manner that
promised i'll for poor Sarah should they
discover her place of concealment.
At last they entered her room. and
having examined it as they had done
the others. they came TO the closet door
and find NC ii locked. shook and pound
ed it savagaly, declaring that the girl
must be in there. and they would make
her show herself or know the reason
why, their words, not less than the tone
in which they were uttered. which to
her in her helpless terror, seemed al
most u~nearthlv. were well nigh more
than she could bear in silence, and she
must have given vent to her feelings in
uncomfortable sobs or screams had
they not desisted and gone down stairs
in search of grub" Having satisfied
themselves they shortly after took their
leave. slamming the door behind them
and yelling a loud good bye" as they
went out.
Such is the account Sarah gave the
girls between her sobs half an hour
later when they returned from the
woods and found her still crouched in
the closet too frightened TO stir until
some of the family returned; and still
later she again repeated the same sad
tale to Mrs. Brown, interrupting her
account by convulsivc weeping. for the
poor girl was all but distracted by the
fright; but it was "A much more simple
story that good lady listened to a few
hours later when all the others had re-
tired and only she with Sissy and Rho
ia sat together in the moonlight for
their customary good night talk, and
the girls confessed how they had
dItSscu III uONS CdSl-Oll CiOluiuE, SIP
ping their dresses on again for con-
cea.ment. and throwing the boots and
hats as far rs possible from the back
chamber window where they could pick
them up when Sarah was not looking.
They had made bundles of their dresses
and sunbonnets down in the orchard
and came back, prowling about the
house until sure they had been seen be-
fore they entered. and proceeded as
best they could to personate a couple
of tramps, to have a little fun with
Sarah for be NJ so foolish as TO be
afraid of every man she saw
OF course. it had turned out more
seriously Than they had expected, and
Sarah's extreme fear and subsequent
nervous prostration had beer entirely
unlocked for, and they were heartily
sorry and ashamed and were anXious
to do something TO make amends. only
they never could confess to Sarah and
ask her forgiveness. VIII CHI Mrs. Brown
insisted was the first thing to be done,
as she easily convinced them after IA
few minutes motherly talk.
fastening to perform the unpleasant
duty, not more from a desire to place
Sarah in a better condition to get the
sleep she so much needed than Ito
have it over with" they went TO her
room, assisted by mammals kiss of en-
couragement. Rapp nc at the door
and receiving perm ssion TO enter,
thew went in and found her sleepless
and ervou and looking so pale and
miserable that it made the task they
had come TO perform a comparatively
easy one; and when. instead of angry
tears or indignant ~reprOaches. as they
had expected. she d q not say a word
but lay back on the pillow at the close
of their account of their afternoons
adventures. her frightened look giving
place to one of intense relief. the girls
were completely cowed. and. with
a humble good night slipped away
to their own room and silently prepared
for bed. After a period of restless
toss NC, during which both had refrain
ell from speaking. being not yet ready
to q scuss the subject on their minds.
and in no mood to talk of anything
else, Rhoda broke the $ lence by tho
characteristic remark:
why didn't she spunk up and order
us out of her room, or say something
hateful. Or
DO anyth NC but look so wretched-
ly happy" finished Sissy.
Another pause Of a few minutes
while the girlish thoughts roamed at
will from the topic in question. touch
ing a dozen foreign subjects in as
many minutes. and at last reaching one
so ent rely disconnected with any of
the unpleasant parts of the davis pro-
ceedings that poor Sarah aud her
tramps were banished from their minds
for the time, at least, and the busy
tongues wagged merrily again with
their accustomed ease. only pausing to
count the strokes as the clock struck
the hour. ~interrupting Rhoda in her
account Of how. a great manv years
ago, Aunt Sue. while visiting Aunt d.
and Uncle Frank. had dressed up in
Uncle Franks best clothes and gone
walking in the twilight with Aunt Di,
making. with the aid Of a false nous
tache, such a handsome. dash ng.
black-eyed stranger. aud acting so de-
voted and lover-like that. az Uncle
Frank was away on one of his long
businoaS trins and avarv ono knoy