Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-10

Parker was strongly exercised over his remissness, but consoled herself with the thought that there were rats in her neighbor Thompson's barn. and probably Dick was displaying little strategy. in capturing one of them for a lunch. But when night came, and Dick was still absent, her anxiety in- creased. and she could not knit on the gray stocking she was doing for the missionary society-her eyes were so full of water i51t
 Morning dawned. and Dick came not
 Miss Parker put on her bonnet and jacket, and went round to all the neighbors' barns and called him. and then she went to all the houses and inquired for him. But nobody had set eyes on him.
 One of the neighbors suggested that perhaps he had gone over to the Han son place. This farm had long been managed by an agent. and the house had stood vacant, but only flow days before it had been purchasedeegAan by the name of Payson, and Payson had already taken possession.
 Across lots Miss Parker went at the top of her speed, and arrived at last within sight of the Payson domicile. A river ran little distance from the house. and on the banks of the river Miss Parker espied portly gentleman, walking up and down. with a bag in one hand and a cane in the other. And while she gazed. a very far off and plaintive "me-ye-ow!" was waited to her ears.
 "It is Dicks cry!" she exclaimed, frantically. ''and he's in that bag! And that dreadful old wretch is going to drown him!" Maddened by the thought, she leaped forward. and reaching the ''old i wretch's'' side. she made dive for the bag. The man stood on the very edge of the river bank, 10 to IS feet above the water, and the footing was some what insecure. He slipped, stone gave way under his foot, and be welt | over, bag and all. But there was a fallen tree between him and the water. and projecting branch caught in the strap of the old gentleman's panta- looms behind. and held him suspended over the flood.
 Everything now deperded on the strength Of buckle.
 Miss Parker's blood ran cold. Don't, for Heavens sake let go of the bag!" cried she. Don't. dear! tnat's a good man! You stick to the bag. and I'll stick 10 you!"
 Yes. but how in thunder am to git myself onhitched?" cried the old man; l and what in the dickens is to become of me when 1 am nhitehed?-that's the question. Drat the cat. 1 wish be had been in-Halifax before I ever set eyes on him."
 Don't drop the bag," cried Miss Parker: 'only hold on minute longer, and III save you both,"
 The woman was a heroine in her small way. She had got . hooked stick. and. creeping out on the body of the tree. she reached down the hook. and inserted it n the mouth of the bag. Very gently and carefully Dick. and the bag. and the ballast it con- tained were transported to terra firma. but. alas, Miss Parker's foot slipped. through some mismanaxement. and she would have gone into the water had she not caught by the old gentle mans very stocky legs and held on. l Gracious Pe;er,- cried the luckless old man. them straps and buckles'll II bust up now for sartin. Let go my legs. old woman, You're pulling my j'ints clean apart,'
 | But Miss Parker kept her hold. and her companion waxed angry and kicked. That kick was fatal, There was a sound of cloth tearing and tail orIs truck going to ruin generally, and the next moment the unlucky pair were flounderins in the water. Fortu- nately. the river was not deep. and they only got a very thorough vetting. Both crept ashore looking very limp and very much suhdued
 Miss Parker opened the bag and se- cured her cat
 T beg your pardon ma am" said the old gentleman. flor what I was gping