Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-06

and sat down before the stove, ex-
pecting every moment the arrival of
Uncle John. A hslf-hour went by
an hour Then began to think that
something had happened to prevent
his coming. My unclc's house was in
remote part of he district, and it
would have been imprudent for me 10
undertake to walk there through the
drifts. But Mr. Foster lived only
half mile from the school-house, and
to his house l decided to walk.
had not gone twenty rods when |
realized that l must return. The
wind blew furiously in my face and
nearly took away my breath. and the
air was so full of snow thai, in the
gathering darkness, l could not see
for two yards before me. was al
most blown back to the school house,
and despite its loneliness was thank
full for It's shelter, as l felt the build
ing tremble and crack beneath the
heavy gusts
There vas a lamp in the school,
house which We used at spelling
schools. This [ lighted, brought in
some wood from the she'd, built fire
and got out my lunch basket, which
still contained some of the crisp twist
ers. did not, ever then, fear tina; |
should be left to pass the night at the
school, house, and so sat, anxious, vet
still expecting TO be called for like
poor Barkis's box of old clothes, at
any moment.
| took out my Virgil-for l en-
deavored to keep up my studies even
while teaching and tried to construe
some lines of the fourth book.
Seven o'clock! Now I was becom-
ing nervous. A little later the outer
door was opened suddenly and l heard
heavy and prolonged stamping in
the shed. Some one had come at
last.
Jumped up, shut the stove, threw
on my cloak, and was about to extin
guish the light when in walked-no
r Uncle John, or any one whom had
ever seen, but tall, broad shoul-
dered stranger. His clothing. his
, grizzled, bushy beard and his long
abundant hair were blown full of snow
Without seeming to notice me, he
dropped upon the front bench an ole
5 satchel which he carried, came hur
! riedly to the stove, and briskly rubbed
7 his hands and ears.
For moment [ was too much as.
tonished to speak; then recovering my
voice. l asked If Uncle John hac
9 sent him to take me home. He looked
g at me steadily, and then, without an
swering my question, walked out O
the room. l hoped that he had lef
D the dollhouse, but presently hearc
t him lock the outside door, and as h'
Q came in he put the key in his Locket
: My strange visitor threw off his car
= and coat, and began to drum a lively
tune with his fingers on the stove-pipe
while his eyes wandered restlessl,
; around the room. He had not spoken
save to mutter few unintelligible
s words as be came in.
Who was this man. and why did h'
!, lock the door and behave so oddly
3 1t was easy to see that there was (
r screw loose, and | soon became con
r vinced that he was not merely eccen
, trlc, but insane! l looked at him il
: alarm, and it was with the creates
difficulty that l kept myself from sue
e cumbing altogether to the faintnes
f with which l had been struggling
] since his abrupt entrance.
l leaned back in my chair and shu
k my eyes. How would it all end? How
t could l live through the night, fo
I now realized that it was useless to ex
r pect anyone to come for me. To b.
Y sure, my companion had thus far be
| trayed no symptoms of violent insan
ity, but l had heard that lunatics oftel
: become dangerous from the sllghtes
, irritation, or if they detect any evi
| dence of timidity on the part of a per
Q son in their presence. Accordingly
. tried to summon courage for the emer.
: gency.
/; | opened my ewes The madm
: stood within yard of me, STOPPING for
: ward, with his black eyes rlveted upol
} my face! Despite my resolve to b.
) calm AID courageous, l involuntarily
: leaped from the chair and sprang t.
the opposite side of the stove. M,
8 strange caller shouted with laughter
i holding his sides and doubling u
with merriment. Then putting on
! cunning look, he asked:
: Can you dancer
Q BY this time l had recovered my
o self, and saw that 1 must be both COO
, and watcbful. So long as he was no
t violent could safely humor him, ane
e thus perhaps I might find my oppor
tunity to outwit him. At all events
: however frightened l might be, I mus
Y not let him perceive my terror.
n Forcing look of pleasure in m,
a face and a laugh into my voice, | re
Q piled, 'Oh yes, | am good dancer
s 'Uml UNI! OF course! Spry as
f waasal Finn chancap