The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-02-13
HOW 1 FELL AMONG THIEVES.


position and Independent means-fron
four to five hundred pounds ia year
have no near relations and no settled
home, my health making it advisable fol
me 10 spend the winter abroad. In sum
mer aAd autumn l am glad To be in my
ain coHntree," and my friends kindly
assure me that | am always welcome a
their various houses. desire no pleas
anter way OF passing the time am able
to spend in my native country; and my
means have hitherto enabled ne, with
due economy, to prevent ray visits from
becoming bnrdensome to those whose
fortune is less wide than their hospital
ity of heart. | am anxious to make this
clear, because it may be thought that, IN
the tale I arn about TO tell, there brcathes
spirit of niggardiiness unworthy the
possessor of the comfortable income
have mentioned. But every one knows
his own affairs best; and though | am
aware that many even of the friends who
are acquainted with the exact amount Of
my fortune think it must be more than
sufficient for my solitary wants, the esti.
mate is unfair. My own personal ex
penses, indeed, are moderate. must, OF
course, dress we'll | must have maid
| must travel like lady, which too often
means, in this country, that my maid
must travel like lady also. must be
ready With y perennial stream of loose
SILVER for guards aad porters, with hand
some wells for servants, meaning not only
the housemaids and coachmen-Who
once on time were the only terrors in
ones path-but the buffers, fOotmen and
pages amongst whom my lot may be
cast. | have my hotels, boarding houses
and travelling expenses abroad; and !
like, of course, to bring little presents
Whsn l come home, to my friends
and their children. Then there are ones
charities, doctors and church dues Still,
admit tht for all this have enough and
TO sp2re-Only people think have more
than enough. | aiA alone in the world
have neither husband sor children 10
think OF; h2vs no poor relations openly
and directly dependent on my purse, no
household TO provide for, no visitors to
entertain, no taxes say the thoughtless
and superficial, 10 pay. What can do
With my money? What, but be ready to
give 1t - anybody who chooses to lay
claim 10 1t, my creditors being all the
more numerous because not one has any
special right to the post
When | say that I have been lately in
Italy, it may be supposed from the title
OF this paper that the following 10 a tale
OF brigandage abroad, in which my own
courage and presence OF mind are to call
for the admiration of all who may read
II. Let me 1t once state that I never met
With any vulgar rObbers-they are vulgar
enough noW-OVen in Italy, and that |
have never risked my maids life or nv
own in imprudent expeditions in search
Of the picturesque. And let me confess
NJ once that l showed neither courage,
presence Of mind, nor even, perhaps,
cHmmon sense, in the circumstances
am about to describe. Indeed, but for a
faint hope that the recital OF my misfor-
tunes mag induce other sufferers to join
me IN protesting against a tyranny be-
coming year by year more DANGEROUS
and oppressIVe-which is injurious, more
over, as much to the moral characters of
those who intlict it as 20 the purses and
teinpers of those who writhe under it
we'll, il l did not hope that others, as
weak singly as ny self, might yet be
found collectively strong enough to de-
nounce and revolt against the black
mail system OF which | am going to give
an instance, | should prefer TO sumbit to
it in silence, and only Try to forget
what l was helpless enough to endure.
On my return from the continent last
year | went 10 pay my usual round of
country visits, beginning with one to some
people whose acquaintance l had only
made the previous summer, having met
and taken fancy to one of the girls at
the house of mutual friend. While
abroad heard from her that she was go
ing TO be married, and of course wrote
TO efier my congratulations. In reply
came pressing invitation to pay the
family visit, and 10 be present at the
marriage, which was to take place at
their country seat in Scotland. This in
vitatlon | at once Tashly accepted; and,
as was going to a wedding, l determined
not 10 go empty-hqndcd. Indeed, | had
already, thought, provided myself with
the necdtul wedding present, having.
while at Naples, been tempted into buY.
ing an extremely pretty little bookstand
in carved olive-wood, not, / grant you,
very costly thing, but really very pref
~ and useful, and more expensiTe.for
1t was beautifully carved and inlaid-
than al Ignorant person might suppose. 1t
was somewhat cumbrous 10 carry. and
endless was the bother my maid and
had to make it fit into its proper
corner of my trunk. The damage lis
sharp edges did to my frills, laces, and
dresses nearly led 10 . rupture between
my faithful Abigail and myself; and
r. for the worry and anxiety it caused
me on . rather roundabout homeWard
Journey, when my dread of its being in
jurSd by rough usage vac constantly
bringing down on me the suspicious of
doudRferS and geHs-d' drH1eS, I should
never have done il began to chronicle
my adventures. Behold these, however.
happily over, and myself arriving, with
my troublesome but percious convoy, safe
at the home of my friends the Macivors
let Us call il Loeb Cateran l pass
over the arrival itself. and my welcome,
which was all that Q weary traveller
could desire. Indeed, it must be under
stood that, in one particular, have no
cause but to feel grateful for my treat
msHt while in the power Of this amIable
though ruthless gang. Each member of
1t individually is charming Neverthe-
le0s have been despoiled, and . bitter
Hess must nov ninglO with my recol-
Lection OF what should have been q cheer
full aud agreeable visit.
Ny maid aR6 I had unpacked the ter.
rIbie bookstand for, as we fondly hoped.
the last time. Its diabolical propensity
to evil induced il, on taking its depart
ure nom the vicinity of my long suffer
ing wardrobe, to spriAE out OF my maids
hands onto the top OF my best cap. We
smothered our groans, however, in songs
of rejoicing At being at last rid of our
imp of mischief; and as We unwrapped
ii from its coverings, and sat il on 4 Ia
bic, overjoyed TO find its delicate trac-
cry, clear-cut corners, and polished sur
face unframed, we felt almost repaid for
our troubles
well, to be sure, it is pretty" said my
maid, I'm sure, ma'sm, there won't be
4 prettier wedding present than that
among them ALL"
hnw - e ~ \
estly. How glad felt afterward that
had not betrayed to my maid my own
secret proud Gnticipations on the sub
jecti
1 settled in my own mind (most for
tunately-no, perhaps 1 should say most
unfortunately that would defer the
presentation of my gift until the next
day. The first evening there would be
so much to hear and ell. NY beautiful
bookstand (now that had nothing more
TO do with its transport, could heartily
appreciate its perfection) would add too
much to the excitement of the evening
Pleasure would almost become safety.
Better enjoy for few hours longer the
prospect of the happy, grateful looks
which tomorrow would be centred on
my present. Probably the pleasure
would be enhanced by surprise. They
could hardly erpect me to aiVe . we'd
ding preseet, seeing that there vas not
betUeOa 1s, aAd thst our frieAdsArp ~
a soch ShGS as0diag. But how a.
ligAtful 4 is to censor 0nexpecAed 1Rne-
Atsl DID / GrudgO the money -
trouble thin present had cost mes pr
from 1t.
At dinner We talked a good deal Of