Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-22
A GOOD NIGHTS REST.

DlldlIllS
world have it known. and [ only tell it
in the strictest sort of confidence, for
where people are poorest, they are apt
to be proudest. In my day-dreams |
am always doing the most heroic ac-
tons, and ask no favors Of any; but let
night come, and [ am the abject slave
Of the next person that can answer for
Il companion. You can imagine, then,
whether it was we'll with me or not
when Reuben came in and proclaimed
that he was obliged to run over to New
York in half an hour from that time,
and he might be detained several days,
and so would take his handbag; and he
might leave for home next noon-he
should.
''And what is to become of me? |
cried.
Your said Reuben. why, you'll
go to the matinee, and you'll dine with
Cousin Teresa, and as you are always
complaining of my waking you up too
early in the morning, you'll go to sleep
and get a good nights rest"
"a good nights restW But there
was no time for argument, the carriage
was at the door, and time, tide, and the
train wait for no man. Reuben kissed
me, and was gone. And II was very
much provoked. Such an utter disre-
gard of my welfare, such Il total indif-
ference to my comfort, when he knew
[ had never slept alone in my life. when
he knew what night of terror it would
be to me, when he knew what my hor-
ror of the dark was, and all my fear of
thieves, Of fire, of rats! 1t was mighty
cool gOod-by kiss | gave him-I was
sorry had given him any at all. |
wished / was at home with al the null
titudinous household there, the dogs,
and cats, and birds, and servants, and
burglar alarms. But it was useless
wishing; here was in this great board
first floor, using the back parlOr for our
bedroom, and with windows opening to
the ground in front and rear, the rooms
over us empty, the bells ringing out in
regions where at night there were none
to attend, and with nobody to hear me
far or near should | scream myself
hOarse. Well, it was not very cheer
full outlook; and what aggravated it al
was that the street itself was a lonely
one, and my bedroom windows opened
on a little area connected with dark
back alley haunted by a singular sort of
beggers that came out only after dark,
like the reaches and beetles of the hui
man race, and the gate of the area
opening on the alley was fastened by
nothing but a chip.
Well, went to the matinee, and be-
cause such things always come together
coincidentally, the play was laid with
scenes swifting from costly villas to
thieves quarters; and | dined with cous-
in Teresa, who sent me home after a
few hours recital of the burglarious ex-
periences of all her guests. You can
imagine that when | entered my par
lors and turned up the gas in the front
| was ready to see a vile wretch in every
shadow.
The first thing | did was to look be-
hind all the doors and under the piano.
| even lifted the lid of the piano, for [
never feel at all sure that q burglar
may not have taken out the works and
put himself in their place. | gave
every curtain lift and shake, thrust
Reuben's cane under the sofas and
lounges, and into the dark corners, and
under the bed, which stood in partly
curtained alCove, and on which | had
thrown my polonaise and skirts when |
went out in hurry; but was deter
mined not to be frightened by those
things. Having then explored the in
side of the big wardrobe and the bureau
drawers by the light from the front
room-there was no gas in that room,
and either the house-maid or the rats
had borrowed my candle and kept i'll
felt as sure as a doubtful person could
that there was nobody hiding in the
rooms, and so locked the doors at last.
Vet, nevertheless, found myself walk
ing on tiptoe and holding my breath as
if | were afraid | should be heard; |
suppose | was afraid that some noise
would be made that | should not hear.
| then proceeded to investigate the win
dow fastening. l always felt so secure
with Reuben, throwing all responsible
ity on him, that | had never thought of
looking at them before. There were
none. Great goodness! what was to
do?
All that could do was to wrench down
a couple of nails from the wardrobe,
and by means of the poker drive them
in over the sashes ofthe two front win
dows. Going for some more for the
back windows, | found that the rest
were hooks, and it was in vain to try
and get those out that | had already
driven in, so as to use them on the back
windows; they wouldn't come out. Very
well, | said to myself, shan't 90 to bed
tonight, and l prepared myself for sit
ting up. If Reuben didn't come back
for two or three days, could sleep in
the daytime, and SIT up ready to meet
tho To- n .hc lights T. 10 si..1. J
should be all worn out, but what would
he care? l had grim idea of satisfac-
ton in thinking it was his fault l was
undergoing so much, anyway. He
might at least have left me pistol, !
said; but what good would it have done
If he had? was as much afraid of
pistol as of a house-breaker. And it
wasn't only the customary house-break-
er in question now; the town was full of
contrabands that had come in to work
on the Improvements, and failing to
find work were starving; and images of
some stalwart, brutal black wretch rose
before me every time l put my fingers
ON my eyes. In the day, the colOred
people had no stancher friend than |,
but somehow they always figured in my
Nightmares.
1t was not very inviting prospect,
'5is If rittirg III 81: 7ieht, already lifef
e2 e-''i led . ,..,y.., i
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