Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-11-21
CAPTURING BURGLARS.

VOlVeu on me- we were nappy, nealJny
children, but certainly not dreamy or
poetic ones, which was the more sim
gular considering the nature of my
fathers professionalism of an artist.
Perhaps it was the consciousness that
ne would have made his way bet
ter in life had he been less sensitive
and imaginative that made my father
so anxious to mould our minds in diff
ferent form TO his own. He kept his
dreamings for his studio and was al
most morbidly careful to check any
romantic or sentimental tendencies in
his children.
l am not sure if this system of re-
preston was not carried TO an extreme;
whether we, in our healthy, cheerful
home, were not inclined to be rather in
tolerant of what we called "nerves" or
"fancies" in our neighbors; meaning
thereby sensitive or imaginative feelings
that had never been cultivated in our
selves. If stranger had broken his
leg on our doorstep believe we should
have nursed him to admiration, but l
fear that real though less tangible suf-
fering might have met with less SYM
pathy at our hands if it took the form
of what we were pleased to call "sen-
timent."
Therefore, it seemed an instance of
the inscrutable fate that so often bids
the square man fill the round hole, that
l, of all people, should be asked to
spend Christmas with my cousin
Maggie. was just seventeen, and n
busy woman for my age. suppose it
was the fame of my general capable
ness" that made poor cousin Philip
turn to me in his trouble. Anyway, it
was to our house he came one day in
the beginning of December to beg that
would stay with his wife during his
absence abroad.
We had known Philip all our lives;
he had lived in our house till his uncle
took him into partnership, about ten
years before the time my story COM
mences. About year after joining his
uncle Philip married. His wife was
pretty, fragile-looking creature, utterly
unlike any of us. She was delicate,
and little fanciful; had been petted
child, and was now a petted wife,
Philip adored her, and now that he was
obliged to go to France on business
connected with the firm, was dreadfully
worried at the idea of leaving her alone
at Christmas.
you'll be good Samaritan, Jane"
he pleaded, "and just stay a week or
two at Graylands. Maggie is so nerv-
GUS at the idea of being left in that
large house with only the servants and
the children"
"And pray, what protection should
l be against ghosts and robbersP" in
quired, rather scornfully, for nervous
ness was thing had no kind of SYM
pathy with.
"There are no ghosts or robbers, of
course, but you could keep her spirits
up. She has never been strong since
baby was born, you know"
So the matter ended in my starting
for Graylands. l found Maggie ali
smiles and gratitude for my "good-
ness'' in coming to her, and she really
did look so thin and pale that my heart
softened even to her nervous face.
Actual bodily illness was thing |
could pity, and Maggie was so gentle
ana so atfectionate that it was impossi- |
BILE to be much with her without liking |
her. Contrary to my expectations, I
enjoyed my visit extremely. The chill
dren were capital companions. Despite
the bitter winds we walked and skated. |
and, on days when the weather kept us
prisoners. made the old house ring with |
our games at hide-and-seek and. BATTLE |
dore. Yet, truth to tell, Graylands was
hardly a cheerful residence; it was lone
ly even for the country; the town was
two miles of, and our nearest neighbor- |
ing house a stately castle whose noble |
owner had never resided on his proper
ty for twenty years A few old servants |
kept the house in order, and the game |
keepers lodge was nearly mile from
our garden gate. 1--WE must look TO him |
as our champion in case of robbers.u | |
had once said, laughingly, but the very |
idea of such contingency arising |
seemed to alarm Maggie so much that |
l never ventured on such joke again.
Christmas came and passed, and the
weather grew clearer than ever. II |
was what the country people called |
" soft weather'-bitterly cold, but fog
gy and slushy, instead of that clear,
bright frost that is so welcome TO skat- !
ers and sliders. Maggie grew de-
pressed, the children fractious, all of us |
caught colds. ] began to acknowledge |
that Maggio's objections TO Graylands, |
as a winter residence, were not i'll |
founded.
Things were in this state when the |
monotony of our lives was broken bv n |
call from one of our neighbors, a coun- |
try squire, who lived about eight miles
on. Doubtless many of your readers
have observed the great avidity with
which even the kindest hearted people |
communicate disagreeable intelligence. |
MIR. Calling was one of the best natured
OF men, but doubt if the mere chart |
table desire to cheer our solitude would |
have induced him to ride sixteen miles |
on dark winters day.
+" So you haven't heard of my losses.
ladiesP was his remark after the first
family greetings had been exchanged. |
we never hear OF anything at Gray
lands," /" l answered, laughing.
:" Well, l hope you wont hear of the |
visitors who honored me with a call |
yesterday" was the reply; " although, |
as they were so successful in my case,
they may be disposed TO try other
houses, Morgan, the constable, be-
lieves they are lurking somewhere in
the neighborhoOd still"
" Burglarsr' said Maggie, her deli
cate cheek growing pale.
Just so, my dear lady. On de-
Scending yesterday morning old Rob
erts, my butler, found that the drawing
room window had been forced, and all |
the collection of Indian silver orna-
and such things, you know
that my old uncle left me, had been
taken. Luckily they did not attempt
The pantry, but they paid visit TO the
harness room and cleared away eyery-
thing there-I don't know whether for