Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-08-19
THE HELMET.

nance, set to dusting, with o corner Of
her apron, o little statuette in its
faded red velvet case.
My uncle entered. Surprised at
finding us together, he stopped short
and looked sharply at us, from one to
the other.
We each of us went on rubbing
without raising our heads.
"Here, take this" said my uncle,
/ handing me bulky parcel from un.
der his arm. "A splendid purchase,
you'll see." 80
The subject did not interest me in
the least.
opened the parcel, ard from the
enveloping paper emerged a steel
helmet-but not an ordinary. helmet,
oh, no!-a superb, monumental
morton, with gorget and pointed visor
of strange form. The visor was
raised, and J. tried to discover what
prevented it from being lowered.
cit will not go down-the hinges
have got out of order" said my uncle;
but it's superb piece, and, when it
has been thoroughly cleaned and
touched up, will look well-that shall
be your o.morrow's job"
every good, uncle" murmured,
not daring to raise my eyes to his.
That night, on reaching my room, I
of once went to bed. was eager to
be alone and able to think at my ease.
Night brings counsel, it is said; and
I had great need that the proverb
should prove true. But, after lying
awake for IN hour without receiving
any assistance, I fell off to sleep, and,
till next morning did nothing but
dream the oldest dreams l saw Rose
on her way to church in a strange
bridal costume, q fourteenth-century
cap, three feet high, OF her head, but
looking prettier than ever; then sud-
denly the scene changed to moonlight,
in which innumerable helmets and
pieces of old china were dancing q
wild farandola, while my uncle, clad
in complete armor and with formid.
able halberd in his hand, conducted
the bewildering whirl.
The next day-ah, the next day-I
was no nearer. In vain, with clinched
teeth, secured the immense helmet
brought by my uncle the previous
evening-scored it with such furry MS
almost to break the iron-not IN idea
came to me. The helmet shone like o
sun my uncle sat smoking his pipe
and watching me; but l could think
of nothing and no way of forcing him
to give me his daughter.
At three o'clock Rose went into the
country, whence she was not to return
until dinner time in the evening. On
the threshold she could only make q
sign to me with her hand; my uncle
had notleIt US alone for single in
stant. he was not easy in his mind !;
I could see that by his face. No doubt
he had not forgotten our conversation
of the previous evening.
went on rubbing at my helmet.
sYou have made it quite bright
enough put it down." said my uncle.
put it down. The storm was gath
ering IT. could not do better than allow
1t to blow over.
But suddenly, as if oYertaken by q
strange fancy, my uncle took up the
enormous morton and turned and ex-
-amined it on all sides.
"A handsome piece of armor, there
is no doubt about it; but it must have
weighed pretty heavily on it wearer's
shoulders" he muttered; and, urged
by l know not what demon, he clapped
it on his head and latched the gorget-
piece about his neck.
Struck almost speechless, watched
what he was doing, thinking only how
ugly he looked.
Suddenly there was sharp sound
as if spring had snapped-and-
crack !--down fell the visor and there
was my uncle, with his head in an iron
cage, gesticulating and swearing like
pagan
L could contain myself no longer,
and burst into q roar of laughter; for
my uncle, stumpy, fat, and rubicund,
presented an irresistibly comic ap,
pearance.
Threateningly, he came towards me.
"rhe hinges s!-the hinges, fool !" he
yelled,
l could not see his face, but I felt
that it was red to bursting.
"When you have done laughing,
idiot!" lie cried.
But the helmet swayed so oddly on
his shoulders, his voice came from out
it in such strange tones, that the more
he gesticulated, the more lie yelled
and threatened me, the louder I
laughed.
At that moment the clock of the
Hotel, DEVIL, striking five, was heard.
"Thc Municipal Council!" MUIR
INJURED my uncle, in q stifed voice.
"Quick help me off with this beast
of machine Well settle our business
afterwards
But suddenly likewise, al idea-o
wild, extraordinary idea-came into
my head but then, whoever is madden
than o lover? Besides, I had no
choice of means.
"No!" I replied.
Ny uncle fell back two PAGES in
terror-and again the enormous
helmet wobbled on his shoulders.
"No," ! repeated, firmly, "I'll not
help you out, unless you give me the
hand of my cousin Rosel"
From the depths of the strangely
elongated visor came, not an angry
exclamation, but veritable roar. I
had "done it'll had burned my
ships!
"If you do not consent to do what
ask of you,' I added, mot only will
not help You off with your helmet,
but I will call in all your neighbors,
and then so and find the Municipal
Council !"
"You'll emo your days on the scaf-
fold /" cried my uncle.