The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-25
DAISY yANDERBRINKE;
OR GRANDmA's CHRISTMAS STORY.
BY LODI PIERRE.

snow fell heavily, and the lights from OhCls
True's lanterns" seemed hail olotteo oue py
the Increasing storm. Tue wind rattleu tue
windows and Jack Frosts steps were dis
tjnctiy traced upon the paues- Tothe poorer
clsss in that city il brought sad toreoodlnes.
and the long, dreary winter, WITH lts ahAtey
and suffering, rose prominently III 'ueii
minds.
ID fTicult would it have been TO cast such
| forebodings over this group, rocked In the
| Ian of luxury where, as Yet, necessary wa
| not the stern master, nor want Rampant
| Here, wealth was abundant, IL not III un .oIu
| quantities vet sufficient 20 gratify all rea-
| sonsble desires This was eviuced IN the
| cnsv room and the attire and manner OF the
voIng people; by the table, where still lin
| eered the Christmas feast OF wnlch they nai
! so freely partaken, and consioeraoi! 'isut
| aned the once we'll flied board. And no"
| they were ready for g harmless cha', Whlle
| the elders were comparing notes upon tne /
| merits of Mrs. H mInce pies, ana the tur'
kew lust done to turn, whlch any ono |
would recognize as being quite correct; ioI
onlv-ye speak advised "a leg remalneoi
aud the delicious jellies when gt0wsu NE
amber, and quIvered with sense Oh 'nelr
situation on this suspicious day.
GRANDMOTHER Fairplay sat Dlacidiy roGE-
I ing in her favortte corner, hstehltS WIN
divided attention to her guess as sue
watched the younger group. der name
pave one the clew 20 her character-iair ano
inst with a great deal OF youthful IV-nnes',
/ which would only vanish Win her Gear
presence; fragile and sweet, with her silVer
puffs, guantanamo was quite an srls'Gc dS
and each succeeding generatloh auOIeu sNN
thought her perfect
Now Daisy, grandma's namesake called
her attention.
Tell us a real story. Do, grandma
Immediately there was great scanPsr,h
Of fset and Mrs Fairplay found herself sur
r reminded, her chair pulled closer to the nre
and ali arrangements made for the expecte1
treat. Grandma gently submitted, and by
a | this time all her guests were grouped around
her. m .;..
It IA real splendid one" said pert miss
with a toss of her head.
Vt 0Oh dote on sad storiesw And Myrs,
n pale languid gIrl of 10 summers lifttd ner
hand to shade her face from the too glowing
heat.
az cnrIed on a footstool at grandma's feet,
she was waiting eagerly. ,..
The elders knew that Mrs. Fairplays lie
had been rich aud varied in ex perlence III ~
gi,d with a few adventures, and evlnced
more interest in the forthcoming STORY tnah
they could we'll conceal
Is, Mrs. Fairplay smiled as she leaned further
no back in herchair, saying
II see L must crafty your curiosity re-
e9 gsrding certain portion OF my lie never
before revealed, as, at Dalsys suggestion
something real and exciting you shall nave
d. Before was married, as you all know
NV name was Vanderbrinke-D,i sy Wander
US brinke," Mrs. Fairplay repeated, creamy
81 doubt if any of this younger generation
remembers the old homestead as IL was, 10
nv how has so carefully restored IL tnat
must describe IL anew for you to appreciate
pie NV home The beauty OF its situation Oh
the banks OF one of Americas promlnen
rivers. the grandeur OF its scenery, and tn
delightfulness of its entire surroundings
an You we'll know.
ne To the east and west doors, the ball aDov
uld corresponding leading out to balconies "
either side were the sleeping apartments
large and roomy, SIX In numoer, dlscou
nected, excepting my room, which op enc
ant from The spare room, our guest ch4mo De
bsiug beyond; opposite was mothers roou
ere upcle's aud hrotnt RS being on either side
Ii at was the summer of my eighter y
year, when, free from school lille ana rea !
.ve To minele in the gay world, friends and relf
tiyss had been hidden to my birthday iess
cen and for VT eks we were in the whlrt ot cout
Peu try Measures All sorts Of festivities wer
devised. and, needless TO say, merflms %
rang through the Old homestead, all reJol'
49, ing in my bright prospects. =,
cru Zone drawback there Was, as, toward u
end OF the last week, river thieves, Wulc
sometimes haunted that section OF the coul
try became more daring and dangerous !
o.. their HOUSEKEEPING aud pillage. One MOI
ms ing, Oh coming into breakfast, it was with
cold shudder We heard OF their latest e
ploit. About O mile away, ten masked me
Inns, mad entered and ransacked house, terri
ing It's inmates and leaving with vsluso
ann plumber No clue remained to their iden
ty, but "a the police promised to be active
their search, after exciamahons 81 81
g. prise the subject was dropped, aud In c
7, event of my guests departure, escaped n
memory. ,
"Once more we were alone. and, tired wi
excit+msnr, retired early and soon STU
bered peacefully. AS the night wore or
was awakened by q sensation OF coldat
upon my forehead. Inst nctiysly raisi
hills, my hand, as / opened my eyes wildly,
wales came in contact With the barrel OF a revolv
inc aud gruff voice sounded in my ear
,all- "'Str or call for assistance and you v
sleep die my ladyr
ding "Conscious of my danger, and that 1 '
surrounded by the famous masked gang
gave a gasp OF terror, and as the same n,
es bent to lust his revolver, his hdeous MI
became displaced, giving me clear vie
hill bis features Again terror overpowered I
and inconsistencies came to nay relief
with returning life distinctly heard
murmur of vsicss. Timidly Enclosed
ewes; standing with their faces turned fr
me were ten black figures. Evidently fan
som, ing was still in q swoon, they were disr
de-. Il say She shall have chloroform, ID
Get her out of the way or else well sg
for I'll What's TO hinder7 She has 8
ed your face
Gu Here / heard the same gruff voice
wing strained and forced as to De evidently
euised Every use was on the alert, al
IL counted time by the violent beating of
odsnt heart.
hU'" "'Blll, be reasonablei She is very his
some-I didn't come here to murder
oh, mol You threatened to shoot her.
J piled Bill; but then you had an eye
seet beauty
be- fell "a bit of choloform sban't touch
pretty or ugly retorted Dick, raising
voice.
''By this time had determined 70 act.
,irald "The scene is indelibiy stamped upon
memory The excited group of black 6gI
nv valusbles of various kinds pulled +
oouno their hiding places and piled 10 In the
MAINS ter Of the a Ior faint gisam from the