Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-07-10
AUNT POLLY's BURGLAR.

night, locking doors and windows be
fore going to bed, there was just Q
breath of breeze signing about
nothing more; but by the time l had
my head fairly pumped upon the pill
low, the gale was going it like mad
When l first came to this country
used to be surprised at the quick, I'm.
ceremonious way storms had of com.
ing upon people-half the time, il
seemed to me, from clear, innocent
looking sky.
In my old home L prided myself
upon reading the signs of the skies
but here, goodness me when | was
sure of snow it would rain, and when
could have taken a solemn oath the
clouds were going to pour, why,
whisk they'd go, and the sun would
shine out as though it were in high
gIee at having fooled me. SO | gave
up being weather prophet; and took
1t just as it came.
That night everything oat doors
was on the rampage. The loose
shingles on the house clattered, the
windows shook, the blinds ratified.
and half the time it seemed to me
that the bed on which lay would be
blown through the side of the house.
L know | am foolish old woman,
at the thought | couldn't help setting
my rntlied night-cap straight, and
smoothing back my hair, because, if
| shonld go, why, there was Deacon
Albee's house right opposite, and
but, Lord bless mel what am [ talk.
ing about
Well, naturally, l was lonesome
enough, without child or chick to
speak to, but | did very we'll until
somehow got it into my head that
burglars always chose such nights to
do their minchief in. After that
started at Overy sound, and as there
were thumps and clatters on all sides
it isn't to be supposed that | got very
much rest.
knew had $4,000 laid away in
my poor departed Jason's old wood
en- chest, and | felt that if should
lose that it would bo terrible thing
to me.
The house was cottage, with a
hall running the length of its two
rooms an 81" being built beyond.
My room was at the back opening in
the hall and the front room adjoin-
ing. So my eyes went first from one
door to the other, lingering, with
more dread upon the one leading in
TO the hall.
If | should be robbed of that forty
dollars and eighty cents said
to myself. Just then blind went
whack, and springing up in he'd | be-
gan to say the prayer my mother
taught me.
What an old fool you are, Polly
Quimby,' began TO say aloud, try
ing to get my courage up at the
sound of my own voice.
At thatsmoment / was sure | heard
q step in the little hall, and before L
had time to move from my place, the
door-latch lifted and the door swung
back, and there he stood, the very
object had been dreadng, Burglar
himself.
Good evening ma'aml he said in
such a polite way, that l found my
self in the motion of bowling back,
with good evening" by way of re-
ply.
He was moustached and whiskered
and had the brightest eyes ever saw
in PERSONS head.
Altogether he looked like respec.
table christian gentlemen, and not a
burglar.
"Quite q windy evening, ma'am,"
he went on, as be stepped into the
room. you must be lonely by your
self.
This made me mad. | forgot who
was speaking, and banged a reply to
him thusly
81 prefer to choose my company,
sir
He laughed and shrugged up his
shoulders.I
"You do, indeed So do l. In
this case have my preference-not
you"
Then he sat down leisurely in my
rocking-chair and stretched out his
feet as though he intended to stop a
while.
"Will you be so kind, sir, as to ex.
plain yourself2 What do you think
of yourself, sir, to intrude upon the
privacy of my room at this hour of
the night ?"
He leaned his head back upon my
worsted tidy and laughed fit to kill
himself.
No harm is intended to my, good
friend, he said. Il swear it-no
harm
And then he laughed louder than
ever.
ado you come here TO make game
of me before my very eyes ? asked.
and my temper was pretty much
stirred up. If you were a gentleman
sir
This was too much for him.
III gentleman Oh, sw-that's do.
Iiciousl If 1 protested to be q gentle
man you'd stand good chance Of
getting your throat cut without sc
much as by your leave, ma'am to be-
gin With A gentleman? With al
nv faults, thank heaven that is not
) among them
you needn't have said that to lei
me know it.
We'll, you're a sharp old damsel
aren't your turning his big eyes
upon me, and twisting up his mouth
in a comical wav. i se-wear, you'C
be pretty good looking if it were'nf
for your homsly nightscap. Jolly
isn't it-big enough for graveyard
fenceP
Sir l said,
.MadamP be answered, initiating
my voice and tone.
4 srant a \ ...nro nnixy nuk IF fhis had