Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-01-27
5. BARRING GOULD

chief consideration. Come into the
hall; we will give the men some
music.
Jasper and Barbara went to the hall
and found that the warder had his
foot bandaged in a chair, and seemed
to be in great pain. He was swearing
at the constables who had come from
Beer Aston for not having called at
the Hare and Hounds on their way
for his boot. He tried to induce one OF
them to go back for it; but the sight
of the fire. the jugs of cider the
plates heaped with cake, made them
unwilling again TO Ieave the mousse.
We amt a-goIng without our sup
per- was their retort. You are COM
Portable enough here, with plenty to
eat and drink.
But complained the man, I can't
60 for my boot myself, don't you seer
But see they would not. Jane had for
gotten all her duties about the house
in the excitement of her having her Jo-
seph there. She had stolen into the
hall, and got her policeman into a cor
ner.
When is it your turn to keep guard,
Joe?' she asked.
Not for another hour he replied i
wish | hadn't to go out at all
oh, Joe, I'll go and keep guard with
you'll
Also the cook stole in with bowl
and a sponge, and a strong SAVIOR OF
vinegar She had come to battle the
warden's foot, unsolicited, moved only
by desire to do good, doubtless. Al
so the under housemaid's beady eyes
were visible at the door looking in to
see if more fuel were required for the
fire.
Clearly, there was no need for Bar
bara to summon her maids. AS a dead
camel in the desert attract all the
rvultures within hundred miles. SO
the presence of these men in the hall
drew to them all the young women in
the house.
When they saw their mistress en-
ter, they exhibited some hesitation
Barbara, however, gave them nod.
and more was not needed to encourage
them to stay.
Jane said Barbara, here is the key
Fetch a couple of bottles of Jamaica
rum, or one of rum and one of brandy
Patience to the under-hOusema1d
bring hot water, sugar, tumblers and
spoons
A thrill of delight passed through
the hearts of the men, and their eyes
sparkled.
Then in at the door came the boy
with his violin, fiddling, capering,
dancing, making faces. In moment
he sprang on the table, seated him
self, and began to play some OF the
pretty Don Giovanni dance music.
He signed to Barbara with his bow
and pointed to the piano in the parlor,
the door of which was open. She un-
derstood him and went in, lit the
candles, and took a Don Giovanni
which her sister had bought and prac-
tised with Jasper. Then he signed to
his brother, and Jasper also took down
his violin, tuned it, and began to play
Let us bring the piano into the hall,
said Barbara, and the men started to
fulfil her wish. Four of them conveyed
it from the parlor At the same time
the rum and hot water appeared, the
spoons clinked in the glasses. Pa
thence, the under-housemaid, threw q
faggot on the fire.
What is that?' exclaimed the lame
warder pointing through the window
1t was only the guard, who had ex-
tended his march to the hall and put
his face to the glass to look IN
at the brew of rum-and-water, and
the comfortable party about the fire
Go back on your beat, you scoundrel!
shouted the warder, menacing the con-
stable with his fist. Then the face dis
appeared; but every time the sentinel
reached the hall window, he applied
his nose to the pane and stared In
thirstily at the grog that steamed and
ran down the threats of his comrades,
and cursed the duty that kept him
without in the falling dew. His appear
ance at intervals at the glass, where
the fire and candlelight illumined his
face. was like that of a fish rising to
the surface of pond to breathe
Is your time come yet outside, Joe
dear?' whispered Jane.
Hope not growled Joseph, helping
himself freely to rum; putting his
hand round the tumbler, SO that none
might observe how high the spirit
stood in the glass before he added the
water.
oh, Joe duckie, don't say that. I'll
go and keep you company on the stone
steps: We'll sit there in the moonlight
all alone, as sweet as anything
You couldn't ekal this grog,' ans
wered the unromantic Joseph, if you
was ever SO sweet. I've put in four
Jumps of double-refined.'
You've sweet tooth, joe said
Jane
Shall I battle your poor suffering
foot again. asked the cook, casting
languishing eyes at the warder.
'By-and-by, when the liquor is ex-
hausted,' answered the warder.
Would you like a little more hot
water to the spirit?' said Patience,
who was setting-as it is termed in
dorcc phraseologv-at the Youngest