Year: 1866

W ouotuSL IepOIG' uedIu Lue Oiu udu
shouting after me, but | did not stop to
hear what was said. When l got home
| examined my hands, which smarted
painfully, but the wound was very slight;
the Major had evidently loaded his gun
with salt; while it was quite painful, at
first, it was not dangerous.


| was sorely tempted to retaliate upon
him, and give him thrashing, but the
reflection that such course might lose
my Jenny, determined me to take it as
quietly as possible. encountered the
major on the street the next day, but
although he called to me that he wished to
see me, l avoided him. I had enough of
him for some time to come.


I did not see or hear from Jenny for at
least a month after this. At last [ re-
celved note from her one morning telling
me to come to the house that night, that
her father had left the city, and would
not return until the next day.


When the night came I hastened to
the house, and was met by Jenny at the
door. l spent pleasant evening with
her, and was just rising to 60 away when
We heard the trout door open.


30 dear, there's papa now. What shall
we do p exclaimed Jenny in alarm.


We had no time to loose, so I told her
to keep quiet; and concealed myself be-
hind the sofa.


The Major came in directly after, and
seeing Jenny's anxious and furied look at
once suspected the cause Of it, he seated
himself on the sofa behind which l was
concealed, and heard him give an angry
grunt. 1t was clear my presence was
known to him.


"Jenny, DEAR" he said, ego into the
kitchen and tell Tom to bring mea bucket
of hot water"


"Shall I tell him to take it to your
room Z" asked Jenny tremulously.


"No, dear, tell him to bring it here"


"In the parlor, papa ?" she began. He
cut her short, and replied, sharply:


eyes, in the parlor. Tell him to be
quick about it. Go along, girl. What
are you heSitating about 2"


Jenny left the room, and as she went
out [ heard her crying. l was confident
that the old man wanted to scald me land
[ had no idea of waiting qnietIy for him
to do so. Still it was no easy matter to
retreat. I glanced up over the sofa to
take look at the state of affairs. The
Major was sitting with his back to me ,aud
his face to the door through which Jenny
had disappeared. He knew we'll where
[ was concealed, but he paid no attention
to me, 80 sure was be that he had me in
his clutches. My position was desperate
and SO was the resolution | formed.


While his back was still turned to me,
[ sprang to my feet, and giving the sofa
push sent the major rolling over the
floor, and before he could regain his feet
| had passed through the parlor door locked
it on the outside. Calling to Jenny to
come and release her father, | left the
the house and returned home.


Feeling assured that the Major would
call on me in no very amiable mood the
next moning, | left town to avoid seeing
him. When I returned I learned that
he had been to my Office and vowed ven
geance against me-, / continued to keep
out of his way, however, until his wrath
su5sided, for it was not my interest to
meet him.


After this I did not see Jenny for
long time. At last l could stand the
separation no longer, SO l wrote to Jenny
to stay at home the next Sunday morning
aud l would.see her while her father was
at church.


On the appointed day [ was at the
house, fully intending to 60 away before
the Major should return. Unfortionately
however, overstayed my time, as usual
and the Major came in so suddenly that
he cut off my retreat. It was useless to
attempt to hide in the parlor, for he knew
my tricks too well by this time, SO hur-
ried out Of the door leading to the back
part of the house, and seeing the door to
the cellar open, ,bolted into it. The major
saw me as I went into the cellar | had
hardly got down the stairs when he came
to the door.


"Well, Mr., Sturgis," said he, $50 you
are here again"


"Itseems so,sir," Ireplied, not knowing
what else to say.


"Hew long do you expect to stay 2" he
asked


81 was about to 60 as you came in" I
said 81 may as well do so now"


"Not yet" he' said, sharply. "You
seem so found of my house that I'll give
you more of it than you bargained for. l
warrant you, however, you'll not find my
cellar as comfortable as my parlor."


With this he turned off and locked the
door on me. [ looked around the cellar
for some mode of egress, but could find
noGe. 1t was close, well-built cellar,
lighted by only one grated window. 1t