The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-05-12
From the Old Guard.
My STARTLING SITUATION.


]. had mine ence, the recollection of which
makes me shudder even yet, and comes back
to me with singular distinctness, since it was
on this nightlChristmas Eye-ten years ago
that it occurred.
1T chanced to be cold that night-rather a
singular occurrence for Christmas in our latl-
tude-and we were sitting round bright fire,
telling stories, drinking egg-nog, and dressing
dolls for the childrens' stockings. | was one
of q large family, with two grown sisters, one
grown brother, (now in the Empire OF Brazil, J
several small brothers and sisters, and any num-
Der of large cousins. On this night we were q
group of five, for mamma and the children had
gone to bed, papa chanced to. be away from
and I were entertaining, or being entertained
by. two of the aforesaid cousins, respectively
named Harry Ellis and Dick Carr. The room
was all ablaze with light, and radiant with
comfort; SO, as: foolish young people will do,
we began to tell frightful stories of ghosts and
murderers, and midnight burglaries, wherewith
to frighten ourselves to death, when we were
forced to dare the dim passages and solitary
chambers.
tsHonestly, wonder you girls are not afraid
to be here all alone" said Dick, who was anx-
ions to avoid cold walk home and wanted to
be hidden to stay all night. You are at least
mile from town, and it would be Jolly op-
portunity for ghosts to come to see you"
- II never heard that ghosts minded ones be-
ing in town or out, if they had mind to come
to see one, said Lucy, with her mouth full OF
pins. "Besides, they pay their visits all the
same. whether you are alone or not"
cit is good thing you are so philosophical
about it. Burglars, then, / wonder you are not
afraid of them"
so, Idinnie is host in herself" said Anna,
laughing. "She patrols the house with a pis-
til, every night before we go to bed, and then
We feel quite secure"
minnie p repeated both the boys in breath,
and they gazed incredulously at the present
writer, who was just then arraying small
goddess in pink tarletan, and certainly looking
b,7 no means warlike. Minnie! Minnie with
pistol p
t,iumphantIy. @And why not, Messe'urs Z
That IS better than being unhappy all night,
when he was at home last vacation, and have
learned all about it. assure you, If any body
c.lme in my way, would not hesitate minute
to shoot him." =,
II am glad you have given warming" said
Harry. II shall be very careful how | visit
the house after night, hereafter. Your serena
ders had better look out, too-eh, Lucy? But
ss.e here, Minnie, where do you look for your
burglars of nights ?"
aEyerywhere,' answered l. 'In all the
rooms, and under all the beds, and in all the
closets"
Z ssNot to speak of the wine-cooler," said Har-
fJ, with a laugh.
aAnd the large clock" said Anna; 81 saw
her looking at that the other night,
cit is best to be on the safe side," said l,
:. hot iS |
responsibility on me, you know. | carry the
pistol ready cooked, and if Isaw anybody"
>;i"You might shoot yourself, or the door, or
tile old cat, but not the object of your fright"
ssid Dick.
tsYou never saw me shoot, sir''-there was
always open feud between Dick and myself
esyou don't know, perhaps, that l can hit the
ace of hearts at fifteen PAGES"
-ssYou might do that, poverina, and yet not
hit man. Besides, he might be In the house
without your finding him."
sThat is impossible"
"Impossiblel Not bit of it See here
I'll show you how in minute. There are four
rooms on this floor, and they all communicate
with each other, and with the hall. Now. what
would be easier than for man to follow, or
rather precede you on your round? Say, for
instance, that some one was concealed IN the
dining-room, while you began your search In
here when it was time for you to go in there,
he would slip across the passage, into the back
parlor; when you went in there, he would be
in the front parlor when you went there. ne
he would be here, and when you came here, he
would be back in the dining-room, where he
had been at first"
40, Dick, how can you say such horrid
things-hushw cried, Lucy and Anna, in a
breath; but YVES stoutly incredulous and un-
moved.
sT don't believe it," Isaid. 'Itsounds plau-
sible enough, butit is totally impossible. He
could not know beforehand where was COM
ing; he could not time his movements exactly
by mine; there would be some noise, some"
aHe'd be precious bungler OF burglar,
then" interposed Dick.
Anyway, i don't believe it; and if you are
irving to make me nervous and uncomforta-
"Make young lady with pistol nervous
and uncomfortable Surely that would be i'm
ssIaugh at me and my pistol as much as you
nlease. but if your burglar be here, give you
nv word he will fare badly"
.STIet us hope he is not here, then," said he,
with shrug. "Come, petite, don't look 50
cross. Name my apple for me, and while
eat it, we can talk on more cheerful ses suP]ec's
Where do you keep your pistol
'Up stairs in my bureau drawer" :.
aWhy, the burglar might WALK on w WIN IL
beforehand. Then what would you doT
isHe would hardly be likely to find it," SAID
Jncy. "She keeps it in the bottom OF her RIB
aHer ribbon-box p! said Dick, and then he
leaned his head back and laughed, as only a
hearty, genial fellow of his stamp can laugh
Harry Joined in the merriment, too; and the
idea of pistol in ribbon-box seemed SO very
amusing to both of them, that after while L
began to feel rather piqued, as it is only natu-
rai to feel, when the point of joke is against
oneself, and one is quite unable to see it.
"a don't know that there is anything to laugh
atn said I, stifiy. 81 keep it there in daytime,
but take it out at night and it lies on stand