The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-30
Select Story.
MISS vICTORlA'S BURGLAR.
BY XIMENA.

Dear me, Vic ? said Matilda with a shiver
suppose we should be robbed p
WELL was the reply, accompanied by
defiant little toss of the head, we shall have
to stand our chance with the rest of folks,
that's allp
For these two elderly sisters, inmates of
the quietest house in quiet Blake's Row, to
be left unprotected at night, was no new
thing but when had they felt so timid be.
fore To speak the truth, they had not
hitherto been possessed of much to tempt
rogues--no silver plate, save few well worn
spoons nor any jewelry, except long, thin
thread chain, which together with an old
fashioned open-faced watch, the elder sister
wore, two or three Insignificant rings, and a
couple of plain brooches. But tonight it
been different from any other day in their
long, placid experience for at precisely 2
o'clock that afternoon their young niece,
Miss Sadie West, who had been left to them
when babe, had become Mrs. Franklin
Paine Robinson, and little later had gone
away upon her wedding tour, leaving her
fond aunts with their kind hearts aching
and good peal of holiday disorder to set
again to rights greater than this-a serious
responsibility she had lett them her we'd
ding presents to take care Of There was the
precious, glittering array upon the piano lid
the love of many well-wishers made tang.
ibe in the form of silver spoons, knives,
purses, shawl pins, rings and bracelets. in
suitable morocco cases, lined with the dainti-
est tints of SATIN
Tired out by the excitement of busy day
and the greatest nuptial event of their lives
| another persons wedding the Misses Bur
ney had sat down by the low fire to chat to
gether, glad to be alone after the arduou'
duty of entertaining so many guests. Mis-:
Matilda, who at AZ had the slight figure o
an undeveloped girl of l6, and "A face ex
pressive of timid gentleness in ALI lines
had Just remarked for the the twentieth tim,
at least, Il declare, Vic, our Sadie did lool
sweet and everything did 60 off so nice
ly.'
Then Miss Victoria with that unfaggini
admiration which it is only human to fee
for success which one helps to bring abou
ones self, replied Yes we can congratu
late ourselves that there wasn't hitch any
where, Tilly.'
4 am glad enough to zee how Frankli,
doats upon her. Matilda went on, thinking
of the pretty bride and as for her-well,
never did see girl so wrapped up The
she sighed, and broke off suddenly. Tha
her niece should be so sodevotedly in love wit
her husband was highly satisfactory to Mis-
Matilda's reason, yet her tender, lionel
heart uttered its protest, whispering Yo
shall never again hear that glad, impulsiv
voice, crying, dear Aunt Tilly, l do love 20
soI
An, me 1t is iuseparabe from our poe
human lot, perhaps, that any change, how
soever joyful in the main, must give some
body a heartache.
All at once Miss Victoria uttered shar
exclamation.
MY gracious, Vic ? cried her sister, ho
| you SlaTtleu me
Guess what time it is, Tilly, and we 81
ting here as if there was nothing to do, an
no to. morrow
Twelve O'Clock ?
Yes and we haven't thought how to di
pose of Sadie's things. 1t will never do
leave them there on the piano all nigh
Then the younger sister spoke as at Il
opening of the story, and Victoria replie
philosophically.
Matilda did not find comfort in her sister
words She gave a frightened glance ov
her shoulder and discovered that, though Il
shutters of the back window were closed I'll
curtain was not carefully drawn. There W
therefore, dark background which her fea
full fancy hastened to fill in. She had all Il
symptoms of a nervous fright at once. Ii
deed, there was something suggestive to h
of night watches by sick beds, and solen
death vigils, in the mere fact of being |
and dressed at midnight 1T won't be o.
fault, Victoria, if we haven't succeed in i
viting a burglar to walk in and help hir
self. The idea of leaving the lamps bur
ing, and the shutters SO that any one G.
look into the room
We'll, it's no use to fret over it no
lilly. Let us get up and do the best '
cam
Miss Victoria's tone of voice, as well as
certain air of mild defiance which she som
times wore, were suggestive of the self /
sertion forced by circumstances upon tim
and shrinking spirit, rather than of natl
hardness and energy.
She had not only had her own way
make in the world, but Matlda's and Sadi,
as we'll.
Il do wish the dear had taken her kee
sakes along with her in her trunk, or e
that we had thought to ask Mr.. Pinnet
put them in his safe for us
Miss Matilda went over toward the fro
window as she spoke, and looked out. T
little stores opposite were closed, and t
wooden shutters sent forth dull flicker u
Z der the street lamp. There were no passs
by in that quiet suburb at such an hou
but what evil-minded wretches might not
prowling about?
} 1T wouldn't have been bad idea, 'retur
ed Miss Victoria, 'to have asked Mr. Pinn
p but what in the world is the use of talki
about it now p
She spoke testify, for it certainly was
exasperating way her sister had of wishi
things otherwise in the face OF an emerge
) cy.
Come, come, Tilly, set your wits to wor
We must hide these things away
). In SO many different places added t
younger Miss Burney family, that t
sharpest robber in the world would not
- able to find them all, But suppose we shou
3 be ordered out of bed at the point Of p
tol, and made to show where everythi
isP