"Read that," said he, his finger on the story, "an' see what came
of it."
The article was entitled "A Rag Doll--The Story of a Money-lender
whose Name, let us say, is Brown."
After some account of the marriage and of bride and groom, the
story went on as follows:--
"At midnight the charivari was heard--a noisy beating of pans and
pots in the door-yard of the unhappy groom, who flung sticks of
wood from the window, and who finally dispersed the crowd with an
old shotgun. Bright and early next day came the milkman--a veteran
of the war of 1812--who, agreeably with his custom, sounded the
call of boots and saddles on his battered bugle at Brown's door.
But none came to open it. The noon hour passed with no sign of
life in the old house.
"'Suthin' hes happened over there,' said his nearest neighbour,
peering out of the window. 'Mebbe they've fit an' disabled each
other.'
"'You'd better go an' rap on the door,' said his wife.
"He started, halting at his gate and looking over at the house of
mystery. While he stood there, the door of the money-lender opened
a little, and a head came out beckoning for help. He hurried to
the door, that swung open as he came near it.
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