The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-08

Mrs. Cuthbert put out the lights and
went to the front door. A drizzling rain
had set in, and the damp raw air made
her shudder. She went back to the sit
ting-room, and, in dreary, mechanical
kind of way, Lit the fire there and in the
little kitchen then brought baby down
stairs, washed and dressed him as usual,
and put him on the floor to play while
she prepared his bread and milk
But baby was not destined to get his
breakfast Just yet, for at that moment
light step was heard in the entry, and
tall young man walked into the room.
The bread and milk were dropped any
where, and Mrs. Cuthbert flung herself
into his arms, sobbing, crying and beg
ging his pardon all in breath.
"Tll never do it again. Won't you
forgive me, George ?"
"Forgive what 1 haven't anything
to forgive" said the astonished George.
"Oh, yes, you have. L know it was
dreadfully wicked of me /; but I'll never
do it again."
"What on earth is the matter?"
"Won't you forgive me?" was all
Mrs. Cuthberts answer.
"Eleanor, what is the matter?" de-
manded the distracted young man, all
kinds of awful visions flying through
his brain. "What have you done p
"Why, didn't let you in when you
came home last night. / only meant to
keep you waiting little while"
"When I came home last night
Why, l haven't been within fifteen miles
of the house since seven o'clock yester-
day morning. I've Just come down on
the 4:30 train.
"Didn't you come home last night q
gasped Mrs. Cuthbert.
"Come home No, of course L didn't;
I've been working at the Office half the
night. Didn't you receive my telegram
saying that should be detained in the
city all night ?"
"No; haven't received any. What
does it all mean ?"
And then she told him all about it
in rather an inooherent style to be sure
but she made him understand, and he
was greatly puzzled as to who it could
have been.
Mrs. Cuthbert, now that her mind
was relieved, began to remember that
she had eaten nothing since dinner the
day before, and was soon flying about
broiling ham and poaching eggs, stop
| ping to have hearty laugh over the
charred remains OF her ] usbands sup
per, which she took from the oven.
Then they sat down to the tea table,
baby and all, and ate their breakfast.
That afternoon the village youth who
| did their "chores was unusually late
in coming, but when he did arrive it was
with such budget of news that his tar.
diness was forgiven.
| He had been en eyewitness to the
capture of two burglars at Squire Jones'
! they had been discovered in the very act
of carrying off the silver.
claws, how they fit !" said the boy.
"They smashed Bill Williams head in
with the plate basket, an came 'mos
near hittin' me, an when we had 'em
caught tight, how they did talk ! They
cussed an swore, an one on 'em-a teller
with powerful ugly face-said as how
they wouldn't hev been nabbed if they
hedn't been foolin' round another house
all the evenin'; an he ses: There's one
of the pluckiest women there, ses he
why, when / hollered into the winder a
her, she didn't mind it no more thar
nothin',' ses he, 'an' hanged if she
| pokin' round after me i'll the dark
Mrs. Cuthbert chung to her husband
and shuddered at this part of the nara
tive.
can he ses," the boy went on-"ht
ses, s'pose 1 should hev knocked hel
on the head if she he'd been a man, bu
the blamed pluck of SIGH little thing
jist completely fabbergasted me :
that's jest his words; an he ses that sh'
come out after him again, when he an
his pal was h:din' under some bushes
an they was afraid to tech her, 'caus,
they seen suthin' shinin' in her hand
an didn't know but it might be six
shooter"
"My scissors, suppose" faintl,
murmured Mrs Cuthbert; her husband
only heard her.
"Wa'al, they're safe enough now-al
guess I'll fetch the coal, said the boy
with the stolidity of true son of tn
soil, seizing the coal scuttle, but drop
ping it again to rummage i'll the inne
pocket Of his jacket "Heres lette
for you, sir-the man said l might q
well bring it long, as his boy couldn'
get up this way fore to-morrer mornin'
an you might be in hurry"
MY telegram" said Mr. Cuthbert
handing it to his wife. "What a con
venience these modern scientific discoy
cries are !''-Harper's Bazar.