Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-08-22


| sir r--
loosed my hold; twas Matt, Soames.
| "Your pardon whispered l "but why have
| you left your posts"
"Black Sampson is watchin', so took the
freedom--ughl my poor windpipe l-to-to"-
He broke off TO catch me by the sleeve and
| pull me down behind the bush. About twelve
PAGES ahead heard door softly opened and
| saw a shaft Of light flung across the path
between tho glistening laurels As the ray
| touched the outer wall marked a small pos
tern gate there standing open.
| Covering lower, we waited while q man
might count fifty. Then came footsteps
| crunching the gravel, and a couple Of men
crossed the path bearing a large chest be-
tween them. In the light I saw the handle
| Of spade sticking out from it; and by his
| gait / liRw the second man to be my one
| eyed friend
| woes my old bonesw he was muttering;
"here's fardel for a man o my years."
| Hold thy breath for the next load -
growled the other voice, which as surely was
| the good minister's.
| They passed out at the small gate, and by
the sounds that followed we guessed they
were hosting their burden into a cart. Pres
emily they recrossed the path and entered
the house, shutting the door after them.
| "Now for it' said in Matt S ear. Gliding
forward, peeped out at the postern gate,
| but drew back like shot.
had almost run my head into a great
black hearse, that stood there with the door
| open, backed against the gate, the heavy
| plumes noddlng above it in the night wind.
Who held the horses had not time to see (;
but, whispering to Matt TO give me u leg up,
clambered inside. "Quickw l pulled him
| after, and crept forward l wondered the
man did not hear us; but by good luck the
horses were FESTIVE, and by his maudlin talk
to them l knew he was three parts drunken
the funeral wines doubtleys.
l crept along and found the tool chest
slowed against tho farther end; 50, pulling it
gently out we got behind it, Though Matt
vas the littlest man of my acquaintance,
twas tiIs work Of tho world to stow ourselves
in such compass Us to bh hidden. By coil
ing up our limbs we mal'aged it; but only
lust before ! caught the glimmer OF a light
| and heard the pair OF rascals returning.
They came very slow, grumbing all the
way; and, Of course, I know they carried the
'ofiin.
IAN right, Sim'n asked the minister.
"Ay," piped squeaky voice by the horses
heads Ctwas the shutting stable boy)-"ay,
but look suarpl Lord What sounds I've
neerd The devils i the hearse, for surem
"Now, Siumy,' the oneseyed gaffer expos
tulated, "thou doesn't think the smoky king
s a-tooli in, same as they poor folks up stairsl
Teeheei Lord, what q trick,-to come for
Master Tingcomb, an tind-aw dear aw,
bless my old ribs, what n thing is humor!
"Shut up Gruuted the minister. The end
If the coffin was tilted up into the hearse.
Push, old varmint!'
"Ay-pushl push! Where be my young,
active sinewsl What a shriveled garment IS
all my comeiness! The devil inside says
Smmy-haw hawr
Burn the thing! 'twont go in for the tool
box. Push, thou cackling old wormsW
Now SO be, but my natural strength is
abated 'Yo-heave hon like the salted sea-
fardiIngers up stairs PUSH push Mat.
under his breath. into whom the chest was
squeezing sorely.
Right at last |" saws the minister NOW,
Simmy, my lad hand the reins an jump up.
There's room, an you'll be wanted"
; The door was clapped to, the three roSues
, climbed upon the seat in front, and we
started.
| hope may never be called TO pass such
another half hour as that which followed.
5 | As soon as the wheels left turf for the hard
} | road twas Jolt, Jolt, all the way; and tnl'
| living mainly down hill, the chest end coffin
, came grinding into our ribs, aud pressing til
; | we could scarcely breathe. And | dared not
climb out over them, for fear the fellow
should her us; their chuckling voices com
| IuE quite pam 10 us IRON Iut OLl4eI sue ~
the panel held out and comforted Matt. u:
r we'll as | could, feeling sure we should fine
Master Tingcomb at our journeys end. Soor
We climbed hill, which eased lis little, bu
shortly after were humping down again, anc
| suffering worse than ever.
Save U.S. moaned Matt. where will TIN
endM
The words were scarce out when We turnel
- sharp TO the right, with jolt that shook oul
I | teeth together, rolled for a little while ovel
, | smooth grass, ana drew up.
| heard the fellows climbing down, and go
my pistols out.
a ''Smmy," growed the minister, "where'
the lauternln
There was a minute or so of silence, ant
u then the swapping of flint and steel aud tn
y sound of putting.
. Lit, Slmmyr
"Ay, here tits"
e "Fetch it along then"
The handle of the door was turned, and
"A light flashed into the hearse.
II Here, hold the lantern steady! Com
l. hither, old Squeaks, and help wi the end"
:. "Surely will. Well was | called Younl
Look-alive when gay fleeing boy. Simnly
e my son, thou'rt sadly drunken. youth
; youth Thou wine bibber, hold the high
< steady, or I'll tell thy nanny"
e "Oh, sir, I do nortally dread the devil ar
! Now, il everi The devil says hear
~ Master Tingcomb still Twin, an in his ow
. house awaitin' usl"
= Be sure, his words were as good as sla
in the face to me. For | had counted tn
1t hearse to lead ME straight TO Master Tins
* comb himself. "ln his own house" tool
ID fright seized me for Della. But first ! mus
,t deal with these scoundrels, who were alread
! | dragging out the coffin
" STEADY therel" calls the minister. III
10 coffin more than half way outside.
r. leveled my pistol over the edge of the too
at chest and fetched a yell fit to wake ghost
n at the same time letting hy straight for II
IA minister.
a In the fash Of the discharge saw him, ha
=, turned, his eyes staring and mouth agap
70 He capped his hand 20 his shoulder, On TO
er of his wild Shrek broke out a chorus {
screams and oaths, in the middle Of whic
ID the coffin tilted up and went over with
es crash. Satan SATAN bawled Simmy, am
~ dropping the lantern, took TO his heels Il
-, dear life. At the same moment the hors
- took fright, and before | could scramble OF
Is we were tearing madly away over the tn
II. and into the darkness. l had made a st
ed mess of it.
nd 1t must have been full minute before II
IF hedge turned them, and gave me time 70 Dire
ha out at the back and run to their heads Mat
~ Soames was after me, quick as thought al
very soon we mastered them, and gatheriI
IT, | nm tina raina from betMpau their legs. Il