The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-17
The following is an extract from MISS
Martineau's late novel Of :. Deerbrooki
rur1 AnIrs Ann ruE nuRGLARS.

~
THE LADIES AND THE BURGLARS
aHark! what footsiep is thai & = n nea'a
il a minute or two ago whspeieau ,;s
.but did not like to mention u.
tened in the deepest siieace iof 49, rd
first they were not sure whe'ne, NY
any ,bing above the beating OF in-r own
hearts. 6u, they were soon certain 'hai mere
wsrs fas, moving outside The room door
!" TSa church clock has but lately gone
,..a,.s said Maria, in the faint hope that It
..;ah, he some one Of the household stirring.
Ms,oaret shook her head She rose softly
f.,,,, her seat. and took candle from The table
~ Iiyht il. saying she would 60 and see. Her
hand trembled little as she held the match,
and the candle would not light quickly
Meantime, The door opened without noise,
and some one walked in, and quite up to the
gazing ladies'. II was the tall woman. Ma
ria made an effort to reach the bell, but the
tall woman seized her arm and made her SIT
down. A capricious, jet Of flame from coil
in the fire at This moment, lighted up the face
of the stranger for a moment, and enabled
Maria to Spy great beard under the null
fer" -
.What do you want at this time = said
Margaret. ~ want money, and what else
can get" said the intruder, in the no longer
disguised voice Of a man. 81 have been
into your larder, but you seem TO have nothing
there" THAT is true," said Margaret, firm
ly, nor have wo any money We are very
poor You could not have come to worse
place, if you are in want" "Here is some
thing, however" said the man, turning u the
tray with your leave, III see what you
have left us to eat" He thrust one Of the
candles between the bars OF the CRATE to light
it, telling the ladies that they had better start
no difficulty, lest they should have reason to
repent il. There were others with him in
the house, who would show themselves in an
instant if any noise were made" "Then do
you make none, beg it as favor" said Mar
garet "There is a lady up stairs, with
very young infant. If you respect her life
you will be quiet" The man did not an
swer, but he was quiet. He cut slices from the
loaf, and carried them to the door, and they
were taken by somebody on the outside. He
quickly devoured the remains of the pheasant,
tearing the meat from the bones with his
teeth. He drank some wine, and then car
ried it where he had taken the bread Two
men put their heads in at the door, and nod
ded to the ladies before they drank, and again
withdrew. The girls cast look at each
other-a glance of agreement that was not TO
be thought of; yet each was conscious of
= feeling Of rather pleasant surprise that she
was not more alarmed. Now for itw said
the man, striding oddly about in his pet,icoats,
and evidently out Of patience with them
Now for your money :" As he spoke, he
put the spoons from the tray into the bosom of
his gown. proceeding TO murmur at his def
cheney OF pockets. Margaret held out her
purse to him. 1t contained one single shil-
ling. You don't mean this is all you are
going to give me 7" 1t is all have, and
believe there is not another shilling in the
house, told you we have no money" And
you -, Said he turning to Maria. 81 have
not my purse about me /; and if had there
is nothing in it worth your taking assure
you have not got my purse. am only a
visiter for this one night, and an odd nigh, i,
is to have chosen, as it turns out" " Give
me your watches" :" have no watch
l have had no watch these five years." said
Maria. ~ have no watch" said Margaret,
~ sold mine month ago. told you we
were very poor" The man muttered some
thing about the plague of'gentlefolks being so
poor, and about wondering that gentlefolks
were not ashamed Of being so poor. /" You
have got something, however," he continued,
fixing his eye on the ring on Margaret's
finger. "Give me the ring, or else III take
it." Margaret's heart sunk with self-reproach,
worse than her grief, when she remembered
how easily sho might have saved the ring,
how easily she might have thrust it under the
fender, OF dropped it into her shoe, in her
hair, any where while the intruder was gone
to the room-door to his companions. She felt
that she could never forgive herself for this
neglect OF the most precious thing she had in
the world, of that which most belonged to
Phllip. "She cannot part with that ring
SAID Maria. "Look you may see she had
rather part with any money she is ever likely
to have, than with that ring" She pointed to
Margaret, who was sitting with her hands
clasped as If they were never to be disointed,
and with face of the deepest distress. ~
can't help that" said the man." II must have
what can get" He seized her hands,
and with one gripe Of his, made hers fly open.
Margaret could no longer endure to expose
any OF her feelings to the notice Of stranger
OF TINS character. Be patient n moment"
SAID she and she drew off the ring after its
guard, made OF Hester's hair, and put them
into the large hand which was held out to re-
ceive them, feeling at the moment, as if her
heart was breaking. The man threw the hair
ring back into her lap, and tied the turquoise
in the corner Of the shawl he wore. .The
lady up stairs has got a watch, suppose
" Yes, she has; let me 60 and fetch it. Do
let me go. | am afraid Of nothing SO much as
her being terrified fyou have any humani-
~, let me 60. Indeed l will bring the watch. !"
Well, there Is no man in the house know.
for you to call. You may go, miss: but |
must step behind you to the room door-no
further-she shan't see me, nor know any one
Is there, unless you tell her. This young la
tdy will sit as still as a mouse till we come
back. Never mind me y sa;d Ma-; - -