Middletown transcript., 1877-01-20
81 can only stay until spring
added Aunt Popplethorpe.
"Is that all 2" said Howard

Is lUdl dill sdlu L1ON dld
"On account Of having promised to
spend the summer with my married
daughter in Chllicothe But it is a
good while to spring
Indeed it is" said Richard, feel
ingly.
"And in the meantime, we can all
enjoy ourselves together said Aunt
Popplethorpe, with a beaming counte-
nance
That was the beginning Of it And
the end was that Aunt Popplethorpe,
not being used to country houses, open
wood fires, and the atmosphere Of for
ests, fell i'll Of rheumatic fever, and
didn't recover at all That is to say,
after certain number of weeks spent
in bed, she concluded to stay there al
together, although with no perceptible
diminution in appetite or good spirits.
Don't be annoyed, boys" said Aunt
Popplethorpe, "but DR.. Drake thinks
I've lost the use Of my limbs. !"
..Dr. Drake is an old humbug" i'm
petuously broke out Howard Mott, who
was beginning to regard Aurt Popple-
thorpe as Sinbad Of cid might have re-
garded the Old Man Of the Sea.
Il beg your pardon, said Aunt Pop
plethorpe, "he is very scientific man,
who thoroughly comprehends the prin-
ciples Of pathology. However, I'm not
one to repine against the will Of Provi-
dence"
but I am T. muttered Richard, un
der his breath. Between DR.. Drake
and Aunt Popplethorpe, | am rapidly
becoming fit candidate for the lunatic
asylum. What shall we do, Howard y
be added, as they went out on the
piazza. shall we commit suicide, or
shall we emigrate to Australia n
Don't let's do either in a hurry
said Howard Look here, Dick, Aunt
Popplethorpes ailments are One-half
Dr.. Drake, and the other half imagina-
tion "
wT don't douht it-but how does that
help our case?'
Howard laughed and shrugged his
shoulders. II am not an NJ. D., Dick, =
said be "but l believe can cure our
venerated relative"
How? 2"
"I'll tell you how"
Aunt PoppIethorpe had lain in bed
nine weeks without putting foot to the
floor. June had come with its roses
and dew, and one dark, starless night
Howard announced his intention Of
going over to the neigbboring town
with his brother.
"And leave me alone ?" cried Aunt
Popplethorpe-for the seventh damsel
since Pamela had just given warning
and departed with bundle and bandbox,
for the nearest intelligence Office.
Howard laughed You're not afraid
of ghosts, are you, Aunt PopplethOrpe ?
The only thing that can harm you are
masked burglars-and we'll be sure to
be home by ten o'clock BY the way,
Dick" turning to his brother, did you
hear that they visited Squire Ruddi-
mans night before last?"
mo! Did they" said Dick, with
vacant stare.
Tiled the old gentleman hand and
foot, hung his wig on the bean-pole in
front Of the door, and put the old lady's |
false teeth into the hominy- pot, cleaned
out the money-drawer, carried off the
silver spoons, and raised Cain gener-
ally Two Of EN-, tall, muscular fel-
lows, with black velvet masks and black
robes like executioners.
Aunt POpplethorpe gave sort Of
gasp.
Boys" said she, are you sure
you're got to 60 to town tonight p
Can't you wait until tomorrow 2"
Impossible, aunt" cried Dick.
briskly. "We are going on business
Of the utmost Importance but don't
fret, we shan't be long. And we'll
leave the dinner bell on the stand, so
that you can ring it like mad if any one
comes near the house"
"But what good will it do? There's
no one to hear it. !"
"Oh, we'll, there's some satisfaction
il making a noise" said Howard, con
solingly. And. in spite of Aunt Pop
plethorpe's remonstrance, away they
went
Mrs. Popplethorpe was not nervous
woman, but after the story Of the masked
burglars she felt cold chills run down
her spinal column at every creak of the
blinds, every rush of the wind through
the tree tops.
If ever let EN- 60 off and leave
me again" said Aunt Popplethorpe to
herself, it'll be because I can't help
myself"
Hush A grating of the latch-a
step on the stairs A voice hoarse and
gruff:
Where did you say the old party
slept? Upstairs Very good. Wen
settle her hash first and than