The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-05-11
UP A PLUM TREE.
Imprisonment, Rescue and the
Triumph OF Love.


"Up in the plum-tree" repeated Mr.
Brown. And what's he doing up in the
plum-treei 1t amt the time o. year for ripe
piuins."
"No," said Zeruiah, giving the frying
pan that she was cleaning an extra scrape
with the knife, "'taint time o. year for
plums TO be ripe. But it's always time o.
year for young men to make fools OF them,
selves, and the third branch OF that 'ar
plum-tree is on line with the window OF
Arabela Arden's room"
"Ehi' said Mr. Brown, dropping his
newspaper and opening his eyes very wide.
"As true as you live, sir" said Zeruiah.
"But that vas precisely what my brother
sent her down here for" said Mr.. Brown,
contracting his bald forehead into innumer-
able wrinkles ITO keep her out of Hubert
Wynton's wayH'
"Hunlph!" said Zoruiah "The world Is
wide, but it amt wide enough to keep two
fools apart"
"Up IN TIC plum-tree, is he'" said Mr..
Brown, with u sardonic SMILE what sort
Of looking fellow is he, Zeruiahi"
Wall,n answered the old woman, still
holding the frying-pan as Minerva Of old
might have held her shield, 4" the leaves is
thick, and my sight amt what it once was;
but he's got light-colored clothes on, rs was
never cut in Bean Hollow; and his hat,
that lays out on the grass, has got a city
makers name in It,"
"GOod!" nodded Mr.. Brown. "You
ought to have bocn detective, Ruey.
They would give you good wages, III bet q
~ ;rva ka hat
~ brung 1t in and put it on the hall
table," answered Zeruiah.
VERY we'll Go out and chain Caesar
under tho plum tree. Give him good
length Of chain, Ruey. Then come back
and move all Arabella's things into the
west bedroom. I'll take the end room N.Y.
self. II there's any serenading, or poetry
reciting, or any thing Of that sort, I'll have
the benefit Of it myself"
A slow smile broke out over Zeruiah's
wooden face
But what'll you tell her." said she.
Tell her! Why, that the end room is q
better aspect for my rhcumatlsm," said Mr.
Brown, chucklng. "And make haste, or
she'll be back from Widow Pete's. Every
thing must be moved before she returns.
And pull the shade down, so the city chap
won't suspicion what we're up to-"
on trudged Zeruiah, who, in spite Of her
having first soen the light on the rugged
coasts Of Maine, was at heart true Span
ish duenna, and took grim delight in frus-
trating the intents OF Cupid.
Bella Arden was young and pretty. Bella
had dared to ridicule her old-fashioned
ideas. Bella had nick named her .'Medusan
piuh buH NAT thn laoo sIoo
who "Medusa" was, she dimly suspected
that it was no complimentary term. And,
therefore, Zeruiah was not sorry to see the
pretty Boston girl come up with" as she
phrased it, IT.
why, Uncle Brown" cried Bella, when
she came in, with her fair hair blown about
her face and her cheeks Redeemed by her
brisk walk across hill and hollow, "why
have you changed my roolns"
"Wen, you SEQ, my DEAR" said Mr..
Brown, crafty, "Tve an idee that the east
room will suit my rheumatism better. YOU
don't mindl"
"Oh, not in the leasts" said Bella, cheer
fully. "And I'll go right to work and ar
range the things that that cross old Zeruiah
has flung about SO recklessly. Oh, by the way
uncle, there was no letter for mo, I sup
poses" as she glanced ut the weekly paper
lying unfolded on the table, "for l SCI
they've brought the mail"
mo, my dear" said Mr. Brown, mo let
ters."
And the COWS came, with tinkling bells
home from the fern-scented pastures, ant
the sun sank behind the maple swamps
and the purple dimness Of twilight began K
brood over all things, and still Huber
Wynton, prisoned up among the tossing
plum boughs, waited in vain for som,
prospect Of his release,
"Confound these good people," SAID h,
70 himself. "What on earth have they
chained that savage beast here for Jus
nowi And l believe must have made
mistake-that Is not Bella's room at all. 4
stout old man has sat there, reading tn
paper, all the afternoon, and l haven
dared to stir, for fear OF being shot for
burglar. I've seen the darling once o
twice picking flowers in the garden, an,
bringing water from the spring, but
haven't ventured to call TO her, for fear Q
betraying my hidlng-place. Shades Q
Epiourus! how good that frying chick smell
Coffee, toos I'd give kings ransom for
cup Of it!'
Poor HUBERT He could not stir for fea
Of rousing CAESARS deep low-pitched bar
and compromising himself and Bella, but b
grew stiffer and more cramped with ever
second Of his enforced vigil.
"They must take the dog to his kenn,
before long" no thought as the dew su
fused the air with moisture and the nigh
birds began to wheel about the luxuriar
branches Of the old tree.
But presently Zeruish came out with
tin pan Of water and platter Of bones
break Cessr's fast.
us 1t all right, Rueyi" said Mr.. Brow
In . sort Of stage-whisper, from the kitche
door.
IAN right, STRIP Zeruiah answered.
And then, in lightning-fash, asst wer'
Hubert comprehended 1t all.
He was entrapped. That weazen.face
old woman and the nalirious alAarlv uncI