The Press., 1896-08-20

cast glance over her shoulders as she, with her skirts gathered up, was run ming as best she could. She instantly stopped, and ill tones of deepest scorn called out to the others:
 why, it's on'y Pete Witheby.''
 They came faltcring back then, those who had been naturally swiftest in the race avoiding the eyes of those whose limbs had enabled them to flee only a short distance.
 Peter came rapidly, appreciating the glances of vivid interest in the eyes of the women. To their lightninglike questions. which hit all sides of the cpl sodc, he opposed new tranquility, gained from his sudden ascent in i'm portance. He made no answer to their olamOr. When he had reached the top of the fence, he called out command ingly:
 "Herc, you. Johnnie, you and George run an git my gun. It's hangin on tn pegs Gvcr tn bench in tn shop"
 At this terrible sCrtcrco shuddering cry broke from tho women The boys named sped down tho 1o.sd, accompa- nied by H rctinue of envious compan ions.
 Peter swung his legs over the rail and faced the woods again. He twisted his head once to say: Keep still. can yeh? Quit scuf1lin aroun." They could see by his manner that this was su- preme moment. The group became mo- tiOnless and still. Later Peter turned to say, ''Shr" to a restless boy, and the air with which he said it smote them all with awe.
 The little boys who had gone after the gun came pattering along hurried ly, the weapon borne in the midst of them. Each was anxious to share in tho honor. The one who had been delegated to bring it was bullying und directing his comrades.
 Peter said, "Shr' He took the gun and poised it, in readiness to sweep the cornfield. He scowled at the boys and whispered angrily: "Why didn't yeh bring tn powder horn an tn thing with th' bullets in? told yeh t bring 'em. I'll send somebody else next time. |"
 "Yeh didn't tell us,'' cried the two boys shrilIy.
 ssh! Quit yer noise," said Peter. with a violent gesture.
 However, this reprOOf enabled other boys to recover that peace of mind which they had lost when seeing their friends loaded with honors.
 The women had cautiously approach ed the fence and from time to time whispered feverish questions. but Peter repulsed them savagely, with an air of being infinitely bothered by their inter ference i'll his intent watch. They were forced to listen again i'll silence to the weird and prophetic chanting of the in- sects and the mystic silken rustling of the corn.
 At last the thud of scurrying feet in the soft soil of the field came to their ears. A dark form sped t,.ward them A wave of a mighty fear swept over the group, and the screams of the women came hoarsely from their chCked throats Peter swung madly from his perch and turned to use the fence as rampant.
 But it was the major. His face was inf1amed, and his eyes were glaring. He clutched his rife bv the middle and swung it wildly. He was bounding at great speed for his fat, short body.
 'It's all right; it's all rightP' he began to yell, some distance away. 'It's all right! It's on'y ole Milt Jacoby."
 Whom he arrived at tho top of the fence, he paused and moppCd his brow
 ''What?'' they thundered ill an agony of sudden, unreasoning disappointment. Mrs. Joo Peterson, Who was a distant connection of Milton Jacoby, thought to forestall any damage to her social position by saying at once disdainfully
 Drunk, l s'pose.
 "Yep," said the major, still on the fence and mopping his brow. Drunk as fool. Thunder, I was surprised! 1 Il thought it was a rebel sure.
 The thoughts of all these womon wavered for a time. They were at a loss for precise expression of their emo- tiOn. At last, however, they hurled this one superior sentence at the major
 "Well, ych might have known. "- Stephen Clane.