Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-01-29

careful man You won't 60 sksting,
Etrf did dust your skates"
mo. no. Mrs. Dinton. Too busy,
'sPoor old fellowI Goutr Well. he
will not need me-" said to myself.
and I read till the sun set red over the
hill, and then till the mist was gray,
and the night sat in as It does set In
during January frost.
AS l sat over my tea III my cosey,
warm room, and listened to the hum
ming of the frosty wind outside, l
turned in my chair to listen to merry
chorus, as party went by my window,
and the clink OF piir OF skates told
me what their mission must be.
1 read on for perhaps an hour. quite
in good spirits, and was mentally treat
ing a very bad sprain successfully, when
Mrs. Dinton bustlei into the room.
"a letter for you, sir. Man brought
it from the Hall, sir"
"From the Hall?'' cried excitedly.
SIS he waiting?"
mo, sir; he's gone again. Said you
was TO come on directly"
opened the envelope with trembling
fingers, and read, written in boil
clear hand:
"DR. RUSSELL: Come on to the Hall
directly. Lord John has met with al
accident. Leg badly fractured. Bring
your Instruments
Lord Johnl' 1 exclaimed. 81
thought his lordship was in town"
81 did hear as he was expected down
at any time, sir. Is nythiDg the mat
ter?''
LEG brokenr' I said hurriedly.
"Quick, Mrs DintOn, my coat"
"BIess us and save usl Poor, dear
mani He's slipped on the front door
steps, as sure as I'm a sinful woman,
and him with a houseful o. servants
and not to think to throw down a
shovel of ashesl Here's your comforter,
sir''
L slipped the things on, stuffed band
ages of splints into my pockets, a bottle
or two in others, and then caught up a
long mahogany box from the sldeboard
cupboard.
''Oh, for goodness sake, sir, don't
say as you're going to"
That's all, think!" said, breath
leSsly. Don't sit up if Pm late"
The next minute. without hearing
Mrs. Dinton's reply, was out in the
frosty night, thinking of the task had
in hand, and the possibilities.
/ had a mile and a half TO 60, passing
two or three farm houses before l
reached the park with Its fine avenue of
oaks; and just before | reached the last
house, with its rudy lights staining
the pure snow, could see other lights
down in a hollow to my left, and heard
shouts as the smoky torches of the
skaters glided here and there.
| almost ran the rest Of the way, and
kept expecting 10 see the illuminate j
windows of the old + iZabethan Hall;
but all was dark and still, and when
reached the place, | was saluted by the
bay ng OF dog, a man came out OF a
yard 10 my right with a lantern, while
beyond him L could see the lights in the
stables.
WHO'S there?''
DIR. RUSSELL - said. "Will you
show me the way up to the house?"
Yes, sir; but there's no one there,
sir. Mr.. Benlet and old Sam are in
tie stables.''
what, is he therei' / said.
Yes, sir, and mighty bad
BE quick, ten. How did the acci-
dent occur?"
''WelI, sir, that's what | can't make
recognized. as lie led me toward the
stable. mo business TO ha' slipped up
as he did, for it's only three days since
he was roughed.'' -
''What?' / said, as We entered the
stable where a group OF people were
standing in front of stall.
Had him well-rOughed," said the
bailif1.
My good manI' l excla med; "has
not Lord John broken his leg?"
YES, sir, worse luckl AMI only
fetching load of wood; and fine TAX
ing his lordship Will be III, and the
young ladies, too, when they come
down, he's fine old favorite o.
theirs. Morton says there's nothing
for him but the poll-axe, and then the
kennel after we've took off his skin"
Here" said, unbuttoning my coat
and taking the letter from my breast.
The old baillff opened and read the
letter by the light of the lantern.
- me ones been having a game
with you, sir-hocusslng of you"
] stamped my foot and made snatch
ut the letter, white with rage and dis
appointment.
Which 1 call it a shame, sir. It's
because We allus called the old horse
Lord John"
Give me my letter and let me go. y
'Stop a moment, sir, 3" said the oil
man, taking out a letter which he read
aloud:
well mind and shut the gates after
we've done skating, and we shall be
of the ice by eleven"
Yes, thought SO, sir. One OF Mr..
Mark Win.ey's games. LookI"
snat he'd the two letters and com
pared them. There was no dOu I
about 1t. 1 had been hoaxed by TIE
practical joker of the place.
''If had him, here, said, hercely
"I'd horsswhip him."
"And serve him right too, sir. It,
too had to a gentleman; and it's like
him as called wolf in the fable. P'r'ap:
some day he'll want help and it mayn'I
cone"
"wen, Master Bart" said a rough
voice, 1.-THE sooner the better, l say"
"Oh, don't say that, Mr.. Morton, ,
cried . woman. Poor old LORD
Johnl'
.'WeIl, I'll. a bad job, Mrs. Bennet
but the sooner he's out OF his miserl
the better.
''I'm 'fraid so, Mr.. Morton. Poor olC
chap, thenl"
Tie balliff went into the stable wher'
a good looking cob was standing OF
three legs, and the poor bru'e turned
| its head round and uttered q pitifu
whinnying sound. while looked on.
IF you'll fetch the pole-aIe, Maste
! Bart, I'll soon do it," said the harsh
/ vo ced man.
..Is the leg badly broken?'' said.
well, no; not what you'd call badl.
broken"
Couldn't you set it?'
"Set itl'' said the vet tcontemptuously
swho ever heard of setting horse