Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-10-18

ny YOUR iedVe MA am, W peSiu Win n
gentleman With all my faults, thank
Heaven, that is not among themP
"You needn't have gone on that way
to prove it." said tartly.
"Well. you are a sharp old damsel,
aren't your" turning his big eyes upon
me, and twisting up his mouth in com.
ical way, which | shall never forget, "I
swear you'd be pretty good looking, if
you didn't wear such wide ruffle on
your nightcap. jolly, isn't it lunker
big enough for a graveyard fence.
"Sirr' said, looking very savage
Ma'am" he answered, initiating my
tone to perfection.
"Oh, if were only out of this bed,
sir p / began.
And pray, madame, what is there to
hinder you from getting out, I'd like to
know?"
Do you intend to insult me, you
good-for-nothing creature? Oh, if the
wind would only blow you away"
eff one goes, the other is sure to 60
too" he said stolidly.
If brother Joe would only waken," /"
| said.
He cooked his eye knowingly.
You want to make me believe that
he is in this house somewhere, eh? My
dear madame, you are as transparent as
air. Had he been under this roof, you
would have screamed blue murder long
before this time
"Oh, oh, you varmint" I groaned,
in pure agony of spirit. "What do you
want"
"Well, ma'am, since that is a fair,
honest question, Twill attempt to answer
it. To begin with. my financial affairs
are in a complicated condition. Money
| have but little-of credit, none F.; SO 1
am forced to levy trifling tax upon my
friends in this and other neighborhoods,
to extricate me from my disastrous con-
dition. As soon as / collect certain
amount intend leaving for France or
Italy, never, perhaps to return. Do not
shed tears at this, dear madame, for
wherever my footsteps tend, your image
-ruffied nightcap and all-will remain
forever imprinted upon my heart"
You old goose !" said.
"Please do not interrupt me, madame /;
| have but few moments longer to stay
and | must be to business at once. /
have learned that you have disposed in
trunk in an adjoining closet forty dol
lars and eighty cents. The forty dollars
/ would like to borrow of you for an in
definite length of time. The eighty cents
| do not care anything about. You can
retain that, as trifing evidence of my
generosity in this great emergency of my
life."
"You are robber, thief, then!" !
said spitefully.
Either, at your service, madame" ris-
ing and making bow for all the world
like French dancing Now,
the money, if you please"
He wasn't joking now. There was a
determined look in his eyes and about
his mouth.
He that giveth to the poor lendeth to
the Lord" he said, speaking just like a
preacher.
"And he that steals from the poor,
what of him ?"
"My Bible does not dispose of his
case especially, madame"
"And you came here to rob meme,
poor woman p
=" came to borrow of you for an un-
certain length oe time"
/ saw it was useless to waste words
with him, besides didn't altogether like
the look in his eyes. / closed my lips
tightly together, resolving that l would
not speak again.
If you've no objection, ma'am, I'll
look around bit" he said, taking up the
lamp as he spoke. If hear any noise
from you, my dear, or if see in any
way that you are becoming nervous,
shall be obliged to quiet you by the use
Of"
He held up small vial.
"Chloroform p gasped.
"At your service madame"
ut would be the death of me" Imoan-
ed.
al should be sorry to bring such a
loss to the world, but, believe me, all
that rests in your own hands. This door
leads into the closet where the trunk is,
l believe" he said, making straight for
the closet where my forty dollars was put
for safe keeping.
l didn't say word. To tell the truth
the chloroform had scared me half out
of my wits. He turned the key in the
door q had always kept it locked,) and
the trunk was at the further end of it.
Let me say here that this closet or store
room was in the l. part of the house,
fully foot lower than my room. Mr..
| P,rolar was not aenuainfed with this