The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-08-06
NIGHT OF THE BURGLARY,
CHAPTER I.

sno Wouid nave shuddered at the popular
ideas Of "festness," being able to smoke q
cigar, and drive tandem, if necessary.
hate was essentially lady, but one certain
ly somewhat out of the common line She
was frank, open and honest, with q guileless,
simple heart, pure, noble, atfectionate
nature, and a strikingly beautiful face. She
WAS far above all meanness, and jealousy,
and small vices. Kate could be passionate
and angry; if you offended her, she was
very likely to seek your presence, and tell
you, with flashing eyes, what she thought of
you; then she would shake hands and be
friends again.
No one ever heard Kate speak unkindly
OF the absent; on the contrary she was sure
to defend them, whether right or wrong.
She was generous and high spirited; still
Kate was said to be ''fsst." The reason was
that she preferred some masculine amuse
ments TO the quieter ones generally INDUCED
In by her own sex. Kate he'd, too, fear
less spirit Cypress the weak injure those
who could neither defend nor help them
selves, and her dark eyes would glow with
Indignation. Kate was the terror OF all the
towards, the gossips, and the tirts OF Gilt
ton. That keen. sharp wit of hers diseov-
cred all shams, all pretences, all atfects-
tons, and merciIess!y exposed them.
Perhaps at times she wSs rather too sarcas-
tic: but never knew Fer to use her talents
for repartee in wounding sensitive or real
feeling. Added to this, she was brave
rider, q good dancer, a skilled musician, and
you have faint idea of On friend Kate. as
| knew her years ago.
Clifton is q small market town in Essex.
1t had no manufactures the population
was not large the poor inhabitants were
most of them farm laborers; the gentry
consisted of the curate. the doctor, the law
yer, Mr.. Fullerton, Hates father, few gen
tlemen farmers, and, strange to say, several
OF those, In many cases. estimsble ladies on
the shady side of forty, known by the name
OF old maids. | hold the general ridicule
attached to tina. title in utter adherence
Some Of the gentlest, the kindest, the most
self-sscritcing women | have ever known
have been old maids. Perhaps they have
rather q weakness for gossip. Is no allows
ance to be made for the cherries, lonely
life, in many cases devoid of all human
interest. Place the good they do by the
side OF that failing, and it is completely
hidden. There are some soured by a hard
and desolate fate; surely pity, not ridicce,
is for them. The greater part of our best
society At Clifton was composed of so called
old maiGs--ladies living, in most instances,
on their means, in quiet and plain manner,
giving a few quiet parties, at which the
curste and doctor figured largely. 1t is no
libel to admit that each lady vas more or
less a devout sdmirer of these two gentle
men. They were both bachelors, aud well
10 do. \ gu must allow that it was rather
irritating. Clifton was not marrying
place. The young people of the little town
ralr antf lad A a
an unusual event, and excited a proportion-
ate amount of interest. The remaining
inhabitants were posed of tradesmen and
farmers in q small line of business
There was one long street, the principal
thoroughtare of the town, called Castle
street. This doctor dwelt on and, in large
red brick house. with intensely green blinds |
and white steps. Our lawyer, Mr.. Brent, |
occupied the white house little further |
down. The curate dwels in the pretty par,
sonage close to the old church MIR. Fulton /
Ilvsd IN the graudest house III Clifton it .
was called the Lime House, for it was
shaded By row OF those beautiful, graceful /
trees. He was the richest man in the place, |
and was looked upon AS very superior /
kind of q person. His little wife WAS quiet |
and homely, having no particular character
istc save continual dread of what Hates |
next vagary might be.
| never knew what Mr.. Fulton had been
before he finally settled down in Clifton.
lie was possessed of very handsome for
tune, and was we'll connected ! always
tancied he had made his money by trade, and
from a silly motive OF pride or vanity did
not wish it to be known. The Futons lived
III very good style /; they kept g nice car
rage, gave excellent parties, and were de
cldedly the leading people of Clifton. |
think my dear father ranked next but he
was quiet snd retired, never caring to enter
society. living the lie OF a recluse, for he
wac heart broken man. He married my
fair young mother after long and anxious
courtship, and she died when | Was born.
He never, although he lived long, recovered
from the shock. He was gentle and anna
BILE, intellectual and refined but he seemed
TO exist only in the past and in his books
To say what an object of romantic interest
he was to all the spinsters of Clifton, would |
be an impossible task. They took a per
sonal pride in his devotion to the memory of
nv lost mother, though | have q secret and |
firm persuasion that each one of them
would like to have been his comforter and |
consider.
To me my father was kindness itself :; !
every wish | could form was gratined. | !
had my birds, my flowers, my music, as
much as | cared for; but, in spite of all, it !
was a dull and cheerless home for a young |
girl. Our housekeeper was old and precise; |
the servants ell staid and steady. do not
know that | ever RENE Der to have heard a
real, ringing laugh in our house. | was the |
great pet of the Clifton ladies'; knowing !
had no mother, and that my fathers |
thoughts were more in heaven than Oh
earth, they felt, each and all of them, |!
motherly interest in me. The attentions and /
condolences my father would not accept !
were iavlshed upon me. hate was my rival /
in their regard, but though they could not
help liking the beautiful, high spirited girl,
they we're half frightened at her dauntiess
manner and original ways.
Katie aud | were the dearest friends she
was the only relief to the almost intoleraDle
duilness Of my home. She would fetch rae
to theLlme House, and keep metheretor weeks
al time, until my dear father coming TO
the end OF some dreadiuly abstruse and
learned book, would suddenly remember
that he had q darling little daughter, and
would dispatch some one or other TO convey
me home.
] enjoyed these visits immensely. Kate
was so lively and gay. Mr. Fulton, pleased
with himself and everything around him,
was always in high good humor, and enioyed
nothing so much as war of wits" with the
pride and Joy, and, to speak truthfully, the
plague of his life-hs only child, Kate.
do not know what the ladies would have
done without Kate. There was so little to
talk about, and she was aueh fertile tn .me.
There was always something or other to
startle them-something original and wild
that she had either done or said. She was
a positive boon to the little community.
ct believe, in the depths of their hearts,
tae kindly women liked her much but as
sney were never tired Of saying, "Why could
she not be like other eirlsrr
There was nothing remarkable about me
l never was considered either very beautiful
or particularly clever. had pripht cheer.