Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-03-22
A LION AT LARGE.

The stage-coach which twice week
passed through Five Forks was later than
usual this morning. The few people of
both sexes who had come in from the
surrounding farms for letters and parcels
were gathered about the postoffice and
blacksmith's Shop discussing somewhat
excitededly the latest local topic of in
terest.
~ know it for fact, said burly
farmer in mud despatched leggines,
seeing | was over at Beaver junction
when it happened. Two OF the freight
cars jumped the track and smashed a
couple o circus cages. There warn t
much trouble with the bar and hayena,
but the lion tuck to the woods, and the
last heern O. him he was maxim tracks
down this way
"Then you amt herd that he was
caught last night2" said another. 81
know it for sartin, for lot o the circus
folks passed by my brother Sans farm
with the critter in wagon Just ez the
moon riz. :"
CARTER he'd killed Widder CHESS COW
and lot O. hogs in the scrub, " added g
third. "Likely as not he's got loose ag in,
for old Mrs. Carper heerd terrublt
roarin in the woods jest before daylight
this mornin'
Maybe she never herd Jones's black
bull before, bellering down in the, med,
der, remarked some one, drily"
t1D,,t Io,n, fo,rJ o, .a,,,,1x- ; l
killed last night. 1t mought "a been dorgs
but Jones says it looks mighty like lion;
work"
"Shucks! What does he know abou
lions work. Couldn't tell lion from ,
sea serpent if he was to see EN-"
just here the stage-coach appeared il
sight, and presently deposited solitary
passenger in front of the postoffice.
He was tall, slim and rather super
cilious-looking young man, alfred in gar
ments of the latest cut and wearing
gorgeous necktie, on which was conspicu
ously perched an opal spider with colder
legs and diamond eyes.
CHANGING hsughtily around, he inquired
of the postmaster whether Doctor Dodc
was there to meet him. and appeared
much annoyed when answered in tbt
negative, and further informed that MT
conveyance could be had to the doctor
some six miles distant.
"Will" whispered a rosy-cheeked girl
bending from the tall sorrel on which
she was mounted, chats Mr. Perkins
Kitty Parsons's beau-and he's come W
TO be married. know he was expected
at the Dodds's to-day. Sally Dodd told
Nelly 80 for secret at meetin' last Sun
day. You know Sally's his cousin, and
twas there he first met Kitty"
''He looks like stuck-up pfig, said
Win, surveying Mr.. Perkins contempt
uously. Anybody can see that the
hardest work he's ever done was measur
in ribbons and caiker. And the idea
of Kitty Parsons throwing over Dave
Cooper for Teller like that"
''But it wasn't her fault, you know,
said the girl, deprecatingly. "Hel
father would have itso on account of hi:
money. When the old man told Dave
that 'twasn't any use for him to come any
more a courtin Kitty, Dave just answered
that he never meant to give her up. An6
now they're havin' the marriage in thil
mean, sneakin' fashion, for fear tha
Dave II hear of it and interfere somehow
kitty'S Aunt Sabina says Dave hasn'
wit TO Kitty since he went away in tn,
spring, and Kitty thinks he's forgotten
her, and SAYS she don't care what becomes
of her now"
That's some of old Squire Parsons
work, Ill bet, said young man, VIII,
was standing close to Matte, "for Dav,
told me that he never got an answer Il
his letters. No doubt her father and aun
kept 'em back from her. But neve
mind, guess he'll have something to d.
| with this weddin' before it comes off -
"But that'n be tonight said tn
girl.
Tonight! You don't mean it, Mat
tiei Why, thought twas fixed for to
morrow"
$50 twas but for some reason they'v'
changed il for to-day. Sally says so.
"Je-Tu sa lem And wrote Dave tina
twas fixed for Thursday night, and h
won't be on hand till tomorrow morn
ing, when it'll be too late. By lingo
i I'd give hundred dollars down to pre-
vent this marriage till Dave eomesl"
The three looked at each other in sym
pathetic dlsmay, and the girls said, viii
energy:
"oh, if that lion would just com
along and eat him up,n
Her brother wins face suddenI,
frightened. He was stalwart youn,
fellsw, with a broad chest, good