Woodstown register. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 187?-1892, 1871-03-07
OUR OBBER

" well, my dear, shall we gO! There
was q dreamy light in mammals eyes,
and q pink flush on her cheeks, sure sign
that she was thinking of the happy,
care-free days when she and this friend,
who was SO anxious to have her present
at her silver wedding, were all the world
to each. other. "To think that Carrie
has been married twenty-five years! !
It does not seem possible. Dear Carrie !
/ wish it were SO we could 60" % i@s
-a"Why, what is to hinder us from
going. pray tell?"
Everything, John; we should have
to be away at least a week, and what
could we do with Sue and the house"
watched the light fade from her face,
to be replaced by the usual careworn ex-
preston, and vowed she should have this
one pleasure her heart craved. 38ttt
Now, when / undertake a thing I &C
complish it at all hazards so, in spite of
mammals protestations and m~isgivings,
/ had the satisfaction of seeing her and
papa en- route for B-the next morning.
I sent for Madge, my dear familiar"
and what with III riding, visiting,
and entertaining company, the time
passed quickly. Greatly to our surprise
we found ourselves elevated to the posi-
ton of heroines. It was considered q
wonderfully brave thing for two young
girls to stay alone, of their own free will
and accord, in a large house, with no
protector save a cowardly negro boy and
ah old dog. Our house was very large,
sadly deficient in locks, and we had no
near neighbors-none nearer than the
village, two miles distant. Dan and two
servant-girls, with ourselves, constituted
the household.
But Madge and /, at school, had the
reputation of fearing nothing certainly
we had not thought of fear in this case.
l confess I secretly examined papa's
stock of firearms, after hearing the .gos-
sip, and struggled several Of the neces-
sary nuisances into my ROOM, besides
-coaxing Watch to sleep in the kitchen
to AIMS great disgust.
The week was half over when we took
q fancy to drive to the village, and in
dulge in the luxury Of shopping. Madge
suggested that we should cali for some
valuable jewelry I had left for some
slight alterations. o. aaR&p
AS we entered the establishment, my
attention was attracted by two men who
were staring at US most impudently.
Mr.. Ernst was an old friend of ours !; we
chatted with him some little time.
$50 you are. the head of the household,
Miss Sue. I'll warrant you double-lock
all the doors, and start at every noise in
the night. Isn't it true, Miss Madpe p
Madge Indignantly disclaimed such
weakness on my part, assuring him that
the doors had a chronic dislike to being
locked, and we were strangers to any
thing so weak-minded as fear. ss
"Aathousand pardonsl i might have
known you were as brave as a regiment
of men. When will your father return i:
What! not till Saturday! Well, you
are two courageous young ladies'"
just then l turned my head, and there
L saw those two men seemingly absorbed
in the jewels displayed in the case.
Such a queer feeling crept over me.
Something impelled me to boast of my
skill in shooting. &ss@ ? 90
-As"It wouldn't be safe for burglars to
visit us. You know papa drilled me
we'll IN the use of firearms" thH4At
"Sure enough. He does persist in de-
claring you are proficient in that accom-
plishment. / had forgotten that. PRAY
don't expect me to make a raid upon
your jewel-casket now"
All through town those men followed
us, until / grew nervous as a witch
Madge did not appear to notice them
and | was ashamed to speak of it lest she
should laugh at me. s d
We had company until late that eve
ming. It was eleven when the last
guest departed. Madge was in the
library looking fora book, when I heard
q stealthy step on the side porch.
flew to the door, as it flashed upon me
that it was unlocked. I had hardly got
it. fastened when I felt the knob turn
softly. I ran to fasten the hall-door
As T did so some n came running over
the porch, up the steps of the piazza
The door was wide open. Now I dis
tinctly remembered closing it after bid
ding my'friends goodnight. MY hands
shook so that / could scarcely turn the
key. Every moment seemed an hour to
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