Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-24

treat. mind YOU, while this is advance. For
wardj Marchr'
Through the marshy. brambly ground we
a fence on the opposite side. Again Cousin Jo-
mas wished to lift me over; but declined, tell
| Ing him that had learned something by my
former failure and would be more careful this
time. climbed to the top Of the fence, but,
buffeted by the wind and bothered by my long
cloak and worried by Cousin Jonas interfer-
| ence, once more lost my footing and fell over
| the fence and rolled over and over down q
thorny bank and dumped into ditch at the
fence like greyhound and picked me up and
shook and wiped and condoled and scolded by
turns.
$50 much for your obstinacy." he muttered.
s'But cheer up, Cousin Dolly only one more
| fence to climb, and that without any ditch or
bramble bank on the other side!''
"Was there no better way to reach the man q
place? This is horrible ~ I said.
"Oh, yes there is better way a mile or so
around, and then through his park as he calls
each side with fancy shade trees, but that
| wouldn't suit our purpose! This will. This is
| the short cut, as said before"
So through the evergreen scrub wood,
scratched by the branches, soaked by the melt
ing snow; wet and cold, and tired and dis
gusted, trudged on after Cousin Jonas to-
| ward the last fence. As we neared it we were
assailed by the barking of dogs.
''Oh, Cousin JOnas!" cried, ''the dogs have
given the alarm and now the man will come out
| and shoot us!'
IF he does he will be lynched by the mob ~
| said Cousin Jonas
"But that wouldn't do us any good! That
wouldn't bring us to life again ~ I cried.
Don't you be afraid, Cousin Dollv
"But oh, how those dogs barkr'
"Never you mind, the brutes know me. I'll
soon quiet them: Soon as we get on the other
side Of the fence"
We trudged on few yards farther and then
he stopped.
''Here we are Cousin Doll Over this last
fence and then We are at our journeys end"
said Mr. Dunallan
''Oh, but the dogs Cousin Jonas! The dogs !.
just hear them. They will tear us to pieces ~
| cried, half dead with fright, and fully con-
vinced that nature had never intended me for
henroost rObbing gipsy!
II didn't think you were such coward !"
said Cousin Jonas, with a sigh.
Neither am r. cried. my vanity wounded
up with you then! Tumble over once more
if you won't let me help you"
certainly would not, and told him 30. I
considered that had some practice in climb
ing and had gained some experience, 30 made
my third attempt. l reached the top Of the
fence in safety, paused. and was meditating a
cautious descent, when the burst Of dogs upon
Cousin Jonas 80 terrified me that / lost my
footing and tumbled heels over head with q
great splash into duck pond below! Surely
nothing so ignominious ever happened to any
US too
And just then the report Of a gun rang
through the air.
''The devilr cried Cousin Jonas, as he pulled
me out OF the pond. There! Shake the water
dogs!"
They were barking and leaping about him 30
that expected every minute to see him torn
down by the throat but he only pushed them
aside, crying: Down, Tom! What do you
mean, Nellie! What are you about? Get out,
Tip!' and 30 on.
the air.
"Oh, Cousin Jonas. Dear Cousin Jonas |!
Come away! Let us run! Oh, let us run away /!
We shall be shot! Oh, what a disgraceful
my hands.
"Oh you coward! Don't be afraid! See! 1
have conquered the dogs! They are fawning
on me now! And"
Bang-g-g-g reverberated third report! I
chung to Cousin Jonas legs in the extremity of
my terror and misery.
Come along, l tell you, Dolly! Don't be
frightened! The guns are too far off to hit us !
The towards are afraid to come near enough to
me to get sight! Come on! Failure would
disgrace us now! We will have that turkey on
our Christmas dinner table or-we will die
calamity in the attempt! Here. Cousin Doll !.
you carry the lantern. Here we are at the door
of the hen house!' said Cousin Jonas, as he
shook me off, stood me up and thrust the
lantern into my unwilling hand.
Bang-g-g-g! Bang-g-g-g! rang and re-
verberated a volley of sharp reports.
'.Je-ru-sa-lem! That sounded nearer" he ex-
claimed; I'VE must hurry up!''
"Oh, Cousin Jonas For the love of heaven
Cousin Jonas" l cried, praying and almost
weeping.
IF you are a coward yourself don't hinder
me, Doll! There. turn the bulrs-eye of the
lantern on the lock! So! That's the way!''
He took the lantern from my trembling hand
and arranged the light to suit his convenience
and then returned it to me. and its rays fell
upon the building that saw for the first time.
He set to work OH the lock and in few minutes
opened the door and then took the lantern
again and disappeared in the darkness within
lay down fiat on the soft snow and slush to
keep out of range of the shots, and, trembling
from head to foot, alike from cold and fear, /
listened and waited for what should happen
next!
''Sguark squark squark " sounded from the
hen house, as, evidently. the invader of the
the roosts and handling fowl after fowl to test
its size and weight in order to secure the larg-
est and heaviest.
''squark. squark squark ~ shrilly screamed
the frightened cocks and hens.
Bang! bang-g-g! bang-g-g-g! rang out
another report of the guns.
''Oh, the man is mad mad! mad And we
shall all be murdered!' groaned, not daring to
raise myself from the ground. was startled
| by the glare of the lantern and the voice of
cousin Jonas whispering hoarsely yet triumph
antly:
Here, Dolly here's the bully boy! Weighs
| twenty pounds bet! Hold him while 90 in
and get the next bestr' And he thrust the
rough, scaly legs of the struggling monster
into my hands. telling me to hold him tight
with his head down and he would soon be too
giddy to heave and plunge.
/ had struggled to my feet, in too deep
despair to resist or demonstrate any more. I
did hold the creature with both hands, NV fin
gers scarcely reaching around his rugged legs
while he still screamed and fought leapine
and jerking strongly as to pull me nearly
down upon my face. l had given myself up for
lost and did not care what might happen next
My ''mad man. disappeared once more in the
darkness of the hen house and the squawking
and screaming of the poultry recommended
The dogs began to bark again and momentarily
l expected another volley of firearms. with the
danger of being shot down. but, as said, did
not care. WAS now apathetic, like one in a
heavy nightmare dream.
mo more worth bringing away. Cousn
Dolly" said Mr.. Dunallan. reappearing with
the lantern. "COme on we have got the famous
prize turkey now in spite of Munnimacher's