The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-30
A BRAVE MAN.

A BRAVE MAN.
am brave man. The reader may
be tempted to doubt this statement 8
little later, and SO l take the trouble tc
repeat it: lam brave man. am not
a hero, nor celebrated naval officer;
have never rescued any human being
from the Jaws of death. l am merely a
house-keeper and brave man.
Our new girl, Betty, has been in the
house for two months. We never found
an opportunity Of being displeased, and
were beginning to congratulate ourselves
upon this unprecedented good fortune
in selecting a domestic. My wife and
son started for Margate about fort
night ago, leaving me to follow at my
leisure.
Everything went on quite smoothly
for week, when gentleman called at
my office in state of wild excitement.
He related a most pitiful tale. 1t ap.
peared that his family had, like my
own, departed to watering g-place, and
left him in charge of the house and SER
wants. As there was no particular cause
for alarm, he spent his evenings out.
Judge of his 6i may, on returning one
night, to find his front door open ser
wants and silver had fed together
That story made great impression on
me. l was not in the habit of returning
home much before midnight, and for
that very evening had promised to dine
out with few friends.
My wife's last words had been, when
we parted, "Now, John, you must be
very careful about the house. Betty is
a good cook, but she may be only wait
ing for an opportunity"
Of course | promised; but how did l
keep my word?. By dining out, and
never reaching home until all hours, ut
terly regardless of the little woman's
command. This, / resolved, should be
my last excursion. would devote the
remainder of my evenings to guarding
my household property.
The dinner passed of pleasantly
enough, but a vague presentiment of
danger lowering above my head marred
in a measure what would otherwise have
proved delightful evening. My COM
panions were a trife displeased when lin
sisted upon leaving them early, and 1
reached home before ten. l at once
hurris d to my house, walking so fast
that the perspiration rolled from my
forehead ike rain. As l opened the gate
my notice was called to light burning
family in the front kitchen. Our new
girl had not yet retired, and 1 opened
the front door as noiselessly as possible.
Invent up TO little room on the seconp
floor, and sat down to finish a couple of
letters.
Soon after, the clock struck eleven.
thought it strange that Betty was up so
late, and pre- sently heard her coming
up stairs. / believed that she was going
to bed; but, pausing moment on the
top stair, she turned, and went below
again. What did that mean2 l turned
out the gas, and descended to my bed
room on the floor below again. l began
to undress, and was on the point of re-
tiring, when heard the girl coming up
for the second time. She paused on the
landing as if to listen. Icoughed twice,
and crossed to the window. This az
parentiy satisfied her, as she went down
immt hately. My suspicious were
aroused fully. Hastily throwing off my
shoes, l crept softly to the head of the
stairs, and listened.
heard Betty enter the kitchen, leav-
ing the door open behind her. l went
down to the landing, and paused again.
Harkl there were voices in the kitchen
a mans voice, l. was ready to swear.
Clutching the banister for support, ]
listened. Through the open door I could
hear the mans voice quite distinctly. ]
had no difficulty in making out his
words.
"Well, is the governor asleep~
"Not YETI the girl replied. 81
heard him just now walking across the
room."
"Then we must wait bit longer
said the man.
$50 on" said the girl, "with what
you were telling me about the"
30, ay, to be sure" broke in the man
"Well, you see, we wanted to put it of
awhile, becausehe was rather lean but
howsoever, wekilled him."
clark what's that?" suddenly criec
my female domestic.
I knew what it was. had uttered {
hollow groan. The man was murderer
He had killed him, whoever he was, anC
would soon settle me.
l do not know what mysterious power
took hold of my limbs, but the mex
minute found myself in the middle oi
my room, shaking like an aspen. How
many steps / came up at time viii
never be known to my mind. 1t must moi
be believed that was frightened; tht
trembling of my limbs was due to !.
nervous afliction which always trouble
me whenever there is danger. When il
this state act unconsciously, withou
being aware of or responsible for m,
actions. The door was double locked
and bolted behind me, and 1 crept to tn
front window.
Heaven only knew how many thieve
and perhaps murderers were at tina
moment assembled in the kitchen, await
ing only Bettys signal to plunder tn
house and slaughter me. Nobody mus
think was afraid to go down stairs an
ask who sat there; on the contrary, th
reader is expected never to lose sight G
the fact that am brave man.
The clock struck midnight. l left th
window and went over to my wife
dressing-table. Hastily gathering up
few stray rings and other articles {
jewelry, l tied them in handkerchie
and resolved to defend it with my lif
The next question was how to defen
my property. l must have a weapon
The nervous trembling came back as
approached the door and drew back tt
seven bolts. With cat-like tread crel
up to my sons room, and found a rust
sword, which had been gloriously carrie
upon the CORY field by my great gran
father. With this venerable relic fe
bold as lion, and crept cautiously dow
to the bedroom again.
1t was one o'clock. resumed my pc
81 the window and waited,