Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-02-19

turning quickly to the right. took I
aying leap over the garden wall. Un.
luckily ! attempted to Hy without
wings my feet caught in the stones
and | turned . sousrsault into the
garden.
Instead Of falling upon the grass
dived head foremost into straw bee.
hive. The beshivs we1t over on Tho
ground and I followed; but the bee,
were the frat to pick thsmsslvss up
and when I arose upon my feet ther,
wss . whole. colony ready TO settle
upon me.
They swarmed in my clothing until
Twas frantic. The more ! stamped
and beat. and ravsd. Che more they
stung me. At last. ] gave stamp oi
trsmsndous force; my tight patent
feathers burst. and just as my feet
protruded at the sides. stepped in
the overturned hive. / might as we'll
stepped in the fire; the little tormen.
tsrs stung my feet. and I danced like
. bear upon hot. plates. and for the
same reason.
was still wildly beating the air.
when / perceived all the farm ssrv.
ants, whom my shouts had aroused,
charging in a body. They shouted
"Thief, and fourished their weapons
and began to think of leavins that
neighborhood in hurry. Bet I was
determined upon revenge. I could
not be stung any worse than ! was; 60
/ grasped the hive that stood upon
ne bench. and hurled it iato the
it drop upon the brothers head like
q huge pale; and to see the individual
throw it of and roll upon the ground
in anguish. I never derived 90 much
pleasure from hearing a person swear
before.
could hear my pursuers breathing
hard near me. and expected every mo.
msut to feel the spikes of the pitch.
fork behind. when stumbled over G
stone and fell headlong 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 beat
accident that could have happened TO
me. as it rid me of the bees. soon
arose and scrambled up the steep bank
whore ] stood to look around. In one
place head appeared above the wa.
ter; in another. pair Of feet kicked
in tho air, without any visible owner.
Hats. pitchforks and men were mixed
in a confused heap. while ell plunged
and puffsd like Q shoal of porpoise.
Although I was smarting with pain,
the scene was too lud;,rous TO be
gazed upon with sober countenance.
and I laughed until I could roar no
longer.
But when ! reached my rooms I
did not feel 90 we'll. I knew that I
had lost Agnes forever. beside the
heavy sum for the gig and the new
suit. My face was swelled for many
days, and could not leave the house.
To be sure. some Of the neighbors had
witnessed the battle, and when it was
shown how ! had punished them, I
was quite q hero among my friends.
Praise. however. did not replace the
missing money. aud Agnes would not
speak to me in the street. So / was
wretched.
am now a confirmed bachelor, and
/ look with thankful heart upon the
chaos of boot jacks and boots in my
room without the least desire to change
my condition. I look uEon oil Wild
ows az attractive destroyers, and NV
experience has been such as to confirm
my hatred of the sex. Of course, all
who think different are welcome to
to be fettered; but if I was to choose
between hanging and winning q Wild
ow, | would select the least of the
two evils and pstroniss the execu.
tioner. Agnes is still q widow; and
her brother 10 married, and / hear,
with grim satisfaction. that be 10 hen.
pecked.