Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-29
FRIGHTENED BY A BURG.
LAR.

a GREAT many years ago." sad
my aunt, your Uncle George and my
self together learned the deaf and
dumb alphabet. 1t came hard at first.
and we had to study long time before
we could talk as easily with our fingers
as with our tongues. After a while
we became used to it, and for practice.
we used to converse in that manner
when we were alone.
Zone day he was called away to
New York. There was no railroad
then, and people all had to travel i'm
Stage-cOach He was to start in the
morning, but it SO happened that he
was prevented from doing so, and had
to delay his trip several hours or until
after midnight.
1t was in the winter time. and the
fire was burning very brightly in the
room, and, although II was lone past
ten O'Clock, | had no wish to 90 to
bed
. | sat looking into the cheerful coal
fire, and was thinking of the long Jour
ney your uncle would have to take that
night, and how lonesome the DAYS
would seem until he returned.
p" 1t was after eleven when I got into
bed, but | wasn't the least sleepy. I
knew that your uncle would soon come
IN to bid me goOd-by, and, besides. [
seemed to hear noises all about the
room, which caused me fright.
Somehow OF other, [ fell asleep. or
rather into a dose, but was suddenly
awakened by hearing a tremendous
sneeze within a yard of me, Just be-
hind tie head-board Of the bed.
The only thing, as | believe, which
saved my reason from departing alto
gether, when | first heard that sound.
was that my mind chung to the hope
that it might be, after all, only the
sneeze Of cat, In reality, however,
fifty cats couldn't have made such a
disturbance.
!" Pretty soon heard another sneeze,
and then somebody seemed to be stand
ing beside my pillow looking at me. If
the wretch had only given one sneeze,
he might, perhaps. have believed me,
as | lay quite still, breathing as regu-
larly as could, and pretending to be
asleep.
. YOU'RE awake, ma'am,' said the
unseen intruder. Don't be sham
ming! If you don't want a tap with
this life-preseryer, just look alive!'
=" How terribly frightened [ was to
hear these words. A man stood be-
fore me, an entire stranger. with his
face covered with black Grape. a low
cap drawn down over his forehead, and
small loaded billy grasped firmly in
his right hand. He gave me one fierce.
menacing glance, and then turned his
eyes toward small iron safe that
stood III the further corner of the
room.
1t you've any plate, MAJ am, or
money, or anything else of valy-'
90 It's all in therer | said, pointing
to the safe, all except a few dollars in
my purse on the bureau yonder, and a
pair Of goblets in the closet, and
. Are they silver OF plated,
IN amp
80, sir, [ wouldn't deceive YOU on
any account
SO Youd better nOtr
$50 saying, the burglar. pulled out
a key from his pocket, and advanced
toward the safe. With a hurried
glance, | saw that the shape and size
OF the key were exactly that of the
Key used by your uncle, and began to
wonder whether or not foul murder
mad been committed.
As the villain put the key into the
sa1e' ms guilty ear caught the sound of
an approaching footstep on the stair.
He turned suddenly round. and said:
Whats that?'
My husband
So Has he not gomez