News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-08-27


his eyes rolling wildly and his head in
clined as if listening.
There was sound without, the beat
OF a horses hoof on the roadway. l
broke past the lunatic and gained the
wood shed behind him, slamming the
door and putting my foot against 1t.
Within reach was a small window.
shook the sash until it gave way, and
l sent cry for help out into the night
Was it heard? The horse was being
urged up the bank, as if the rider were
IN hot haste.
! peered out.
What was my amazement when my
host sailed forth, lamp in hand! By
its light l saw the horse pulled up and
a ragamufiin of a boy hand him pa
per, swing the horses head round and
plunge down the bank. Raising the
lamp above his head, the old man read
the paper. He read a second time, as
if to make sure of the contents, and
then, lifting his head like a hound
when it bays, he uttered a series Of
yells that the ridge gave back with
many reverberations. The next mo-
ment he was in the house, and the
next outside with the leap of spring,
box. A report followed He had fired
the gun Bang! it went again. Rapidly
reloading, he discharged both barrels
and kept on firing until he had saluted
the wilderness and the night eight
times.
Say stranger come out O. thar" he
shouted at the wood shed. 81 amt
a-goin' to hurt nary hair on yer head"
l came bewildered into the living
room, my face dripping with perspira-
ton. He seized me in his arms and
Rugged me until l gasped.
Look at thatv' he said, thrusting
into my hands the paper the boy had
brought.
| read:
Eph Holland, Head Of Beaverkill Creek:
Blaine comedies New York to Cleveland.
He is elected beyond all doubt. Shake!
ED BARNES,
Editor Sullivan County Palladium.
And before | could say anything or
ask any questions Eph Holland broke
into a jig step, the while yelling like
Comanche.
"Likker up, you son O. a gunW he
roared at me, stopping from shortness
of breath. He filled my glass and
tumbler for himself
Here's to Grover!' he said. Drink
'er down."
l did not know what my politics
was at that moment but l drank, and
the stuff sent the blood back to my
heart.
Don't you think it's up to you to eX-
plain" said |, with a sickly smile,
when he hal drained his tumbler.
The old Slan dropped into chair,
threw back his head and guffawed
until his mirth ended in violent fit of
coughing.
ooh, myw he begain and went off
into another explosion.
| did not laugh. The old fellows
manner had changed so completely, he
had become so friendly, jovial and
human with the recovery of
his speech, that | recalled my error of
him with shamefaced feeling.
Il thought you were a mute, and
yes-crazy." faltered.
And that wanted yer scalp" said
the old man. wiping tears from his
eyes. But. great Betty, can't blame
you. Well stranger, it was this way:
|. WAS very much worked up about the
elections; hadn't spoke word since
Tilden was beat in 1876: vowed never
would till Democrat was elected
That was eight years ago"
How about your hair and beardT'
asked. getting interested.
Them was to grow" said Mr. HOl |
land. "A right smart crop O hair can
be raised i'll eight years, and | amt |
very pretty nOhow. When you come |
long here last night ] didn't want to
take you in-that's fact-knowin' as
how | couldn't talk yet. But | hated |
10 turn man and beast away. 1t was
mighty uncomfortable for you. warn't |
it,"
We'll, rather" said l, drawing
deep breath.
Dunno whatd ha' happened
Did villains grin bespoke enjoyment of |
he fright he had inspired-''if the boy |
hadn't come long with Ed Barnes
'ippin' good news. But s'pose you |
could have crawled out O. the wood |
shed window when warn't lookin'."
He chuckled and filed my glass
lgain and his own.
Then we talked politics and drank
more whisky until a cock crew at the
Using of the moon, which was
o'clock.
Eph Hollands step was unsteady !
when he piloted me up his crazy stairs
o bed and he stumbled down with a
alsetto whoop for Grover which was
eloquent of his condition.