The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-03-25
UNCLE DAWES ADVENTURE.
BY A. cHEssMoRE.

the old gentleman was seized anu ushereo
into the hall with impetuous hospitality.
clarence, how rude!" protested q
second voice. "But uncle, we are glad to
see you; the folks have gone to the soci-
able, and our lessons are all learned,
thank goodness" And a bright young
face was eagerly raised for the kiss that
you may be sure, was not grudgiDgly
given.
Uncle Dave was great favorite with
both nephew and niece, and he was soon
snugly settled between the two upon the
library sofa.
"Well, Bessie, what is to be the order
of exercises tonight" he asked as with
q sly hand he released q mass Of curls
that tumbled in a shining cataract over
her shoulders.
Disorder. you mean," was the quick
retort. as she caught the daring hand and
slapped it vigorously. "First Of all, we
mustcontrive plan for keeping you quiet.
Clarence, what was father saying about
uncle this morning'"
"Do you mean when was reading up
In parlor magic for our party next week 2"
"Yes."
"He told me to ask him about his ad.
venture with Satan. Oh, uncle, tell it to
us now, won't your Please do! Pleased"
$50 / am to be kept quiet by being
made to do all the talking; good! But,
chicks. it is against my principles to
frighten children with ghost stories."
~Chicks! Children!" Bessie remon.
stratsd. "Why, even Clarence is more
than half-past twelve, and I am two
years and ten weeks older. Besides, this
isn't to be a ghost story. exactly. We
shall neither faint nor shriek shall we,
Clarence?"
Clarence laughed derisively as he ran
to the table and turned down the light; 4;
then, regaining his end of the sofa he an.
nounced:
"All ready"
"Well. if must, I must" sighed Un-
Gle Dave; and in grave voice, that con-
trasted strangely with his previous BAN
ter, he began: at was back in the thir-
ties. Our grand old State of Iowa was
not yet born, and your father and had
come to grow up with the country. Sho-
kokon had just sprouted, and her one
forlorn tavern was SO overcrowded that
we were forced to find quarters in the
upper story of primitive warehouse"
II know, 1 know" cried Clarence.
"Pve heard papa tell all about it. Every
man slept in bunk with the bedclothes
nailed at the foot, so that he had but to
kick them of in the morning, and haul
them back again at night-what fun I
wish had lived in those days; oh, don't
II"
Clarence. be still I" exclaimed Bessie.
ut is very impolite to break in in that
way. Go on, uncle dear"
I'VE were forced" repeated Uncle
Dave, with deepening solemnity, ITO
todge in a ramshakle affair called by
courtesy warehouse. A lank. tow.
.leaded young giant named Johann
uoethe Boltz roomed with us. but we
didn't mind that; the accommodations
were ample"
SYes," Bessie assented, ats standing
joke with father that his boudoir at that
time was more spacious than elegant.
Later on, / remember, it sheltered a half
dozen families of Irish immigrants; and
one day an up-river steamer landed at the
levee close by, with couple Of babies
conspicuous among tho passengers
thronging the guards, which prompted
three of the warehouse mammas to ex-
hibit at a window trio of 'darlints.'
The people on the boat responded at once
by producing quartette, and the compe-
tition went briskly on until the triumph
ant steamer padded of amid the widest
enthusiasm"
"W-h-e-w" whistled Clarence. aVery
impolite, ct cetera, ct cetera. Go on,
uncle DEAR"
Uncle Dave seemed in no way put out
by these interruptions, but he now re-
sumed in tone so serious, so impressive,
that his vivacious audience was at last
awed into silence.
"One night" he said "about month
after the sign, Brent Brothers, Carpen-
ters,' had been hoisted in Shokokon, I
was busy Mt the shop shaving down lot
of split shingles Your father had gone
with his gun, just after sunset, to look
up wild turkey roost located in the
timber mile back of town. Nine o'clock
had just struck when the door was hur-
riedfy opened, there came rush of
wind, and-puff! all became dark.
"'Who's there% / cried. as the door
shut with a bang.
"No reply. felt for the candle and re-
lighted it. Boltz, trembling from head
to foot, stood facing me, his look hag.
gard. his hue that of ashes.
"'What's the natter" Igasped. Has
Hal shot himselfg
"A slight shake of the head was his
only answer,
r "'Well, then, what ais you?
"His lips parted, but his tongue
seemed paralyzed. He was the most ter
ror-stricken man / ever saw. Draw
ing near, grasped his arm and shook it
roughly; this aroused him. He pulled
himself together, gulped down the lump
in his throat, and began speaking rapidly,
though huskily, in German, accompany
ing his words with extravagant ges-
lures. Iwhistled, and he, recollecting
himself, stopped abruptly, groaned in