The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-12-13

tache and whiskers, and he had the bright
est eyes that l ever saw in q person 5 head.
The hair on his temples was quite gray.
All in all, helooked like a respectable Christ
ian gentleman, and not a midnight thief.
Quite windy evening, ma am, he
went on, as he stepped into the ROOM
GU must be lonely here by yourself.
Somehow, this touched my temper. |
forgot who was Speaking, and answered
back as tart could be.
81 prefer TO choose my company, siT -
He laughed, and shrugged up his shou[
ders
You do, indeed ! So do I. In this case
| have my preference-nor YOU.
Then he sat downleisulely in my rocking
chair, and stretched out his feet, as though
he intended to stop a while.
''Will you be SO kind, sir, a TO go about
your business? What do yOu think Of
yourself, sir, to be intruding upon the
privacy of my room at this hour of the
night, sir ?"
He leaned his head back upon my bright
worsied tidy, and laughed fit to kill HIM
self
mo harm is Intended you, my charming
woman he said. - swear it-no harm is
intended you -
And saying this, he laughed louder and
longer than ever.
DO you come ioto my house 80 make
game Of me before my We: eyCs?'' | asked.
you were gentleman, SiI-
This was 100 much for him.
"A gentleman ? Oh, aw-that's too
good If | professed to be a gentleman,
you'd stand a good chance OF getting your
throat cut without So much as by your
leave, ma am 10 begin with! a gentle
maII? NTH all my faults, thank heaven,
that is not among themn'
~ ou needn't have gone on that wa to
prove it, | sad taItly.
'.WeIl, you are sharp old damsel, arel, [
you ?' turning his big eyes upon ne, AID
twisting up hls mouth in comfcdl way,
which | shall never forget. i swear YOU q
be pretty good looking, if pou didn't wos-r
such a wide ruftfe on your nightcap. Jolly
ism, it lunlser-big enough for grave
yaTQ fence
Sir - I said, looking very savage.
Mann be answered, Initiating my
voice and tone TO perfection.
''Oh, if l were only out Of this bed, sl.!'
l began.
/ '.And pray, madame, what Is there 10 him
der you from get,in.g Odt, u ike 20 knJ"?.
''DO you intend 10 insult me, You good
! for-noihing creature? Oh, if ,he wind on
ly a50Uld blow You away
If one goes, the oGheris sure to 50 ,5os y
he said solljly.
If brother joe would only wakeu," 1
/ said.
/ lie cooked his eye knowingly.
in this house somewhere, eh? Ny dear
madame, you are as transparent a. -.
Had he been under this roof you w,p-d
have screamed blue mulder long bcf.-G
this time"
.sOh, oh. you varmint - I gr0aned. in
pure agony of spirit. What do you want
''Well, ma am, since that is a fair, hpii-
est question, | will attempt to answer it.
To begin with, my financial affairs are in
complicated condition. Money, l have bat
3 ltrle of-credIt, none SO l am forced TO
levy trifiing tax upon my friends IN this
and other pe.ghbolh0ods, 10 extiicate me
from my disastrous condition. As soon as
| collect n certain amount | intend lcav ing
this country for France or Italy, never,
perhaps, to return. Do not shed tears at
this, dear madame, for wherever my foot
steps tend, your imaGc-rutded nightcap
and all-will remain forever imprinted upon
my heart"
You old goose - 1 said.
''Please do not interrupt me, madame |
have but a few moments lougerto stay, and
l must be to business at once. l have
learned that you have deposited in a trunk
in an adjoining closet loiiy dollars ana
eighty cents. The fo,ty dollars | would
like to borrow Of you for an indefinite length
of time. The eighty cents l do not cai e
anything about. You can Ietaln ,hat, t. as a a
trihinS evidence Of my sse'S'' ,s ~, 'i''H
You are a robber, a thief, then - said
spitefuly.
Either, at your service, madame, ris-
ing and making a bow for all the world like
French dancing master. Nov, the
money, if you please"
He wasn't joking now. There was de
termincd look in his eyes and about hi'
'sHe that giveth to the poor lendeth tc
the Lord,' he said, speaking just like
preacher.
.sAnd he that steals from the poor, what
of him ?''
MY Bible does not dispose of his cast
especially, madame
And YOU came here to rob meme, ;
} poor woman ?''
t Il came to borrow of you, for an Uncer
+ tain length of time" -,
: I saw 1t was useless to waste words viii
| him, besides, didn't altogether like th
look in his eyes | closed my lips tlghtl:
together, resolving that l would not speai
S again. I,u,,
t If you've no objection, ma am, FL loo'
around a bit," Le SAID, taking up the ram
/ as he spoke. eff ILeaC any NOISE from you
o NV dear. or il l see N any way that you al
becoming nervous shall be oOligeo L
= Quiet you by the use Of
> He held up small vlGl.
e sChIolur5ln - l gasped.
t cat your service, madame
t ..It would lie the death cf me, moaiieo
[ sI should be sorry to bring such loss /
e the world, bat, believe me, al that rests !
vour own hands. This door leads into tn
/ closet where the trunk IS, DeheVe'
{. said, making straight for The closet wheI
;. mv nv FORTY dollars were put away for SAT
Y keeping. ~ A..
Il the chlorororln had scared me nea.iy out (
o nv wits. lie turned the key IN the door
had always kept II locked, aud the trun
! vas at the further end Ct II. Let me So,
= - tLat tbis closet or store room was
n the M ..I,'' part of the house, fully foot lowe
tIia than N my room Mr.. burglar was net a
u Guainted with this fact. Glancing tqwal
n u me- with his sharp eyes, to see if w
quiet he took a step forward and Nvel
! snrawling on all fours. / don t know
= tbis Jav how ne managed to save the lam