True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-10-21

and drawing a'chalr sal down IN front OF
her. Whether it was owing to this ac-
ton, or to my complaining voice. or to
the mere fact of finding herself in quiet
tete.a-tete with a housebreaker, l cannot
tell but the lady broke into a low bys-
terical laugh. -
/" How did you break in" said she.
81 did not break; it is far from being
my character, assure you. But the
area window was open, and so I thought
l would just step.in.'. l a.7
" You we're attracted by the plate -
Take it for heavens sake, desperate man
and 60 away" q..,t s.t--.,.
~ did take seme of it, but with no
evil intention--only by way of amuse,
ment. Here it is," and going to The sofa
l drew off the cover, and showed her the
plate. e.l ...
"You have been generous" said she,
her voice getting quaverous again; {" for
the whole must have been in your power.
I will let you out so softly that no one
will know. Pu. up in your pocket what
you have risked SO much to possess, and
follow me-"
81 will follow you with pleasure" said
|, "were it all the world over;" for the
increasing light showed me as lovely a
creature as The morning sun ever shone
upon; "but as for the plumber, you must
excuse me there | never stole anything
before, and, please Heaven. l never will
again" .r-.s,.a
"Surely you are, most extraordinary
lerson," said the young lady suddenly
for the light seemed to have made rev
elalion 10 her likewise. "you neithe
look nor talk like robber." .. .-.. ..
"Nor am |. not even robber-I an
nothing; and have not property in thu
world to The value Of these articles O.
plate"
"Then if you are not robber. why
are you here !-why creep in at the area
window, and appropriate other peoples's
spoons, and get locked up all night il
their house 2"
"For no other reason than that wa
in hurry. had come home from Bar
celona, and was going in to my guard
ans, next door, when your unfortunat,
area-window caught my eye, with tn,
plate on the table inside. In an instant
was over the rails and in through III,
window like harlequin, with the inten
ton of giving the family a pleasing sur
prise. and my old nomilress, sister Laura
a great moral lesson on the impropriety
of her leaving plate about in so careless
a way"
"rhen you are Gerald, my dear Lau
ra's cousin, so longingly expected, so be
loved by them all-so--" Here tn
young lady blushed celestial rosy red, an,
cast down her eyes. What these tw,
girls could have been saying to each otbe
about me, ! never found out; but ther
was secret, I will 60 to death upon il
She let me out so quietly, that neithe
her father nor the servants ever knew
syllable about the matter. l need no
say how was received next door. Th
governor swept down another sob will
another gufaw; mama bestowed upol
me another blessing and another kiss
and Laura was so rejoiced, that she CAV
me another hearty cry, and forgot Il
give me another lecture. My next fou
years were spent to more purpose thai
the last. Being less in a hurry, | tool
time to build upa fourishing buisines
in partnership with Laura's husband
As for the baronet's daughter-for We
mu't get every body into the concluding
tableau-why here she is-that lad,
cutting bread and butter for the children
with as matronly an air as Werter's Char
lotte she is my wife ; and we langh to thi
day at the oddity Of that First Interview
which led to SO happy a denOuement.