Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-11-22

hef lnulgnant unger INDICATED the
tomatoes lying in red ruins at her
feet, then the ragged corn that rose
forlornly further on. The currant
bushes were still stirring where the
last marauder had scuttled through.
Sylvia suddenly smiled.
"Auntie, it's a fowl theft" she said.
at is-and, as | can't stop it by
fair means, I'll try fowl" responded
Miss Barbara, glimly, beginning with
restrained vigor to gather up the
peoked tomatoes and lay them on the
grape trellis.
Are you prepared to go to law,
auntie?"
81 am prepared to do anything-on
my side of the fence. Go in to your
embroidery, Sylvia--you're of no
use as a scarecrow."
She waved her trowel martiallv.
and Sylvia fled in laughing haste.
The silence that is vocal with birds
and insects and rustling leaves settled
over the garden, where Miss Barbara's
energetic figure babe defiance to the
thermometer. Charles Dudley War.
ner once spent a summer in garden.
and has remarked in consequence that
he likes neighbors and likes chickens.
but he does not think they ought to
be united. Miss Barbara agreed with
him warmly. She endured much be-
fore informing her genial, easy-going
neighbor of the mischief his hens
wrought daily in her garden. She had
endured more since the complaint, if
complaint it could be called, had
proved failure, and neither faith.
hope nor charity remained to soothe
her soul. Suddenly an inquiring
''cluck" struck her ear with the effect
of an electric battery. 1t came from
the other side of the fence. A yellow
feathered head protruded through the
pickets, the round, unwinking ewes of
a hen surveyed the premises, another
serene "cluck" sounded, and the
plump body followed the head. Miss
Barbara cautiously arose, her expires.
sion full of martial fire.
Unconscious of impending evil the
invaders wriggled their way through
until large and cheerful company
had assembled. In pleasant expect
ancy they gathered around the laden
tomato vines. Suddenly and with
vengeful force a missile descended
into their very midst. Squawking
wildly, the startled hens scuttled into
the currant bushes, under the tomato
plants, among the corn. A pause
equal to legislative deadlock fol-
lowed. Then one hen after another
cautiously emerged and presently
gravltated toward the tomato vines
Again Miss Barbara seized on ven
geance and the stove wood. Stick
after stick of it few, like kind of
hail, telling upon the tomatoes if not
upon the hens. Miss Barbara was not
unaware of the facts in the case, but
felt that if she could not kill it was
relief to try. One audacious old hen
in particular aroused this murderous
feeling. Down the grape walk, over
the beet bed, up to the door she
chased that hen and SHE'D her last
stick after it as it tapped wildly
around the corner. To her horror a
sharp ejaculation in q mans voice cut
the air. Her final effort had made an
impression, but not upon the hen.
She turned the corner hastily and be-
held stranger pressing both hands
against his battered head as he looked
savagely at her. CONSERVATION, con-
triton, modification, animated her
countenance; self-mastery slowly
Gained his.
Did you hit one, auntie? [ hope
it's that old rooster!" sounded sud
denly from the woodshed. The face
OF the stranger turned CHASTITY.
81 thought it was a man lived in
the moon" he murmured. "What
made You hurl it at me?"
Miss Barbara's face grew white.
Was this an escaped lunatic? The
mans fading eyes frightened az they
fell upon Sylvia.
"Fne flowers of paradise" he whis-
pered, and threw his arms out uncer-
'"ihtJ' NO, IL uuItS LOO mucn 10
pick them," he muttered, and sank
with groan upon the steps.
Sylvia's wide, startled eyes met
Barbara's. The latter laid her finger
on her lips and motioned towards the
next house. Within five minutes sew
eral neighbors had gathered around
the PROSTATE man, who appeared IN
conscious unless touched, when he
evinced thorough knowledge of box
ing. The doctor on his arrival lis
tened to Miss Barbara's account of the
accident with an inscrutable counte-
nance. lie was IA calm, keen-eyed man,
whose resolute orders soon cleared
the house of superduous attendants.
His attentions were received with in
gratitude by his patient until he held
all odroous substance near the in. ured
face and said gently:
81 want to help you I am doctor
it's all right" The dull eyes
wavered an instant on his face.
els it? l thought it wasn't hope
you know"-with this murmured re.
Spouse the refractory patient sub