Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-28
Burglars in the Partington Mansion.

The conversation turned upon various bur
glaries that had been committed in the town.
and Mrs. Darlington gave it as her opinion
that any one who would burglarously break
into house would be mean enough to steal,
particularly if he took anything. This opinion
was given without any hesitation and the lis
teners admitted that they thought so too.-
The old dame was standing with her snuff box
in her left hand and her right fore finger rails
ed, preparatory to making some new remark,
when door was heard to slam violently in
the attic. "What can that be ?" said one
listening attentively with eyes and ears wide
open. 1t must be the cat" replied Mrs.
Partington calmly 81 am not Infected with
fear of bunglers. Blessed is he that has moth
ing, for it can't be taken away from him.
A noise of a stealthy step on the attic stairs
was heard moment after Whats that ?"
was asked by one of the most timid Don't
be decomposed," said Mrs. Partington, 1T
may be breath of air, but we will go and
see what it is" She was always very reso-
lutte, and never heard sound in the house
that she did not ascertain at once what caus-
ed it, The dame and her guests opened the
door, and proceeded to the attic, but there
was no evidence of disarrangement there they
then proceeded through all the rooms to the
cellar, with the same result They stopped
moment to listen, when they heard the door of
of closet in the room above gently closed
There were numerous garments hung in this
closet, and among the rest the black bomba
zine dress that had monrned for forty years
the loss of Paul. Cautiously moving towards
the spot, they opened the door. Everything
hung in its position. There were the dress
and sundry flannel garments that we forgot
the name of, and Ike's Sunday jacket, and lots
of other things. They were just about turn
ing their attention to a search in other quar-
ters, when the timid one cried out, There is
the bugler - And sure enough there from
beneath the bombazine dress protruded pair
of legs encased in blue woolen stockings and |
with a pair Of thick brogans-
" Who are you, and what do you want 2" said |
Mrs Partington in tone denotng great |
strength of mind and some lungs. There was
no answer to the question, though spasmodic |
in one Of the blue stockings denot-
ed consciousness "What do you want here !" |
she repeated, little TREMENDOUSLY, as if she
were slightly infected :" " do you come here
to rob US in our beds and murder our propre-
ty ?" She probably meant murder us in our
beds and rob US of our property" but she evi-
dently was confused. The blue yarn stockings
still maintained their position If you don't
come out I'll call in policeman and have yon
shut up in solitary confinement" The stock
ings moved, and now chink opened among
the pendant garments, through which protrud-
ed face glowing with mirth and mischief,
and laugh rich and unctuous with boyish |
glee broke the silence why, Isaac m said |
the good DAME 81 how could you do so? l |
have great mind to punish you sevcrally for
your naughty conduct" But Ike and the
blue stockings passed out of the door, and an
ger passed from the memory of Mrs Parting
ton. But Miss Prev, who had gone past the
period when chance for matrmony had become
a sort of dead reckoning, said to Mrs. Spry, |
another of the party, that if that boy was
her'n she guessed he'd have to take something.