Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-22


holdin' up his book just as you see him now,
pretendin' to be readin' by the moonlight,
though know he couldn't see line. He
hailed me an said he'd been set down there
by the Grantham coach, out somebody he'd
expected to meet him hadn't come, an he
thought 'twant no use to wait for em any
longer. Said he was afeard he'd freeze to
death out there, an could he hire bed and
place for the night. We was too fur from
home to turn back, an as J couldn't let the
poor critter freeze, why there want nothin'
fur it but to take him into the sleigh an
fetch him hore.''
Everybody having declared that Dan had
done just right, he introduced the younger
stranger as MIR. Nathaniel Howe, who had
been engaged to keep the district school,
which was to.open on the morrow.
"He come to board to our house this af-
ternoon," said Dan to 'Bijah, $50 had to
bring him with US.
That's just right said 'Biiah. ''I'm
glad you did," though at the same time he
feared the schoolmaster's presence would
spoil the pleasure OF the evening.
At the mention of Mr.. Howe's profession
the boys and girls had ceased their chatter
and merriment and had assumed faces of
dolcful length and seriousness. Suppressed
murmurs of discomfort might have
been heard on every hand. All
were agreed that "Dan Carver ought to
si-hhONCtA DttICI llliii W INC St-uOOl-
master there 10 spoil all the fun Priscilla
presently whispered TO her brother to take
Mir. Howe into the forenoon and introduce
him to father and mother and the rest of
the old folks. ''An' if were you, reckon
Id leave him there she added. Bijah
was not slow to act on this suggestion, and
the pedagogue had no sooner left the room
than joyous merrmenJ again reigned
among the company.
Supper was now announced and The fore
room and the endroom poured forth their
occupants into the long dining room, where
it was soon found that there was not sufii-
cient accommodation for all the guests.
Consequently it was decided that the ED
erly people, the schoolmaster and the
youngest of the young folks should sit at
the first table, because the older young
folks preferred to wait and eat by
themselves. There was one exception,
however, for Hannah Lovejoy, when she
saw the schoolmaSter placed near the head
of the festive board, had seated herself
through lnadvertence, perhaps-immedi-
ately beside him. On observing this. the
face of Dan Carver, Miss Hannah's escort,
assumed very queer expression and a
very high degree of color, which, you may
rest assured, We're not unnoticed by Miss
Priscilla Bigelow.
When ample justice had been done to the
great loins of beef, roasted turkeys, geese
CIilChCHS, luIDt vi lOuT large
and countless chicken, mince, apple, Gus
tard and pumpkin pies. which comprised
the supper, the elderly people returned to
the fore room, whose hearth was plenti-
fully adorned with mugs and pitchers of
cider and great bowls heaped with mellow
apples-red, yellow and green-while the
young folks quickly cleared the dining
room of table, dishes and chairs and pre-
pared for an evening of games.
What was the dlSmaV of all when Nh.
Nathaniel Howe, the schoolmaster, walked
in from the forenoon, and how quickly that
disnay changed to delight when he slapped
Bijah Bigelow heartily on the back and ex-
claimed IN CHEEKY voice: "Well, old fell
low, what's the programme for tonight!
Blind-man's buff, forfeits, or what? Don't
let's waste the time
This cheerful suggestion was quickly
acted upon, and in all the sport that fol-
lowed the schoolmaSter proved himself as
much of boy as any one present. The I'M
known old gentleman had found his way
from the end-room and had established
himself as before on his quaint oaken chair
by the tireside Busted with his reading
he seemed to notice nothing of what was
going on, and no one paid the slightest at
tention to him.
First they had game of forfeits, and
then one of blind-mans buff. In the latter,
Dan Carver couldn't help noticing that
lnlO The
same corner with the schoolmaster.
Even when she was blindfolded she al
ways knew where the schoolmaster was,
and would catch nobody else. If YOU had
brushed against her, as many of them did
on purpose, she would have made feint of
selling you that would have insulted your
intelligence, and would instantly have made
off in the direction of the schoolmaster
Mr.. Howe must have thought it was not
fair, and doubtless told her so when they
We're SO confidential together behind the
window curtains.
Many times that night did Dan Carver
wish that he had not brought Hannah Love-
JOY and that Priscilla Bigelow might forget
that he had done SO.
The noise and laughter of blind-man's
buff drew the elderly people to look on, and
at last Mrs. Bigelow could withstand the
allurements of the game no longer. Slip
ping off her shoes, she joined in and ran
about more lightly and quickly than any of
the girls. Her example was soon followed
by the other old folks, who seemed to enjoy
the sport immensely
The fun was at its height when suddenly
above all this mirth and noise. there rang
out loud shriek-a cry so shrill that it
must have been uttered by a woman. and
yet so wild and piercing that none could
tell If 1t were an expression of terror, joy
or sorrow. Every member of the company
DeCdIuS Sllcul ulOIlOuleSS dS suddenly as
If u thunderbolt had descended upon one
and all. They glanced toward the fireside
whence the Shrek had seemed to come, and
there on the hearth strange sight met
their gaze The unknown Stranger-old no
longer, but young and handsome, with
brown, curling hair instead of the white
locks which had hung about his shoulders
was clasping the fainting form of Faith
Bigelow, and covering her unconscious face
with kisses
"Tarnel heavens! It's Amos Bradford
come back from the gravel" shouted old
Bigelow when he had recovered his voice,
of which surprise had temporarily deprived
him.
1t was, indeed Faiths sailor lover
What joyous time ensued. How they
all laughed and cried together for joy!
Everybody present had known and loved
the gallant young sailor. whom all had
as dead for eight long years.
How they all crowded about him to shake
his hand. It's mercy that in their eager
ness they didn't shake it off
With Faith restored to consciousness. sit
ting by his side and holding his hand, blush
beauty more radiant than ever Amos told
them all his story long-continued and
terrible storm had wrecked the vessel after
the captain had lost his reckoning and had
no knowledge of where they were Float
ing on 4 spar, he was picked up after a pc
riod OF terrible suffering by boat which
he had at first thought manned
by cannibals. They proved to be in
habitants OF one of the Marshall
group Of islands near the equator There
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