Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-09-24

uH eyewitness OF the WnOle UnlnS, and
OF whose strict veracity there could be
no possible question. We will suppose
him to be speaking.
The study window, near which gen.
orally write, commands a clear view of
my coaohhouse and stable, along the
top of the roof of which building two
pairs of fantail pigeons (the other hav-
ing deserted mel were accustomed
their aerial flights over, TO march in
single file like Indian warriors on the
Warpath. To prevent confusion we will :
with your permission, give these birds
names, and call them, respectively,
Celadon and Amelia, after an unfor-
tunate pair of lovers in Thomson's
"Seasons;" and Alonzo the Brave and
the Fair Imogene, of Monk Lewis eel
ebrity.
Celadon and Alonzo were brothers-in-
law, and pattern husbands; Amelia and
1mogene were sisters, and tender and
nffectionate spouses. AS the top of the
slanting roof referred to was not quite
as comlnodious parade ground as the
Wall Of China" on which it is said
four horsemen can ride abreast, but
promenade of only n couple of inches
in width, and therefore not admitting
of two pedestrians side by side, Celadon
always took the lead, Amelia came next,
then 1mogene, and then bringing up the
rear, Alonzo, who, when his lady
did not go fast enough for him, was in
the habit of giving her little peck on
the leg, by way of accelerating her
movements. 1t was edifying, too, to
watch the grave air with which the
whole party faced about, when the
leader had reached the extremity of the
ridge, and it became necessary to wheel
round for the walk back.
Things vert on this agreeable and
Cndearing way for u considerable time
The two pairs of lovers indulged in an
occasional tour round the welkin, but
always returned to the roof of the
stable afterwards, where they either re-
newed their march or sat in row, look
ing about them, with glance at one
another now and then, when anything
of particular note attracted their atten-
tion.
One morning, however, | observed the
whole party to be in a great state of
alarm, and on glancing skyward, saw
hawk lowering in the air just above,
The next moment the pigeons were
gone, ana the hawk likewise Whether
the former had flown away in kind of
panic at the presence of their arch-ene-
my, or not, | cannot say, but presently
they came back to the roof and fancied
that lmogene had received a wound, as
she tottered in her gait in way not
usual with her. The next morning she
was decidedly lame, and did not join the
others in their customary "constitu-
tional." An hour or so later saw her
stagger and roll down the tiles to the
parapet below. Imogene was dead
Alon1o took no notice of her for lit
tie while, till his curiosity and concern
being excited, he waddled slowly down
and eyed his deceased consort closely.
She did not move. He pulled her by
the feathers tenderly. lie took one of
her claws in his beak and gave it tug.
Then he cogitated for upwards of a min
ute, inspecting her first with one eye,
then with the other, like matchmaker
prying into the works of patent lever,
rejoined his friends above, and returned,
followed by Celadon and Amelia.
They held n short conference, which
resulted in Alonzo's coolly kicking his
dead wife off the parapet to the garden
below. Yes, lmogene had evidently
met with some foul play, and gave her