The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-01-25
THE BURGLARS ESCAPE.
SHORT TINE SINCE there died

which he had lived and where he died
He was bad man; yet even in those
who are criminal and apparently lost to
all moral influence, there often remains
some good traits Of character. So it was
i'll his case. He was grateful for, and not
unmndful of any favor done him. My
business frequently brought me in contact
with his person, and upon a certain occa-
sion having done him a slight act Of kind
ness, he desiresto express his appreciation
Of my consideration, and ] accepted from
him rife and knife that had been car
ried and used during the recent Rebellion
by Union soldier, who had afterward
boarded at his house, and who had given
them to him.
| have been from boyhood a collector
Of curosities, and having large number
Of seataring friends, have been enabled to
get together quite a cabinet, and towhich
/ added the rifle and knife. The recent
death of him who presented them to me
recalls to my mind an adventure IN which
the rifle played a conspicuous part.
| had been living during the summer
at our cottage house short distance
from the city, and had just moved to new
quarters in one Of our lower wards for
the winter Of l8-- We were beginning
to feel quite comfortable in our new
home and as the little ones were much
improved in health, as was also my wife,
all of whom had. just recovered from a
fever, congratulated myself, when seated
before a bright crate fire, that we were
so well situated for the coming cold
season, it then being early i'll December,
and we had experienced sufficient cold
to make it safe to predict severe winter.
One night during that month, the
wind blew fercely, and on looking out Of
the window | saw thata storm was brew
ing. became anxious for the return Of
my wife, who had been summoned to the
sick bed Of her sister, some distance away,
The children were sleeping snugIy i'll
their own little bedroom, and felt quite
lonesome.
The house in which we had taken our
rooms for the winter was new one, and
the only apartments occupied in it were
those i'll which we lived, consisting of the
first floor 1t struck eleven, and my wife
had not yet returned | thought | heard
footsteps IN the hall, as if some one was
passing as noiselessly as possible up the
stairs. listened attentively, and thought
lldetected the same noise overhead. L
opened the door, but all was still. Had |
not bolted the front door, [ believed |
| had. | took the lamp, went to the front
door. andt found that it was not bolted,
as | hadsupposed. ltwas shut, but upon
closer examination | saw footprints upon
the stairs, the wet snow storm without
having left visible marks. These | fol-
lowed to the head Of the stairway, where
they ceased, the feet occasioning them
having there been relieved Of their COW
erings no doubt. Was | not foolish ?
Perhaps some person had taken the empty
apartments, and was only availing him or
herseltof IL shelter from the storm which
they unluckily had been caught III. Yet
| thought they need not be 50 fearful OF
of disturbingtheir neighbors as to take
off their shoes or boots o. took the light
again, and went up stairs to find the
rooms locked, no one there, came down
again, and thought the affair at least
mystery. l lit fresh cigar, placed
myself before the fire, and took it easy,
half dozingyuntil my wife's return, which
was shortly after. But | could not get
the thing off my mind. Some one went
up stairs--where, did not know, and
for no good purpose was satisfied.
My wife had left her sister quite i'll,
but somewhat easier. Her brother Billy
had left her at the door, it being quite
late and hurried toward home. | did
not mention my suspicious, and was too
much ashamed Of my fears to call an
officer and make further search, for the
whole matter might prove nervousness,
and create suspicious Of too strong
cigar, and be laughed at for my trouble
We retired. My wife soon slept
soundly. did not. Perchance the foot
steps or the stairs were the commence
ment of night mare for my especial
benefit. Be that as itmay, | distinctly
heard a noise at the window in the chill
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