The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-10-02
IN THE WRONG HOUSE.

1amlly tor many generations had been
chrlstened Nicholas, aud l was honored
with the same euphonious cognomen.-
On the male side my father and l were
the only ones left to repres ent the ancient
race. We were both as we'll known in
Dud'eyVllle as the spire of the village
church-and from being 50 we'll known,
we were hailed the whole country round
by the familiar epithet of "Nick Dud-
ley,' aud to save confounding the two,
my father was frequently called "Old
Nick"
believe in my soul this was the cause
OF sending me SO early abroad. BE that
as it may, was equipped and regularly
installed, when l was scarcely sixteen,
into Uncle Sans service, where, young
as was, l contrived to distinguish my,
self for my military daring and courage,
which, am now convinced, was nothing
but youthful foolhardncss.
1t was during the Texan war | served,
and at :be age of twelty.one | returned
once more to the parental roof, with the
title of major prefixed TO my name.
1t was with no ordinary degree Of self
satisfaction that, with my snowy rcgi-
mentals, with NY face Drowned by trop.
ical sun, fer.e military moustache, and
my tall proportions, l paced the deck Of
the steamer which was soon to land me
within short stage ride of my native
town.
My sister Kate, whom | so longcd to
see, had, | faucied, grown a tall, beaut-
full girl, and as she had thrown out some
vague hints in her letter to me, concern
ing some important changes in her life,
which only awaited my presence to ac
compish, | racked my brains to imagine
the sort Of chap the intended husband
might be.
My return had carefully planned in
such way as to surprise the old gentle
man and Kate. by no possibility were
they expecting me for full week. |
had learned from Kate that the old home
stead was undergoing repairs, and that
meanwhile the old gentleman had rented
house in the heart of the fourshinc
town.
lknew the old place and all its sur
rouudinss so well, however, in spite of
alterations, that | could not be at fault.
| was in the very street at lest, and in
front of the house which held my good
father and sister.
As | was about to ascend the steps
and enter the house lcgitimately by the
front door, | saw that the dining room
windows, which opened on the green be-
fore the house, were wide open, and the
bright Ii ghts within the room shone on
the out.spread table, just as the family
had left it after the evening meal.
"Ihcy must have company.' thought !
I, for the table had evidently been laid I
for number Of persons, and the massive
spoons and shining silver tea service lay
open to the hands of any pas
sing thief.
A brilliant thought flashed on my
mind GA double SURPRISE thought |;
and no sooner thought than | acted
Springing at one bouod through one
of the open windows, l gathered as last
lily as possible spoons, and whatever Of
the massive plate could, determining
to make my way up stairs, aud into the
drawing room, before any of the family
saw me, and present my sister with my
own presence and her silver at the same
time.
Just as | was about to open the door
of the dining room, my eyes danced on
the name engraved upon the silver
"Livermore.
| started like a criminal. While it
flashed through me like shcck Of hight.
ming that my father, though man of
means, had never manifested any great
love of silver, and had never owned any
plate except the old fashioned spoons and
tea service which had been handed down
from generation to generation, it also
occurred to me for dead certainty that
| had "waked up the wrong passenger"
in short, that | was in fix, and decd-
edly in the wrong house.
As this truth glanced rapidly through
my mind | was engaged in replacing the
silver previous to making my exit in the
same way had entered.
But alas for human calculation Before
l had divested my pockets of half their
contents the door opened and shut with
Il bang, giving me glimpse of a servant
maid half terrified out of her wits.
Scream followed scream, then clatter
like tramp of horses, | made for the
window, bat one of the shut rs had al.
reads been closed with bang, and in the
same way the rest were closed as if by
magic.
4 friendly side door stood invitingly
open. made my way through it and
up private staircase. The next mo-
ment found myself in the snug library
adjoining the brilliantly lighted room.
l heard steps approaching, and, darting
behind the shelter of the ample drapery
which curtained the window, | had only
time to conceal myself, when voices in
the apartment made me aware had been
none too quick in my operations.
After little was left alone, and now
| had time and food for reflection.
Suppose l were causht-the silver ac-
tually in my possession; the proof was
convincing-damniug; even my fathers
name, we'll and favorably known, could
not shield me. I was we'll known, too,
but as a wild. reckless blade, and to many
the probability that | had added house
breaking to my other lawless accomplish.
ments, might be easily supposable.
Determining to put the best possible
face on the matter in case | was caught,
| remained almost breathless in my hid
ing place.
Presently by the hum of voices I could
hear that the drawing rooms began to fill.
I grew nervous, restless. I longcd to