The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-01-24


but | wrote her a letter explaining
matters and begging to be again
taken into favor. | was overioyed
to receive an encouraging reply.
She forgave me and would not give
me up, but her brother was very
angry and would not permit her to
see me If | cou'd come upon the
following evening 10 the farm |
could reach her window by means OF
the grape vine and we coul talk
the matter over.
This letter cheered me up won
derfully, and when the clock struck
nine upon the following night,
walked gaily to the farm, passed
around the rear, and perceived a
white figure at the window. A large
dog, who was fastened in a kennel,
under the window, threatened to
raise an alarm; but few words from
Agnes quieted him | clambered up
the vine, and was soon at her side.
| was SO happy, that the grape vine
might have been the ladder to para =
disc. ,Agnes was torgiving and
lovely. and we conversed for half an
hour without a thought of the lower
world.
was calmly gazing at the farm
which would soon be my own, when
heard the door open. Upon turn
ing | saw the obnoxious brother
standing in the doorway, with a
very suspicious whip In his hand.
He looked angry, and Immediately
comprehended his purpose. 1t was
not in human nature to remain quiet;
AID when he sprang towards me
with an angry howl, answered
with yell, and springing through
the window began slipping down the
vine.
| would no doubt have made a
mastery retreat, but was but few
feet from the top when the brother
cut the fastenlngs with his knife, and
the vine and myself tell together.
Untortunatelt | dropped upon the
roof Of the kennel; the roof not
being able to hold showers of fallen
humanity, gave way, and | tumbled
directly into the jaws OF the bull
dog. The jaws, with a howl, fas
tened upon my leg, and for a mo-
ment there was a terrible battle be-
tween us. At last the dog un-
fastened to take a fresh bite and |
took advantage tor the moment TO
get away; but my enemy again
fastened upon my coat-tails, and as
| could not drag dog and kennel
over the fence. | was unable to
move.
The dog pulled one way, and l
the other; and tor while the issue
was very doubtful, but | caught
glimpse Of one of the farm labor
ers advancing with a pitchfork
and gave desperate jerk. 1t was
too much for the strongest OF cloth;
and, leaving the torn portion in the
dogs possession, | bounded away
towards the barnyard fence. But l
discovered in time that | was charg-
ing upon the couched pitchfork of
the servant, and tuning quickly to
the right, took flying leap over the
garden wall. Unluckily attempted
to fly without wings; my feet caught
in the stones and | turned a somer-
sault into the garden.
Instead of falling upon the grass
| dived, head foremost into a straw
beehive. The beehive went over on
the ground and | followed; but the
bees were the first to pick them
selves up, and when | arose upon
my feet there was whole colony
ra,I,, tD ca,t1, ma
They swarmed in my clothing
until l was frantic The more |
stamped and beat, and raved, the
more they stung me. At last, gave
stamp of tremendous force; my
tight patent feathers burst, and Just
as my feet protruded at the sides, |
stepped in the overturned hive. l
might as well have stepped in the
fire ; the little tornentors stung my
feet, and 1 danced like bear upon
hot plates, and for the same reason.
was still wildly beating the air,
when | perceived all the farm
servants, whom my shouts had
aroused, charging in a body. They
shouted "Thief," and hourished
their weapons and | began to think
OF leaving that neighborhood in a
hurry. But | was determined upon
revenge. l could not be stung any
worse than l was; SO l grasped the
hive that stood upon the bench, and
hurled it into the crowd. | had the
pleasure of seeing it drop upon the
brothers head like huge hat; and
to see the individual throw it off and
roll upon the ground in anguish. l
never derived SO much pleasure
from hearing a person swear refore.
l could hear my pursuer5 breath
ing hard near me, and expected
every moment to feel the spikes of
the pitchfork behind, when. l STUN,
bled over stone an fell headlong
into the river. The men behind un-
able to check themselves, followed,
| and the next moment we were all
struggling in the water.
1t was not deep, and was the best
accident that could have happened
to me, as it rid me of the bees. l
soon arose and scrambled up the
steep banks where | stood to look
around. In one place a head ap-
peared above the water; in another,