The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-11
A TERRIBLE INTRUDER.
BY MARION NORTHCOTT.

we were alone IN the nOuSo-MauQe |
Chaplain and land did not altogeth-
er like the position in which we were
placed.
While the daylight lasted, and there
seemed so much life about the farm, it
seemed very pleasant to have the house
to ourselves, to be able to wander togeth-
er through the quaint old rooms and to
talk on the subjects very dear to both of
us, without the dread of being over shad-
owed by the London female cousins and |
the registering youths who had come to
spend month of the shooting beneath |
our roof. For time we reveled in our |
comparative solitude, and pitied the fe-
male cousins, the eager sportsmen, poor |
papa and the rest of the household, who
had been beguiled into accepting an in
vitation to Mrs. Rattletraps picnic at the
Scrubs, piece of moorland some eight
miles distant from our house. We were
all expected, bnt my old school fellow,
Maude, pleaded headache, and was not
sorry to have an excuse for staying at
home with our guest. We had met but
seldom since we left the prim
school at Taunton; and although
Maude had already been with us week,
what with the noisy clatter of our friends,
the croquet Journeys, the lawn dances,
and the other pleasant ways in which our
evenings were spent, we had hitherto had
no opportunity of indulging in those
mutual condolences so dear to women who
are in the blissful state known as Ten
gagged" There was a particularly tender
bond of sympathy between US, inasmuch
as I was in bi-weekly correspondence
with her brother John, to whom l signed
myself "yours affectionately," whilst her
betrothed was Harry Somers, who had
| been visitor to our house from his child
hood. Ere they drove away in the after
noon, the other girls twitted US rather Sc
verely for not joining them, and it SEEM
ache was nothing more than sham. But
the gentlemen said little; in my opinion
their hearts would have been gladdened
had all the party abstained from attend
ing the picnic, their inclinations tending
toward the wheat stubble in "Five-acre
feld' and the adjacent turnip patch,
where fine covey had sought shelter the
night before. But as the girls were re-
| solved upon going, the males, of course,
were obi ged to act as escort. By-and-by
papa was induced to join them, and thus
it was Maude and I were left alone
So engrosslng was the subject of ou1
conversation that we were surprised when
the .bousemaid brought in the tea, and
dropping courtesy, asked if Sarah, the
cook, might 60 with her down to the
village, until ten o'clock, to take in the
festivities with which Farmer Ashcombe
was celebrating his harvest home. Il
then occurred to my memory that the
: servants had asked me for this holiday {
: fortnight PREVIOUSLY, and that had give1
a half acquiescent response. In the hur
ry of my domestic duties, and the excite
! ment occasioned by house full of com
pany, I had, however, forgotten the cir
:. cumstance until now. T.
s'Where is Benz" I inquired, referrin.
), to one of the carriers who inhabited snu|
! little cottage on the farm, and was con
- :. sequently required to place himself at GU
~ service when wanted.
= The domestic dropped another eou1
:. tesy, and announced that the individus
= alluded to had gone to Wells with loa
= of barley, and would not be back unit
~ late.
- Sand the boy Smith?"
"Please, m, master told him migf
! go when 'ad fed the poultry and fastene
" 'em up for the night, and a as been gor
this quarter of all hour" ...
II hope he made sure the turkeys an
m geese were all right, for papa saw a fc
s. cross the meadow this morning..
~ sob, yes, 'em, is a careful lad
of Smith, and he's got IN all right 'enoy
IN I'll be bound" responded the maid.
We I hesitated moment as to wheather
at was altogether safe to be thus left; b,
ut as had given a half promise to the girl
r.. and knew it would be sad disappoin
nd ment to them not to go, dismissed m
u apprehensions, and told them they mig
or leave the tea-things and be off at once.
on Noticing that after time Maude b
tn came less conversational, inquired Il
IL reason; but receiving naught but evasi
he answers, questioned her more closely.
"You are not afarid, are your, dear2"
A, II shall only be contessing the tru
on when I tell you that I was very sorry
ry hear you give your consent to the sc
elk wants leaving us. Suppose any pers'
-" has been watching the house, and was
on seize the opportunity of committing
ks robbery"
"My dear Maude,' responded, 'snot
by ing Of the sort ever happens in the
parts. Living, as we do, some distan
~ from any town, we know all the perso
resident within a radius of, say, TO
hat miles,
at aBut how about tramps2 Are they =
nd dreadful people, sis2'
ark perhaps, Maude, even they are me
the sinned against than SHINING At
ties events tramps seldom, if ever, come ne
the us. You see we lie off the main ros
la The lane leads to the farm, and nowhe
else"