The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-12-27

was to blame, twas this same George
that should have been swinged, not
pretty miss like dove.
The door opens sharply, and there
was an old fat fellow with . candle in
his hand, glazing at me.
who are you?" says he, for my ap-
pearance took him by surprise.
WELL" says I in friendly way,
'I'm not Old Rowley, nor am 1 the
topsman, but something between, and
what that is matters nothing. But I
found a poor maid astray on the
heath, and have taken the liberty to
fetch her home safe and secure"
He pushed his head further out,
holding the candle so as to throw the
light into the road. 'It's you, Nelly!"
said he, sharply. Have I not said
have done with you? Go to your low
er, you baggage!" and he made mo-
ton to pull to the door, but my foot
was inside.
Softly" said I, softly, garter.
This is your niece, believe" nodding
over my arm to miss.
Well" he snarled, "as she is mine
and not yours l can do what I like
with her."
ooh! is that how the wind blows?"
said 1. Then, sink me! but I shall
have to go to school again to learn
morals. But there is one thing 1
have no need to learn again, and
that's how to knock sense and discre-
ton into thick head" said I, mean.
ingly, and at the same time I threw
the bride over Calypso's ears and
stood free before the old villain.
He looked at me moment, the
flame of the candle wagging before
his face, and the grease guttering
down the candlestick. you do not
understand, sir" he said in a quieter
voice. 81 have to give my niece les
sons; have to teach her by severity;
but since it is probable that she has
been sufficiently frightened by this
nights adventure, and come to rea-
son, let her enter" And so saying,
he stepped back and held the door
aside.
That he was of a savage, uncon-
trollable temper was evident, but I
had not reckoned with the old bears
cunning, and l VOW / was to blame
for it. So old hand as Dick Ryder
should not have been caught by so
simple a trick. Yet he was miss's
uncle, and how was I to suspect him
so deeply? At any rate, the facts are
that, on seeing him alter so reasona-
bly,, and step back with the invitation
on his lips and in his bearing, 1 too
stepped back from the doorway to
leave way for miss to enter. Then Of
sudden bang goes the door to, shak-
ing the very walls of the house, and
a great key is turned in the inside,
grooming rustily.
will confess felt blank, but re-
covered in a moment, when out Of the
window above the old rascal stuck his
head.
Let her go back to her lover!" he
says with a sneer. "Or maybe you
can take her yourself. I want no
soiled pieces in a Christian house."
and the head was withdrawn, the win
dow shut tight, and the house was
plunged in darkness.
You may suppose how this usage
annoyed me, who am not wont to be
treated in so scurvy fashion, or to
come out of the contest so shabbily. I
was, on the instant, for flying at the
door and employing my bankers and
point forthwith, but it Is not wise to
leap too soon with your eyes shut, and
so held my temper and my tongue,
only showing my teeth in an ugly
grin as 1 turned to Miss Nelly.
why" says I, "the old buck has
said the truth. And there is some
thing in his WITNESSES after ALL 1t
seems that George and 1 must fight or
toss for you, my DEAR" You must
remember that 1 had not seen her face
all this time, for all the streaming can
die the old gentleman carried. but I
gathered that she was in distress from
the note of her voice, which trem-
bled
"You cannot mean it, SIR" she cried.
and shrank away into the darkness,
whence l caught the sound of Sob
bling.
why, bless you, child" said I,
touched at the exhibition of her weak
ness and innocence, such chitterkins
as you are not for me, pretty as you
may be, I'll swear. No, you're for
George, or I may perish!"
"Sir." says she, staying her tears,
and speaking with an air Of dignity
vastly entertaining, Il am past 49,"
Well" says I, IF you are so old as
that, 1 would had mother like you.
granny. But as for old Suet yonder,
rip and stab me if I do not pay him
back in gold coin before two hours is
out! And in the meantime you come
along with me, gransam."
1 think she was confused and fiut-
tered to be so addressed, not under
standing my sarcasm; but she fol-
lowed me obediently, not having any
ideas of her own, poor soul. / led
the way to Roehamton, where 1 had
made up my mind she should lie
meanwhile in the care of the wench
knew at the inn. l was fashioning in
ind Mo far he