Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-11-13

my 'atuer ana my fatnerS fatner was o0rl
before me. The first son of orr family 70
many generations hadj been chrisrene,
Asca sias. sand l. was honosedF with III
same euphaniopsf ogaomau. On the m al
side my fathefsand were the only one
LETT To represent the ancient race. w
were as well known in Dubleyville as TIL
spire of the. village chnrch-anl from be
ing So well krorn, we hauled the Who'll
country ronndi by the familiar cpithet O
Nick Dudley" and. to save confoundins
~, two nv fatherswas frequently callet
s0hf Nick. - ass'7i .sisi
believe in my sou1 that this was tn,
reason of his sending me so early abroad
Bsthat.as it may. was equipped and
regularfv installed. when was scarce six
teen. into Uncle Sans service. where
young as was. contrived to distinguish
myself for my military lda ring audi cour
age. which. ana convinced, was but fool
harlnes.
Il was during the Texan war that I SER
vel aad at the age OF twenty-oE return.
ed once mareto the psreutsl roof. nith. .tbe
title of Major prefixed to my name.
Ii was with no little satisfaction that.
with my SNOWY regimentals. with my face
Drowned by tropical sun. fierce militia
ryzmoustache. and my full proportions.
paced the deck of the steamer which was
soon to land me within q short stage ride
Of my native town. .fs-ii a.f
Ny sister Kate. whom Iso ionged to see.
hall fancied. grown tall. beautiful girl
AMI as she had thrown out some vague
hints in her letter to me, concerning some
important, changes In her life, which only
awaited my presence TO accomplish, / rack
Ell my brains to imagine what sort OF .
chap The intended husband might be.
My. retrrnI 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 homestead
was under. going repairs. and that mean
while the old gentleman had rented
house In the heart ofthe holrishing little
town.IEN3 .1LWa1
| knew the old place and all its sur
roundihgs so web. however in spitsAof al
terations that it was impossible for me to
be at fault
was in the very street at last, and in
in front Of the house which held my father
and sister.
ASH was sboat to ascend the. steps TO
enter the shouse legitimately by the front
door, saw that the dining room windows.
which opened on the green before the
house, were wide open. and bright light
in the room shone on the ont spread table.
just as the family had left it after the even
ing meal - - ~ +.fs M
They must have had company"
thought /. for the table had evidently been
laidfor number of persons. and the mas
sise spoons and shining silver tea service
lay temptingly open to the hands of any
passing thief. < =. s. e.-se.GW
brilliant thought flashed upon my
mind. s. IS esi-i1 sii
"a double surprise" thought / and j
no sooner thought than acted.
Springing at one bound through the
open window L gathered. as hastely as
possible. spoons. and whatever Of the mas
sive plate could. determined to make my
way up stairs and into the drawing room.
before any of the family saw me. and pre-
sent my sister with my own presence and
her silver at the same time. - -, = =. q Il
just as / was about to open the door
Of the dining room, my eyes glanced on
shename engraved upon the silver = :
.'Livermoore."
| started like a criminal. While it
flashed through my mini like shock of
tightening that my father. though q man
of means. had never manifested any great
love Of silver, and had never owned any
plate except the old fashioned spoons AMI
tea service which had been handed down
from generatiou to generation, it also oc-
Cured to me for q dead certainty that 4
had ''waked up the wrong passenger" in
short. that Twas in fix, and decidedly in
the wrong house.
As this truth glanced rapidly through
my mind 1 was engaged in replacing the
silver previous to making my exit in the
same way had entered. .s7si'a0 sss3g ~
But alas for human calculation! Before
! had Invested my pockets of half their
contents, the door opened and shut with
bang giving ne glimpse Of . servant
maid half terrified out Of their wits.
Scream followed scream, then q CHATTER
ike q tramp of horses. made for the
window, but one of the shutters bad al
ready been closed with q bang and in the
same way the rest were closed as if by
magic. p - - ~.aSsaA - IN n
IA friendly side door stood invitingy
open / made my way through it and mp
private staircase. The next moment /
founl myself in the snug library adjoining
the brilliantly lighted room. s~oovO
heard steps approaching. and darling
behind the shelter of the ample -drapery
which curtained the windows, had only
time to conceal myself. when voices in the
apartment made me aware / had been none
too quick in the operation GAU n
Alters Iittle I was left slone. end now
had time for reflection.
Suppose were caught-the silver ac-
tually in my possession; the proof was
notwithstanding; even my fathers
name well and fsvorably known too, but
as wild reckless blade. and to many the
probability that had added house break
ing to nay other lawless accomplishments,
might be easily supposable. lao ~
Determined to put the best possible face
IN the matter in case I was caught. re-
manned almost breathless in nv hiding