Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-07-17
Old Maggie and the Burglars.

"You are not afraid, Maggie?"
'Mc afraidw said Maggie. "rd
no fear born with me. AS for the
house, it's the strongest fastened ever
I was in. You say yourself there's
no lock a burglar could force, and
Tn not the one to let tramps or the
like in Of my free will. God knows
the place will be safe enough when
you come back-as safe as though
there were regiment Of soldiers in
it; and I'll have all bright for your
new wife, Mr.. Archibald"
She called her master Mr.. Archi-
bald still, this old woman; but she
was the only one who still used his
Christian name. He was an elderly
man himself, and had few intimate
friends, hospitality not being one of
his virtues. He was rich, and there
was much that was valuable in the
house; more ready money, too, than
most men keep about them; but then
it was as secure as a bank vault-pat-
ent locks and burglar alarms that
first send bullet into anyone who
sought to enter by stealth, and then
rang a bell to wake the household,
were attached to every door, and a
furious watchdog, that lived on raw
meat, was in the back garden. The
Van Mott mansion could have with
stood a siege at moments notice.
Mr.. Van Mott was money-dealer.
He had ways of accumulating prop
erty which were mysteries to his
neighbors, and they were suspicious
that the little back parlor, sacred to
business, had even seen such lesser
dealings as the loan of money on the
gold watches, cashmere shawls and
diamonds of gentcel distress. Two
or three mortgages that he had
bought up had been rather cruelty
foreclosed; and he was a hard land
lord, and bad person to owe money
to altogether. On the whole he was
disliked in the place, and, rich as he
was, would have found it hard to get
a wife to his liking among his neigh
bors at Oakham. However, being
resolved to marry again-there had
been q Mrs. Van Mott, who died
years bcfore-he had sought out
wealthy widow of saving disposi-
ton, who lived on small farm some
miles out of town, and, having al
ready disinheritcd her daughter for
espousing an estimable man Of small
means, and turned her only son out
of doors for equally prudent reasons,
was not likely to bring any trouble
some generosity into her household,
and had offered himself to her, and
had been accepted. And now though
both their economical souls rcvolted
against it, custom decreed a wedding
Of some sort, and honeymoon trip
somewhere, and they had decided to
do it as cheaply as possible. For this
brief time MI. Van Mott must leave
his business and his house, and it
was upon the eve of his departure
that he held the above conversation
with his old servant standing with
his portmanteau in his hand, and
looking rather grave}K.
ayes, yes" he said, n presume it
is all safe enough. And I'll speak
to the night-watchman, and give him
dollar to take sRrticular look at
this house. Well, good-by, Maggie,
make things as neat as possible, for
if they look dirty my wife may think
the furniture old, and want some
thing new for the parlor." And Mr..
Van Mott departed.
eyes, yes" said old Maggie, 'no
doubt she'll have fine, extravagant
ways. Poor Master! What a pity
he should marry, after all-but old
fools are the worst fools. A young
thing of eight and forty, too, when
he has sensible servant, sixty last
January, that knows what belongs to
good housekeeping. If he wanted to
marry, why didn't he ask me? I'd
not have gone gallivanting and spend
ing. All, well, he'll suffer, not l."
And Maggie trotted away to begin
her sweeping and dusting.
She had said truly that there was
no fear born with her, but as the
night drew on she began to feel some
what lonely. Her masters presence
was strangely missed out of the great
house, and there was something
ghostly in the look Of his empty
chair when she peeped into the little
back office.
'If l was superstitious," she said
to herself, II should think something
dreadful was going to happen. /
feel chilly up and down my back, and
keep thinking Of funerals. I'll make
myself cup of tea, and see if l can't
get over it."
And accordingly old Maggie shut
herself into the snug kitchen, and
lighting two candles, drew pot of
the strongest young hyson, and put
ting her feet close to the cooking
stove, began to feel much more COM
Portable.
The old clock ticked away on the
mantel, the hands pointing to halfpast
eight.
'I'm going to bed at nine," said
Maggie. "I've worked well to-day.
Much thanks I'll get for it, / doubt.
Hark! What's that?"
1t was sound outside the door--a
slow, solemn grating ofwheels. Then
feet trod the pavement and the bell
rang family.
"a carriage!" cried Maggie; "has
he changed his mind and brought
her home at once? But that cannot
be, he's not married yet" And tax
ing one of the candles she trotted to
the door, but not before the bell had
fung again. -sst
"Who's that?'' she cried, holding
the door slightly ajar.
"a stranger" said a voice, zone
who has something particular to say
to you. haif
"You'll have to wait forto-morrow,"
said Maggie. "You can't come in to-
night.n 3
"My good woman" said the stran-
ger, "you are Margaret Black?"
"That's my lfame."
8 "Mr. Van Motifs housekecpcr for
twenty years?"