Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-12-11
COMING HOME LATE.

given his wife a great deal of trouble
staying out until the ''wee sma' hours
and that she had made up her mind not
put up with it,
: SO promised. and kept my promis
tor six months, though had been afraid
should not when made it.
But at last, one day, my old chllm, Tol
Hawkins. returned from abroad, and sci
J. me an invitation to supper he intended t
; give his friends.
!. Il must go, Mabel, my dear" | sail
e land I'll try to be as early rs possible
r but III take my ch-key, and if an
late, you'll go to bed, won't you?-jlls
this once, you know can't avoid it wit
any decency.'
0 Yes, 60. Edward" said Mabel, plain
lively; but hope this is not the begin
ming OF auntie's old trouble.
toe; the permission without comment
and went to Toms supper.
OF course, | confidently expected to b,
home by midnight, but we all know how
time flies under such circumstances.
Il was four o'clock when the party
broke up, and it took me an hour to get tt
my home, which is in the suburbs OF tllt
city.
However, reached the spot at last
saw my own little white cottage, with
its bit of garden. and it looked so peace.
fnl and quiet, that it made me feel quite
dissipated.
This certainly was a dreadful time OF
night to be returning home.
However, | would open the door softly,
take my boots off, and perhaps Mabel
would not know how late was.
She slept soundly. ynd-but then
paused.
had felt in all my pockets-my latch
key was in none OF them.
remembered now that had left it in
my other coat.
Must ring the bell and betray myself?
| determined that would not do that :;
but remembered il little pantry window,
by which | felt sure | could enter the
house.
| felt sure that any burglar could. and
iAtt OSSh w IdSG SiINttCl diuu Il
patent fastening put to it.
1t seemed providental that had not.
With cat-like steps skirted the house
and found the window easily lifted.
twas a tight squeeze to get in, and
put my right foot into a tub and overset
something that began to drip. splash,
.'H-h, splash, splash from shelf to floor
! the most reproachful manner.
But did get in at last, hitting my head
and skinning my thumb, to find the door
Of the pantry locked on the outside.
1t was harder to get out than it was to
get in, but l emerged into the night air at
last with rent in the tail of my coat, and
sought about for some other means of en-
trance.
At last remembered a trap door. The
back of the house was on higher ground
than the front, and long ladder, which
we used for gathering the fruit from the
cherry-trees would reach it.
hurried across the lawn, hunted wildly
for the ladder, found it behind the shed,
and taking off my coat, tackled it Gt was
an enormously heavy ladder,) dragged it
to the house, and reared it against the
wall.
Then up went and found the trap p-door
The roof was slippery, and came very
near gliding gracefully over the edge sew
eral times, but saved myself by great ef-
fort, caught hold Of the ring in the door,
and found that it was hooked within.
In my wrath forgot my caution, and
this time | actually did go over, souse, in
to the cistern.
Fortunately the water was not deep, and
broke NO bones but / was bruised all
over, and soaked through.
| sat down on the grass to get my
breath, and casting my eyes up, saw that
4 garret window was open.
Ii had strong point, it was persistence
.Obstinacy, my enemies called it.
would not ring the bell; lwould get
nto the house and retire without disturb
ng my wife, and she should never know
hat l had returned home at five O'Clock in
he morning.
Our Brahma fowl was growing fiercely
,ns.the fence no time was to be lost.
l tackled the ladder again, climbed to +,
he window, and, as gained the sill, re-
nembered that l had left my coat some-
where.
Down | went. For fifteen minutes l
earched tor my coat in vain. ,
1t had my porte-m0nnaie in its pocket. 8
1t was new and valuable.
At last found it,. fallen from branch :
There had hung it, into a heap of dust: a
nd up the ladder went again and in at !,
he garret window with jump. :
l came down on something soft, which :
lrned to iron and grappled me at once. =;
1t was Phelim O'Toole our gardener -
nd handyman, who slept under the win u
Ow. =
For five minutes we tussled on the floor. :;
nd in vain did declare my identity; ii
helm could not be convinced that was a,
ot burglar. ii d
Not until we had exchanged blows by IA
ay OF cards did he contlescend to recog- a,
re his master.
"And why did ye be afther comm in be
ny o. the windy like thafe, SURF" in g,
lired he, as We sat by the hight OF the :,
ndle rubbing our bruises. =.
| did not care to disturb my wife at this y.
'ur Phelim," said [. I;
'sSure understand, sur," SAID Phelim. 81
1e'll jist go tip-toe downstairs, and she'll
none the wiser.'
ached from head to foot. -
had a bruised face and torn finger, r r
t had carried my point. -
This thought comforted me as crept -; ~
wnstairs, boots in one hand and coat In -
= other. -.
reached my bedroom door, | tnrred it Is
III delicate touch. ~
Edward ~ cried voice. a.
t came from the floor below. he
looked over the banIsters. Gel