Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-01-13

eoOA IdtucI less Wlut tuhu us WOut,
and at the appointed time, notwith-
standing the discussions of Mr.. Cum
leigh, who begged him not to consider
the whims of spoiled child, he donned
his hat and overcoat and sailed forth.
1t was especially noticed that he did
not take stick or umbrella.
As soon as he was gone, Ruth
hastened to her room, and in ten
minutes reappeared, having changed
her dress and put on thick shawl and
bonnet. 1 was in waiting to give her
my arm, and together we walked out,
going at fast pace to reach the
churchyard before midnight.
1t was about five minutes to twelve
when we arrived, and, looking through
crevice in the low wall that sur
rounded the churchyard, we perceived
the Frenchman sitting unconcernedly
upon tombstone. There was no rain,
the moon was beamsng, and tall, very
! funereal, shadows were cast into the
depths of the buttresses, and on one
side of the spire, which rose straight
and high in the clear air, Rigolot's face
stood full in the moonlight, and we
could see that indifference was perfect.
Humming tune, he drew a cigar case
from his pocket, and struck fusee on
his tombstone.
MANLY but profane," whispered
Ruth, clinging to my arm.
1t was at that very moment when
midnight changed from the steeple !;
and precisely to the hour, towering
white apparition glided from the gloom
of the church porch, and walked straight
toward Rigolot.
Not to alarm anybody. it may be
stated that this spparition was nothing
but gardeners boy who was a great
ally of Ruth in these adventures and
who played his part by the customary
means of a sheet and a pole with
phosphorized mangelwurzel at the top.
This gardeners boy then advanced !;
but the instant he began to be seen
stalking among the tonbs, Rigolot
raised bright. Joyous laugh-without
a quaver in it-jumped from his grave
and walked to meet him. The ghost
was not unprepared for this move, and
receded Rigolot followed. The ghost,
thoroughly mystifed, broke ground !:
then, seeing the Frenchman continue
to approach, turned tail and ran.
Hereupon Rigolot's merry voice rang
out IN reiterated peals, and he called
out, with wonderful intrepidity and
archness.
"Come, don't be afraid of me, my
good ghost. 1 am only a man. Accept
a cigaret y
Ruth was abashed as we made our
way home. There was no doubt Rig
olot had got the best of the first bout.
and suggested the propriety OF dis
pensing him from the burglary ordeal.
But the arrangements had already been
made. The gardeners boy, a young
city gentleman named Tuttle, who had
been sworn into the conspiracy, and
myself had all rehearsed for climbing
into Rigolot's balcony with Grape
masks on our faces and both Ruth
and Tuttle anticipated too much good
fun for this performance to be banked
of it. Well, it was good fun after all,
especially for Tuttle. / pass over the
congratulations which Rigolot received
on his return from the ghost expedi-
ton, and come at once to the small
hour of three in the morning, when the
gardener, Tuttle, and found ourselves
climbing ladder under Rigolot's bal
cony, each with horse pistol in his
hand. Tuttle led the way, and being
provided with glaciers instrument
for cutting glass, coolly removed
pane, passed his hand through the
aperture, opened the window. and
walked in. He had difficulty in sup
pressing his grins, but he did not grin
long.
have never heard for certain what
actually ensued but it seems that
Rigolot was awakened by the noise,
faint as it was, and seeing a burglar
there was a night-light on the chimney
place-leaped out of bed, few to
drawer, and extracted a revolver, thence
let fly the whole six barrels at Tuttle
without word of warning. In saying
six barrels, however, it is fair to men,
tion that Tuttle did not wait for any
barrels after the first, for in one bound
he was on the balcony, and in second
he had dropped headlong on to the
flower-bed twenty feet below, without
so much as touching the ladder. The
gardener and 1 followed in state of
emotion which you may be left to
imagine, for We heard the bullets
crashing with fearful bangs through
one pane after another; but possibly
Rigolot did not really aim at any of us,
for it was noticed afterward that all
the bullets went through the upper
panes.
Well, Rigolot triumphed in two
trials, but the worst was sent him Just
hat All Tho
morning there had been panic stricken
talk among the city men about the
presumed burglary of the night, and
Rigolot had given his version of that
startling episode to a couple of police
men who were sent for from the vii
lage. He was calm in his account, and
strictly modest; in fact, his attitude
was such as would have given any
ordinary young lady the highest opinion
of him. And yet toward one o'clock
Ruth Cumleigh, her face sparkling with
mischief, suddenly passed through the
room where 1 was, and, beckoning to
me with her finger, said:
"Just stand behind the door, Mr..
Trefoil, and you'll see."
Rigolot was seated, reading. He
rose and abruptly exclaimed
"What is the matter, Mademoisellc?
You are crying"
20, never mind me, Monsieur Rig
olot it's cnly for papa care he has
Just received letter announcing his
ruin"
"Good heavens ! ruined y
"Yes, complete ruin. 1t seems he
will not be able to save shilling. o,
dear to think he should suffer like
thisw
"Ruined - exclaimed Rigolot with
an extraordinary outburst of feeling.
"Ah, Mademoiselle forgive me for say
ing hard zing, but / am half glad of
this. Yes had long loved you but
you we're rich, and 1 feared my atten-
tions might be misjudged. But now
zat am richer zan You, say, my beau
tiful, darling Ruth, you will be mine -
And hereon /, behind my door, heard
something not unlike kisses protests;
then more kissing.