Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-01-21

har to see me. IF T could come up on the
follow;ng evening to the farm could reach
her window by means of the grape vine and
va conId talk the matter over.
This letter cheered me up wonderfully,
and when the clock struck nine upon the
following nieht.I 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; bat
IL fow worjs from Apnes uuieted him.
Ic,amhered nm the vine. and was soon at her
s;da 7 was so happv. that tie grape vine
might have been the ladder to paradise
ones was forpiyinp and lovely, anu we
oonversed for half an hour without a
thouoht Of the lower world.
Iwas calmly gazing at the farm which
vonld soon be nv own, when I heard the
door Omen. Upon turning saw the obno-
rions brother standing in the doorway,
With a verv suspicious whip in his hand.
He lacked angry. and I Immediately COM
nrahended his nnrpose It was not 10 hu-
man nature to remain quiet; aid when he
snranp towards me with an angry howl,
answered with veil. and springing
throueh the window. began slipping down
the vine.
! would no doubt have made mastery
retreat. but I was but few feet from the
top when the brother cut the fastenings
with his knife. and the vine and myself fell
together. Unfortunately I dropped upon
the roof of the kennel; the roof not being
able tn hold showers of fallen humanity,
gave way, and tumbled directly into thu
isws Of ibe bulldog. The laws, with a
howl. fastened upon nv leg, and for a mo
ment there was terrible battle between
ms. At last the dog unfastened to take a
fresh bite: and took advantage for the
| moment to get away; but my enemy again
| faatened upon nv coat-tails, and as could
not drag dog and kennel over the fence,
| was nnable to move.
The dog puIled one way and I the other;
and for a while the issue was very doubt
fnl. but T caught a glimpse of one of the
| farm laborers advancing with a pitchfork
a.,d gave a desperate Jerk. Il was too
mnch for the strongest of cloth; and, leav.
inc the torn portion in the dogs posses
sion. I bounded away towards the barn.
ward fence. But discovered in time that
was chargiug upon the couched pitchfork
of the servant. and turning quickly to the
the right. took Aying leap over the gar
den wall. Unluckily I attempted to fly
without wings:my feet caught in the stones
and I turned a somersault into the garden
In9tAQ0 u,
head foremost into a straw beehive. The
heehive went over on the ground and I fol-
lowed. Init the bees were the first to pick
themselves M. and when arose upon nay
feet there was a whole colony ready to set
tIe unon me.
Thev swarmed in nv hair. and crawIed
urder NV clothino nntil I was frantic. The
moro T slammed and heat. and rayed. the |
more thew stnng me-. At last. I gave O |
stamn of tremendous force: nv tight patent |
Ieathe,s burst. and mat as nv feet protrud |
ad at the sides. 7 slammed in the overturned |
hive T MIGHT as we'll have stepped in the |
fire. the little tormentors stune nv feet, |
and danced like bear upon hot plates:
and for the same reason,
was still wildly beating the air. when I |
pereived all the farm servants. whom nv
shonts had aroused. charging in body.
They shouted "Thief." and flourished |
their weauops and began to think of leav-
ing that neighborhood 10 hurry But I
was determined upon revenge. l could not
be stuug any worse than was; 80 grasp
ed the hive that stood upon the bench, and
ure of see;ny it drop upon the brothers.
head like a huge hat;and to see the individ.
nal throw il off. and roll upon the ground
ia anguish. never derived 80 much plea
sure from bearing a person swear before.
I could hear my pursuers breat HUG hard
near me, and expected every moment to
feel the spikes of the pitch-fork behind,
when stumbled over a stone and fell
headlopg into the river. The men behind
unable to check themselves followed and
the next moment we were all struggling in
The water,
1t was not deep, and was the best acct
dent that could have happened to me. as it
rid me of the bees. I soon arose and
serau bled up the steep bank, where I stood
to look around. 10 one place head ap-
peared above the water; in another, a pair
of feet kicked Ia the air, without auy visi-
BILE owner. Hat., pitch-forks and men
we're mixed IN confused heap, while all
-1..u.l - ~ I;l1a q otnoS Of rornoioo |