Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-09-07
LUCY'S BURGLAR.

"You won't be afraid to stay alone, will
your" asked Farmer Sheriff., as he
climbed into the old red buggy, helping
his wife in, "Cause, cf your are afraid,
might stop and hev John Mason an his
sister come over an stay with ye. Iruthcr
think John'd like sich an arrangement
Hey, Lucy" with sly chuckle at her
rosy face.
"Afraid! of course notw declared
Lucy, stoutly. "What's there to be afraid
Of, any way"
"Surc enough" said her father, taking
up the reins. 81 guess you'll get along
one night alone. Mind an shet up the
cows in the paster. Mother an NELL be
home arly in the mornin' if nothin' hap
pcus."
And then he''drovc off, and Lucy was
left alone She went back to the kitchen
where the milk-paus were waiting to be
washed and put out in the sun to dry, aud
was busy for two or three hours with the
usual household labor incident to large
and thrifty farm.
Lucy had never stayed alone all night,
but she felt no fear. Burglars and thieves
were almost unknown in Hollytown.
Just as Lucy turned up tho last bright
milk-pan in the sun to dry, she heard a
click of the gate and looked up to see an
old man with sort of peddler's pack on
his back coming toward the house.
"Good.mornin'," spoke up the man,
catching sight Of Lucy's pretty face.
Can sell you anything this moraiu' :,
miss ?'
"No, | don't want to buy anything"
answered Lucy, who had wholesome dis
trus; oc pcdders and being cheated, and
kept on with her work.
But jest let me show you what I've
got" said the peddler, preparing to undo
his pack. Give got some ribb;ns thatll
jest become you, an"
"You needn't take the trouble to open
your goods" said Lucy. CT shun't buy"
But it won't cost you anything to look
at 'cm you know" persisted the man.
"But don't want to look at them," said
Lucy, stubbornly. "l've got good deal
Of work to do, and can't spend time in
looking at your things, when haven't any
intention Of bying. Father aud mother
have goae to town with butter and cheese,
and won't be back till to morrow, and the
work is left on my hands to do, so you see
I've got to keep busy"
But you don't stay here all alone
while they are gone, do your" asked the
man, glancing furtively about him as he
spoke.
"Yes; amt afraid" answered Lucy,
but hardly had the words left her mouth
than she regretted having been so confdeu-
tial to this struggling stranger. lie might
be thief for all she knew to the contrary,
and knowing that she would be alone he
mi ght attempt to steal whatever his incl-
nation prompted him to. 1t would be an
easy matter for him to hang round the
ueighborhood till night.
"Well, if I can't sell you anything, I
s'posc I might as we'll jog along" said the
man, shouldering his pack. Lucy watched
him until he was out of sight over the hill,
aud then went back to her work, wishing
she had not told him about her intention
of staying alone.
"But then, he's probably poor, honest
old fellow who wouldn't steal if he could"
she said, by way of consoling herself a
little, aud was soon singing over her work.
by and by there was another click Of
the gatc-latch, and looking out, Lucy saw
John Mason coming up the path. Her
face grew rosy when she saw him, but she
tried to look very cool aud indifferent when
she said good morning.
81 saw your father this morning." said
John, sitting down in the doorway, and
tanning himself with his wide. brimmed
straw hat. I" He told me he was not COM
ing back until tomorrow, and that you
were going to stay alone. I didn't know
but may be you'd like to have Kitty and
me come over aud stay with you"
"Oh mol! protested Lucy. 81 Icouldn't
think of your putting yourself to so much
trouble" .....
Trouble! of course you know better
than than that, Lucy!" exclaimed John.
But Tm not the least bit afraid" re-
sponded Lucy, courageously. 81 never
did stay alone, aud l want to see how it
will seem."
IL d. 81. :F so,po tb;aF oboul1 hraol-