Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-12-27
Night Scene in Danbury.


Dir. and Mr.. Luuwicker, Of South Main
street, burn gas in the belroom all night II
is sort of company for them. besides being a
convenience in case something should hal pen.
One midnight, lasi week, Mrs. Lpnweker a.
woke and discovered that lhe room was shroud-
ed in darkness, and thought she detected a
noise. She Immediately aroused Mr.. Lunwch-
er. Halfawake, that unfortunate man jumped
ont Of bed in absence Of any settled plan d" ac-
tion, and ran against an open bureau drawer
aud screamed murder" Then he lighted
the gas, aud revealed to the astouished gaze OF
both an open bureau aud disordered contents
Mrs. Lunwcker sprang out Of bed..at this sight,
and dashed neryonsly to the place where she
kept her watch and chain. They were gon'.
She drew up her mouth just as woman does
when she thinks she ought to whistle and
knows she cant, drove headlong into the re-
ceptacle for her ewelry. Behold, also that
vas gone. Terrified by her losses. she scream
ed Sarah" Sarah is a young lady cousin
visiting the family. Atthe sound Of the name
Mr.. Lunwicker became suddenly aware that
due delereuce for Sarah's society demanded
more attention to lis wardrobe than he hal
vet been able to give it, and dashed around The
room for lis pants, ravenously scratched both
of his hips with his hands, just as man a.
ways does when he is bare-cgged aud excited.
Just as he secured the pants and made a hope
less effort to shove one leg into them, Sarah
was heard at the door "C,me in" shoutc
Mrs. Luuwicker. What are you doing, yor
crazy woman ?" hissed Luuwicker, as his fo
caught in the lining and refused to bulge a.
inch further aud he bounded around on on.
leg. and madly endeavored TO extrica,e him
self from dreadful dilemma Then Sarah
voice was heard asking that the door be IN
locked. aud Mrs. Lunwicker, crazed by her
loss. and unheeding the terrified expression Of
Mr. Lunwicker's face, aar,cd to the door-
Keep away, keep away" screamed Mr.. Lun
wicker, in haf-suppressed voice, as the aw-
ful atrocity of his wife's action flashed upon
him. But her band wai on the key, and see
| ing that she was determined 10 le, Sarah in, h.
attempted TO throw himself against the dooi
and prevent her. but tripped on the pauta-
looms legs and came down on the floor on Nj
back, and, as the only resort, rolled under ihc
he'd. Then the door opened aud Sarah cane
in. and Mrs Luuwicker burst into tears. and
sobhed ont an account Of her loss, while the
miserable man lay under the bed, pcrspirinr
every pore and hystercally striving to get biz
legs into his pants. Where's Johu2 81
he after The burglars y A eroan came from
under the bed Mrs Lunwicker droppe'
.lown On her hands and knees and stared uu-
Ter there " Here he is, Sarah" she said per
rectly obIivious to the facial ccutartion Mr.
T.uuwicker was making u in:imidatc her into
silence 90, Sarah" said she with fresh
,uiburst Of grief, "do come here aud tell lin,
Ice ought to 60 after the burglars" At this
awful proposition from his wife, Mr.. Lunwick-
rr, who was now firmly convinced that she had
lrretrievably and forever lost her reason, pas
>iouately shriekcd. Go away, you mad wo-
man, clear out, both OF you, or | will come
right out there in my bare legs" At this
threat Sarah screamed and ran, and Mrs.. Lun-
wicker, not knowing what else 10 DO, ran after
her. Then the miserable man crawled out
rom his cuncealment and pulled on his pants,
aud was tuckiug in the night shirt, when biz
wife returned, looking very shcepsh, and said
O, John, it was Sarah" What's that %
,aid Mr Lunwicker, staring wiha frshtful
yehemeuce at bis wife IL was Sarah that
did it. It's one Of her jokes" 90" said
John. Yes" said Mrs. Lunwicker, "shc
Just did it for sport" Darn Sarah" said
john gratefu ly,as he proceeded to pick tie
feathers aud bits Of curled wool from his bair
[Ddn5wy Neus