Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
old MAGGIE AND THE BURGLARS.
l.von are not afraid, Maggie 2"

ia M losk a burglar could force, and Tn not the
n,o N let tramps or the like in Of my free will.
noa knowe the place will be safe enough when
,.,, come back-as safe as though there were a
sa,iment of soldiers in it, and I'll have all
.r;gbt for YOUR new wife, Mr.. Archibald"
sbe called her master Mr.. Archibald still, this
old vomsn; but she was the only one who still
,aed bis Christian name. He was an elderly man
h;maelf and had few intimate friends, hospitali-
70 MT being one Of his virtues. He was rich,
md there was much that was valuable IN his
house; more ready money, too, than most men
Loan about them; but then it was as secure as a
hank nI,-yaut-patent locks and burglar alarms that
Srst sent bullet into any one who sought to en-
tar Inv STEALTH and then rang bell TO wake the
household, were attached to every door, and
Sur,ors Watchdog, that lived on raw meat, was
in the back-garden. The Van Mott mansion
could have withstood siege at a moments no.
tice. n
,ravs and means OF accumulating property which
were mysteries to his neighbors, and they were
suanicious that the little back parlor, sacred to
business, had even seen lesser dealings as
the loan of money on the gold watches, cash
mere sllawls, and diamonds OF genteel distress.
Two or three mortgages that he had bought up
had been rather cruelty foreclosed; and
he was hard landlord and bad
person to owe money TO altogether.
6n the whole he was sthoroughly distilled
in the place, and rich as he was, would
have found it hard to get wife to his
liking among his neighbors at Oakham. How
aver, having resolved to marry again-there had
been Mrs. Nan Mott, who died years before
he had sought out a wealthy widow OF saving
disposition, who lived on small farm some
miles out Of town, and having already disinher-
tied her daughter for epousing an estimable
man of small means, and turned her only son
ont Of doors for equally prudent reasons, was
not likely to bring any troublesome generosity
into his household, had offered himself to her,
and had been accepted. And now, though both
their economical souls revolted against it, Gus
tom decreed wedding trip of some sort, and a
HONEYMOON trip somewhere, and they had de-
cded to do it as cheaply AZ possible. For this
brief time Mr.. Van Mott must leave his business
and his house, aud it was upon the eve of his de-
parture that he held the above conversation with
his old servant, standing with his portmanteau
in his hand, and regarding her gravely.
"Yes, yes," he said, ~ presume its all safe
enough, and I'll speak to the nightwatchman,
and give him dollar to take particular look at
this house. Well, goodbye Maggie, make
things an neat az possible, for If they look
dirty my wife may think the furniture old, and
want something new for the parlor." And Mr..
Van Mott departed.
"Yes, yes" said old Maggie, "no doubt she'll
have fine, extravagant ways. Poor master
Mlht pity uo bnOulu marry, hlber hn-DuU Olu
fools are the worst fools. young thing Of
eight-and-forty, too, when he has q sensible SER
want, sixty last January, that knows what be-
longs TO good housekeeping. II he wanted 10
marry why didn't he ask me I'd not have gone
gallivantng and spending. Ah, well, he'll suf-
fer 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 somewhat 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.
II was superstitious she said to herself"
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 il l can't get over it,.
And accordingly old Maggie shut herself into
the snug kitchen, and lighting two candles, drew
apot of the strongest young hyson, and putting
her feet close to the cooking stove began to feel
much more comfortable.
The old clock licked away ON the mantel the
hands pointing to half-past eight
I'm going to bed at nne, said Maggie, ave
worked we'll to-day. Much thanks Ill get for it,
doubt. Hark What's that p
1t was sound outside the door-a slow col
emn grating of wheels. Then feet trod the pave
neni, and the bell rung family.
e carriage m cried Maggie. Has he changed
that cant be-hes not married yet" And taxi
ing one Of the candles she trotted to the door,
but not before the bell had rung again.
:" Who's that 7" she cried, holding the door
slightly aiar.
g stranger" said voice, one who has
something particular to say to you"
" You'll have to wait for tomorrow" said
Aaggie. " You can't come in tonight"
=, =" My good woman said the stranger, you are
Margaret Black -
" That's my name"
" Mr.. Van MOTIFS housekeeper for twenty
years p
"Yes."
my good woman, il you are are attached to
your master have very bad news for YOU"
" Gracious Lord ~ cried Maggie, but she did
not open the door much wlder-only enough to
thrust her head out. "Don't scare me, mister
What is 1t Y"
The worst you can think Of, said the man.
,M MIR. Van Mott travelled on the - railroad
There has been an accident"
Preserve us y cried Maggie, letting the door
Hes hurt badly then?"
I" He's dead, said the man. "Dead, and we've
brought him home."
Maggie sat down on a char and began to cry.
We've done what We could" said the man.
The lady he was to marry, and her friends,
Will come down tomorrow. Meanwhile, my in
riTuctions are that you shall watch with him, and
allow no strangers to enter the house. There
are valuable things here, l am told and Mr..
van Motifs lawyer must take possession OF them
ana seal them up before strangers have access
10 the rooms"
"oh, dear, dear" cried old Maggie "Thai
y should come to this Yes I'll watch .alone.
I'm not afraid, but-oh, dear !"
Then she shrunk back and let two men carry
horrible coffin into the front parlor.
Ihey came out with their hats off, and the
other man held his also in his hand.
regret to leave you all alone in the house,
he said.
49,. ~ don't mind that" said old Maggie, but it,
TERRIBLE terrible"
" Il you'd like me to stay" said the man.
No, said Maggie. "I've no fear of LIVING
OF dead folks. You can CO."
Then she locked the door and went into tn,
parlor, and putting the candle on the msntel
looked at the coffin through her tears.
=, lie was good enough TO me" she said; "poo
nr' archibald And this comes of wanting t
marry at this time Of life, and galivanting o.
railroads.. l wonder whether he is change
much. I'll take look and Maggie crosse
ule room and lifted the lid over the face Of tn
enclosed body.
III take look," said she to herself again
lmnot afraid Of dead folks"
III minute more Maggie dropped the Ii
aSaln and retreated, shaking from head to foo
que mad seem within the coffin, face with it
eyes shut, and with bandages about the heat
anu the ghastly features of a clown in circui
minus the red mouth.
But 1t was living face, well chalked, and nc
her masters and Maggie knew at once thi
sile hadbeen well humbugged-that this stor
vi her masters death was lie, and that bul
gar lay within the coffin, ready to spring upo
any moment
She could of course oman the door and tiy