The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-11
"But," persuaded Maude, "that fact
would be all the worse for us if tramp


from her chair was good proof that the
nature, SO, proceeding from
the drawing room, we walked to the
lawn, and fastening the gate which opened
on to the lane, we re-entered the house |
We then locked, bolted, and barred the |
back premises, saw that all the windows
were fastened, and then came back to
the drawing.room.
must confess that when we had Sc
cured all the approaches to our citadel, I |
was myself good deal more at ease than
had been previously.
Slowly the autumn sun sank beneath
the range of hills fronting our dwelling,
tinging the sky with radiant hues viii s
varied momentarily.
could have sat for hours watching the
numerous hues that swept across the
heavens, but with the uprising moon and
gathering twilight saw that Maude was
once more becoming nervous.
'Won't you close the shutters9" inquir-
| ed Maude.
''Not unless you particularly wish it,
DEAR" replied.
'But I do" she answered.
was about to shut out the moonlight
view, and make desperate effort to
change the conversation, when Maude,
who had her eyes fixed on the lawn, sud-
denly clutched my arm, and involun-
tarily retreated step. "Sis," she cried,
'what is that moving in the laurels9"
l looked, and in a moment observed
emerging from the shelter of the laurels,
but still remaining beneath the dense
shadow of the overhanglng tree, what
seemed to be the figure of man. He
looked in height very short, almost dwarf
like, but was stout Of frame, and appear
ed dressed in white, or was without a
coat; what seemed to be his shirt-sleeves
being alone seen as he raised his arms
when freeing himself from the bushes.
"Oh Sis," exclaimed Maude, cit is a
man. Let US give him all our jewelry, or
mayhap we may be murdered ere any OF
our people may come back.''
"Maude," I cried, "for heavens sake
endeavor to retain your senses. You yes
terday remarked the double barrelleC
gun which hangs over the mantlepiece il
the kitchen, and asked me if it we're load
!, ed Do you think you could fetch it tt
me while I keep watch here?"
She nodded; knew her fright prevent
> ed her speaking. Clasping her HAND
tightly within my own, and then releas
! ing it, I said:
= Bring it to me then; the gun is per
\ fectly safe so long as you do not toucl
the trigger.
r Whilst Maud was gone it seemed tt
! me as though the figure drew closer; i
q was careful to remain within the shadow
! of the tree, but it struck me as exceeding
= ~ strange that, although the white
! sleeved arms were continually raised. a
though their owner had Just awakened
= from sound sleep, could not see tn
creatures head.
:. In very short time heard Maud
l.. approaching footsteps. AS she place.
# the gun in my hand felt that her fin
n gers were cold and trembling.
4 At that moment the mysterious bein
l. drew few PAGES nearer, and seemed t
o. have limping gait, whether from natu1
q al imfirmity or drunkenness I could nc
h tell.
r. Flinging open the window, and raisin
q. the gun, I cried at the top Of my voic
q "Who's here? Answer, or I'll fire!'
w ~ few seconds elapsed, but no respons
70 came to my inquiry.
q "Who are you2" again shouted.
nr My fingers closed upon the trigge
~ then came flash Of light and loud re
"A port-the intruder upon the lawn stas
10 gered and fell.
,e simultaneously poor Maud sank iain
70 ing on the carpet.
10 Not daring to move from the room.
# rested the gun against the table, and raj
he ing Maude's head in my hands, endea
q ored to restore her to consciousness
On What seemed to me hours, but what rea
~ ly could not have been more than TWEEN
a. minutes, passed, and then came the sour
n of vehicles driven rapidly up the lane.
IT, heard my father clamoring for ADM
lance, and hurrying to the door, fell 6
10 most swoonlng into his arms.
no As coherently as I could I told him
N, our adventure, and that the body OF
mr. man lay beneath the laurel bushes;
resigning NE to the care of one of t
nr. gentlemen, he hurried to the spot int
,a1 Gated. In moment after, his chez
,ad voice sounded through the still air, "I
I'll got him; but he's more frightened tn
hurt. Why, girls, its representative
yourselves! It's nothing but a GOOSE"
,h+ Neither was it. That boy Smith, W
led was so much to be depended on, had .
,ne once proved himself unworthy of his tru
and this poor bird, in its futile endeav
md to seek his companions, had in our ne
fox GUS fancy, become magnifed to the p
portions of a HOUSEKEEPING despera<
ID its outstretched wings in the shadow,
wv which it so persistently kept, helping
w carry out the delusion we had entertain
It OF course we were pretty consideral
hit rallied about the matter, but we ne,
r,s after volunteered to remain in the no,
49, alone.
my -
ght The Effect of POliteness.