Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-01-25

nuotict Z, at the corner, anu ring the Deli
With ali your might-it is low, and you
can reach it-and tell George and Harry
Motley that Aunt Virginia says there is
thief In the house. Don't be afraid,
Fred; be man like papal"
Over, gently, over the low railing !;
and then, with q good shake of
his small person, Fred's fat little
legs trotted swiftly off toward the po-
lieeman.
Directly, under the balcony, a voice
said, softly :g5gn.f.
"What is wanted, ma'am! Can you
open the front door for me Z"
81 cannot" she painted !" there are
burglars in the house, and / should be
heard. Can you get mp here, somehow :
Has the little boy gone to the neigh
Dorsf asn as,ii il9a ln fr
There WINS no answer to her question !,
but !, the policeman = easily followed
her ueeeution. and climbed up ever the
"Waitl" whispered Virginia, laying
her cold hand on the policeman's arm,
as he made q motion to 60 forward.
"They are up stairs in my room, look
ing for my jewels. II you will stand
just behind that door, will creep mp
the back stairs and reconnoiter If the
woman comes t. answer the bell, seize
her. There is only one man If / want
help / will call, and then you will rush
up the front stairs"
Are you not afraid 2" asked the po-
liceman with some surprise but Vir-
ginia was gone before he had finished
his remark.
When she reached the stairs, she
found by the sounds that the man had
evidently gone into the silver-closet,
which stood on the other side of the
back staire, and that now she was be-
tween the twc-for she could hear Alice
walking around in the bedroom. Quick
as fash the little figure glided up
stairs, slipping off her boots on the
lowest step; there was no light in the
hall, except that afforded by the bur-
glars lantern, for the gas was turn
down low, and the lantern set inside the
closet door. The door opened outward,
and the key was in it; spring, sudden
bang, and then the click of the key in
Virginia's nervous fingers, as she turned
it in the lock. A tremendous curse came
from the captured thief, as she leaned
breathlessly against the door. The same
moment the gaslight behind her was
suddenly turned on her, and Alice con-
fronted Virginia.
"You here, madama Well, you and
1 are quits, anyhow. Open that door, or
I'll send bullet through your head
You didn't think of my having revolv-
er, did youi"
"No," said Virginia, looking in the
girls furious eye with her peculiarly
calm smile. "Helpl Policel"
"You may split you pretty throat
calling" said Alice, seizing her saw
agely by the arm. "No one will come
the cook is drugged, and you are at our
mercy. Give me the key 7"
'I1l trouble you for that pistol I"
said stern voice behind Virginia, as a
quick. strong arm jerked the weapon
away from Alice.
Alice, with shrek, fell on the floor,
for she realized all at once. But Vir-
ginia, gasping "Ah, my God 7" gazed
as if turned to stone, for it was Langley
Temple tnat she saw.
Virginia, don't be terrified" he
said "it is my very self, no ghost.
Take my hand, love see, it is flesh and
Il
her in his arms. The door-bell was
ringing furiously. but he would have let
the neighbors pull the wire till it broke
before he would have left her in that
dumb, shocked state. As he touched
her she trembled violently /; then the
light came back to her eyes, and, with
sob of Joy, Virginia flung herself on tbs
breast of him whom she had mourned
as dead.
The Motleys had time 10 think that
Virginia was murdered before the pair
opened the door. Very much surprised
were they to see, instead CT the police
man they expected TO find, q very iall,
handsome young man, stranger, in uD-
dress navy uniform. Fred, now that his
part of the fun was over, began 10 rear,
and Virginia took him up in her arms,
while the three gentlemen, assisted by
the real Simon-Pure policeman,
brawny son Of Erin, opened the closet
and secured the prisoner. Within the
| next fifteen minutes the other servants
had returned-fer the burglary took
place before IL o'clock--and Alice, hay
ing recovered from her swoon, was car
ried to the station-house.
| L don't know how Langley and Vir-
ginia was occupied till my return; but
when Frank thrust his latch key into the
door, Virginia few out of the library,
and tried, with a few incoherent SEN
tences. to prepare me for seeing some
tmng: The consequence was, that, when
Pushed the door open in a very bewil--
dered frame OF mind, and saw Langley
smillng at me, was terrified almost out
4 " mar ana and r.
To the best Of my recollection, the
household sat up nearly all night, though
finally, after l had heard the whole
story, been speechless over Virginia's
bravery, and hugged Fred-now asleep
in the arm-chsir-Frsnk dragged me off
to bed.
don't know that Langley and Vir-
| ginia sat there till morning, but GER
tsinly the first persons saw upon com
ing down to breakfast were themselves,
on the identical sofa where had left
them.
Laneley's story is too long one to be
told here. Suffice it to say that being
on deck when the Tecumseh sunk. he
had been able to strike out from the
sinking ship, and, under cover of the
smoke and roar of battle, to swim ashore.
There. however, he was taken prisoner.
and kept in close confinement for some
months, finally making his escape
Coming direct to Frank for intelligence
before presenting himself to his family,
he had stopped to light a cigar under
the gashght, where Virginia had mis-
taken him for a policeman. He had
known her instantly, and probably only
her fright and agitation prevented her
from recognizing his voice, which, as
he mischievously told her, he did not
disguise in the least.
Alice and her accomplice we're identi-
fled by the police a. old offenders. The
woman had carried on a systematic pill
fering at the Temples, and was an ac-
complished hypocrite. To my intense
qualification the pair were sentenced for
a full term in Sing Sing.
Langley and Virginia were married
very soon after. Frank gave away the
lovely little bride, whose fair girlish
blo)m had come back 10 her, and who.
4 xlxar Il