The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-03-05

| 'ho u0lcdlclt oLlCeI JoSScu ulooully y
along on his skeleton horse, brood.
ing over the late insult put upon
his dignity, and meditating venge-
ance against the hag, summoning
into his posse every person he met
on the way, till his company
amounted to some dozen or more
rustics, who willingly followed on,
eager for the anticipated sport,
when they had learned the particu-
lars of the affair from Pat.
"Faith," " said the Irishman, ad-
dressing the company as they drew
in sight of O'Ferguson Hall, eye
had better be gettin' your shillelahs
ready, boys" and twirling his own
stout cudgel around his fingers with
a rotary motion till it whistled
through the air, shouted, "Arrah !!
boys, but I'll make some of them
woollypated Africans ring, and
square up ould accounts with the
witch of Endor!"
Pats war speech, however, Gre
ated only shout Of laughter from
the crowd, as they trudged ON after
their valiant captain, the redoubted
Stuyvesant, till within hundred
yards of the point against which
their enterprise was directed. Then
drawing up his men in battle array,
the little sheriff made a fiery appeal
to their patriotism, urging the
necessity of sustaining him in the
approaching crisis, and through
him the honor and dignity of the
State.
The doughty sheriff, as he drew
near the scene of action, like an able
and prudent general, began to fall
in rear of his guard, so that when
they arrived at the place of desti-
nation, Ernest, whose thoughts were
actively engaged in forming an
ideal goddess, to compare in some
measure with the maiden of whose
beauty he had heard so much, than
in meditating anything serious,
found himself in front of the band,
and McCleary stalking close by his
side, with prodigious cudgel in
his fist. Casting look behind, he
perceived the valiant sheriff driv-
ing up the rear, doubtless to pre-
vent the escape of deserters, if any
ones courage should ooze out as he
came into the contest.
The company was now brought to
a halt, and Ernest departed to con-
vey a summons ofsurrender to Mrs.
Darby, from the authority of the
State. Eager to take a more minute
survey of the premises, he readily
bore the message of the sheriff to
the old lady, who soon appeared and
accosted the officer in her blandeSt
mood
"L-o-r-d! Mr.. Stuyvesant," said
the hag, 81 am delighted to learn
that you have escaped unhurt,
felt the greatest concern lest that
wild horse had thrown you, and
broken someof your bones. L-o-r d |!
why do you ride such a scary an
imal ? l wonder some accident
doesn't happen YOU"
"Madam," said the angry sheriff,
interrupting the old lady in the
middle of her sympathizing speech,
''do you intend adding insult to
injury? Have you not, madam,
resorted to violent measures to op-
pose the law? Have | not been
maltreated by you and your min
ions, while ih>the fulfilment of my
official duties, madam"
"L-o-r-d! ! Mr.. Stuyvesant you are
crazy!" exclaimed the hag, with
affected surprise. "In place of
offering you any insult we used
every effort to rescue you from the
imminent danger which threatened
your life, when that skittish horse
took fright at the dogs-the cursed
brutes and ran away"
This stout denial on the part of
Mrs. Darly began to confuse the
worthy officers ideas, and shake
his faith in the unerring suscepti-
bility of his organs of vision.
Perceiving the impression her bold
assertions were making on the confounded
sheriff, she followed mp her advantage.
"L-o-r-d Mr.. Stuyvesant, didn't you
perceive with your own eyes, that I en-
deavored to beat the confounded brutes
off myself, and summoned the black fel-
lows to your aid as soon as possible; but,
Lord I'm glad to find that nothing
serious has happened you, for I assure
you felt very uneasy"
The valorous sheriff having but a very
confused idea of the true state of the fray,
his senses being so furried by the yelping
pack which beset him, that he began to
admit the plausibility of what the bel
dame urged, never having doubted her
word before. He consequently looked
very obviously at the ground, the welts
on the side of his lean charger, at Mrs.
Darby, who still continued to greet him
with smile, and at the bevv ofrustics he
had summoned to capture his former
highly esteemed friend. AS may be i'm
agined, the little sheriff began to have
very perceptible idea of his ludicrous
position, when by accident he bethought
I, of I1afol,arie -.