The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-07-10

smiled. After thut Hiram came regu-
larly to the window three times day,
and though they never smiled after that
| first time he knew she saw him aud that
she was pleased to have him there. He
often wanted TO punch the heads of the
men around the window, but he con-
sidered that she could not hear what they
said, and so let them alone. But one
night when his money was quite gone,
and when he had already learned the
way to one of the big pawnshops, and
while he was standing gazing discOnsO-
lately at the lady in mid-air, something
happened that made him boil with rage.
Two very unpleasant young men In front
of him tapped on the window pane and
took off their hats and bowed to the
girl and called her very endearing names.
She grew as red as her hair, but she was
afraid to move as that would upset the
mirrors which made her look as though
she were cut i'll two, but she called to
the proprietor and the tears came to her
eyes. Hiram did not wait for the pro-
prietor.
He just leaned over the heads of the
laughing crowd and caught the young
men by the collar and shook them as
though they were dirty rags.
Ou ultdll, CON pups, 1Ou.
vel ed Hiram, "insulting lady that amt
got no one to take care of her. If you
dare to speak, ur look, ur even come
near that giri again I'll beat every bit of
life out en- your miserable bodies,n
Then Hiram whirled the two toughs
into the gutter and strobe angrily up
the street. 1t was late and there were
few people about His visit to the city
had been failure, a bitter failure, and
he would have returned to the farm that
very next morning if it had not been
for that girl, but he felt that he could
not leave her to be abused and insulted.
1t was really more than anyone could
ask.
And then hand touched him lightly
on the shoulder, and turning he saw the
young lady of the dime museum stand
ing firmly on her legs now, and with
shawl thrown over her red hair. "Come
here quick" she said drawing him into
the yestibule of a dwelling house.
They're a-piping you, the boys are; and
they've been a-followin you ever since
you knocked Casey down. My stars,
but you did for him, didn't you? Those
two boys were cOppers for the place,
and they were bit full that's all.
Well, they're after you now, and I've
run all this way to tell you. You get
away now, quick" She looked cautious
ly out of the hall way and pulled him
after her. run up to Houston street."
she said. keep in the light, take the
elevated"
''But where to-what for?" gasped
Hiram.
"Oh, anywhere" she said; only get
away. They're wild as bulls, they are,
and they're the worst of the gang. If
you run up against them now they'll do
you for sure.n
And what about you?" asked Hiram,
who was too ignorant of the particular
gang of which the girl spoke to be very
frightened.
"Oh, I'm all right" said the girl.
I'm used to taking care of myself; and
you stood by me, so l thought I'd do
you turn. Look outr' she screamed,
''here they are. Policel" There was a
sudden stamping and tramping of feet,
a blocking of the entrance to the hall
way, and the gang were upon him.
Hiram pulled the girl behind him and
struck out like wild man. They were
too close to use their fists well, and he
drove them back. Then he felt the door
behind his back give way, and as it
opened he put his arm around the girl
and pulled her with him inside the
house, and threw his shoulder against
the door and locked it.
They were standing in the hallway of
the clearinghouse, which was lighted by
a single burner. Outsidelthe men kicked
at the panels and cursed viciOusly, and
then q voice cried hOarsely: 'Hustle,
fellers, the cops is onter us!' and they
heard them jump away and the sound of
their footsteps growing fainter and
fainter as they ran.
Hiram put his hand to his head and
found that it was bleeding, but he did not
mind that, for the girl was leaning heav-
lily against him trembling with fear.
"It don't seem TO me-" said Hiram,
meditatively, ''that this sort of lifes just
the thing for young girl"
Il haven't got any other" sobbed the
young woman at his side.
81 know of place on a farm down in
New jersey" said Hiram slowly, "where
they'll take you in, and treat you well if
| say so-and | will say so if you'll
come. Will you?"
The young lady of mid-airlfame looked
up and drew nearer to Hiram and nodded
her head in assent as she blinked tear
fully.
They were all very glad to see Hiram
when he trudged up to the farmhouse q
few days later, and very much surprised
to see the pretty, slight, young girl al
his side.
'This, mother" by way of introduc-
ton, sis my wife. l told you when ]
went away wouldn't come back empty
handed, and she's better'n money"
And this is how it came about that
Hiram got third interest in the farm,
5000 down and the two rooms on the
second floor, and was eventually forgiven
for preferring the lady who hung in
mid-air to the youngest daughter of thu
Methodist minister.-DetroH NeUs.