The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-10-17
i TERRIBLE INTRUDER.
BY MARION NoRrHcorr.

We were alone in the house-Maude
Chaplain and land did not altogether
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 to-
gether through the quaint old rooms and
to talk on the subjects very dear to both
of us, without the dread of being over.
shadowed by the London female cousins
and tho registering youths who had come
to sped month of the shooting beneath
our roof. For a 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 invitation to Mrs. Rattletrap's pic
mic at the Scrubs, a piece Of moerland
some eight miles distant from our house.
We were all expected, but my old school
fellow, Maude, pleaded headache, and l
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 indulg-
ing in those mutual condolences so dear
to women who are in the blissful state
known as engaged" There was par
ticularly tender bond of sympathy be-
tween us, inasmuch as was in bi-weekly
correspondence with her brother. John,
to whom I signed myself "yours affec-
tionately," whilst her bet-othed was
Harry Somers, who had been visitor to
our house from his childhood. Ere they
drove away in the afternoon the other
girls tWitted us rather severely fe- not
Joining them, and it seemed general
opinion that Maude's headache was moth
ing more than sham. But the gentle-
men said little; in my opinion their
hearts would have. been gladdened had
all the party abstained from attending
the picnic, their inclinations tending to-
ward the wheat stubble in Fiye-acre
feldn and the adjacent tnrnip patch;
where fine coyey had sought shelter
the night before. But as the girls were
resolved upon going, the males, of course,
were obliged to act as escort. By-and-
by papa was induced to join them, and
thus it was Maude and I were left alone.
So engrossing was the subject of our
conversation thatwe were surprised when
the housemaid brought in the tea, and
dropping courtesy, asked If Sarah, the
cook, might go with her down to the vii
lage, until ten o'clock, to take in the
festivities with which Farmer Ashcombe
was celebrating his harvest home. 1t
then occurred to my memory that the
servants had asked me for this holiday a
fortnight previously, and that l had
given half acauieseent response. In
the hurry of my domestic duties, and
the excitement occasioned by house
full of company, had, however, for
gotten the circumstance until now.
Whereas Ben p inquired, referring
to one Of the carriers who inhabited 8
snug little cottage ON the farm, and was
consequently required to place himself
at our service when wanted.
The domestic dropped another cour
tesy, and announced that the individua
alluded to had gone to Wells with loaC
of barley, and would not be back unit
late.
And the boy Smith p
Please, I'M, master told him nigh
go when 'ad fed the poultry ant
fastened 'em up for the night, and "a
been gone this quarter of an hour
tI hope he made sure the turkeys an,
geese were all right, for papa saw fo,
cross the meadow this morning"
"Oh, yes, m, is careful lad
Smith, and he's got 'em all right 'enow
I'll be bound" responded the maid.
hesitated moment as to whether j
was altogether safe to be thus left; bu
as / had given a half. promise to tn
girls, and knew it would be>>esad di
appointment to them not W 90, l di
missed my arprehensions, and told thel
they might leave the tea-tnings and
off at once.
Noticing that after time Maude b.
came less conversational, inquired tt
reason; but receiving naught but ev
sive answers, questioned her mol
closely.
" You are not afraid, are you, dear
" / shall be only confessing the trut
when ] tell you that I was very sorry
hear you give your consent to the Sc
wants leaving us. Suppose any perst
has been watching the house, and W
to seize the opportunity of committir
robbery%
my dear Maude," l responde
nothing of the sort ever happens
these parts. Living, as we do, some d
tance from any town, we know all t