The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-06

tally but often he staid out in the woods
If he arrived at mis- tower and mounted
the long flight of steps which led from
outside TO his own door, and found thai
anything prevented his entrance the bear
made a horrible noise, growing and bat
tering the woodwork. In Livonia during
the brief northern summer, the local mag
mates visit each other, without prior ar
rangement; and they arrive prepared to
stop the night. 1t not infrequently occurs
that many carriages converge at the same
time on one country house, with the re-
SUIT that as many as forty beds may be
required. large influx of visitors arrived
ore night at the house where the bear had
his room. The last-comer was timid
youth. cousin of the house. The host met
him, radiant:
What pleasure, Ivanl You'll find half
the relations here. But, alas, you'll not
have a good room. Every other corner Is
full. There's only the tower left. AS you
know, the bear comes there. But never
mind! He does not put in an appearance
every night" The young man would fain
have gone further but the nearest coun-
try house was ten miles off, his horse
tired, and the hospitable relations very
pressing in their invitation to him to re-
main. He was greatly afraid of the bear,
but sill more afraid of Offend
ing host, hostess and all the
other cousins and neighbors He de-
cided to stay, and at last retired to rest
IN large. square room, with two beds i'm
1t. He inquired If he might not bar out
the bear 0he door had but a latch). but
he was told that no fastenings might he
used; the bear was too noisy if shut out
he would not let soul In the place have
a wink of sleep" Besides, ''he wasn't
coming very likely" And further there
wasn't any means of altogether fastening
the door" 1T was left on the latch on
hn lDg
sleepy cousin to the newcomer were.
Better take the bed in the far corner.
Ivan"
The guest can hardly he said to nave
slept there. The terror of bruin kent him
awake at first, and then bruin himself
For in the small hours a shamblins sten
and sound of claws on the stems and
balustrade froze the blood in the unhau-
py youths veins. The noise came near
er. There was fumbling at the latch
with great growing and grumbling.
bruin entered and put himself to bed in
the couch near the loor, The beast grurn
bled, grunted and seemed to sniff. That
smiling alarmed the other occupant az
the room most of ALL for he thought a
meant that the bear scented him. and
might resent his presence The wretch
dared scarcely breathe, Dawn was
breaking, but that was only another dan
ger; the bear might see him! Bruin a
great, curled lump above the blankets. ne
came in due time visible TO his fellow
ledger Then the bear snored! There was
comfort in that sound. But soon he rolled
about and growled and groaned discon-
tentedy. The heart of the watcher beat
painfully loudly, lie dared not rise. lie
had not nerve enough TO pass the sleeplng
animal and rush down the steps Terror
paralyzed the youth, and prudence whis-
pered that inactivity" can be sometimes
"masterly.'
The slow hours dragged on. All the
company had assembled down stairs al
breakfast, but bruin still slept. and the
tinid cousin watched him with eyes thai
burned and throbbed. At last the host said.
where's Ivan? Where's the bear tooP'
and messenger was dispatched to the
tower there to find a pallld guest and his
uninvited companion. The PASSENGER
routed out the bear, who had been kept
as a pet when cub, and who was really
only half a wild beast-and helped the
nerye7shattered youth to dress and Join
the breakfast party,