Connecticut western news., 1880-08-28
LOTTA'S BURGLAR.

Vsfs'f "gL AU1lAD D DUhUAAh.
 It was unprecedented at Erlsham for the students to break out so late in the term Still more unprecedented was it for potent, grave and reverend senior to have any share in the mischief. Yet, ai only three nights before Commencement s the students "made things howl, and the offending. They nailed up over the chapel-door the sign, .' To Providence and way stations, stolen from the rail road. They serenaded obnoxious mem- bers of the faculty in terms anything A but fattering. They built 8 huge bon ire on the campus and indulgedin pro- miscuous song g-and-dance performance around it.
 In the midst of the uproar there was the cry of ss Faculty! faculty!' fol- lowed by an instant hush. The stu dents scattered in all directions, Ans tIuther as fast any faster, indeed, when sa he found himself closely followed His particular pursuer appeared to be one of the younger and more active of the pro- fessors, who quite caught the spirit of 2s~s@ the chase. Tom found it impossible to shake him off Was the valedictorian of the graduating class to be caught thus ignominiously?
 An open basement window gave him Rsias an inspiration. He sped past 1t then, .i doubling cleverly on his foe sprang Sn@ through,it and laughed to hear his foot .bslss steps grow fainter in hot pursuit up the street. .s.zz 5s e...I Upstairs Lotta Desmond was brush ing out her pretty brown hair prepara- tory to retiring. On her daintily frilled toilet-table, looking oddly out of place, lay Cousin ,Jim's revolver. There had been great many jokes about that re, volver. Her uncle and cousin had sol emnly in tailed Lotta as the man of the house during their absence. Jim had reminded her of the exploits of the brave MT Brown and plucky MT Peters, as recorded by the D0iLy Chronicle. The fir of these ladies had, alone and un. armed held U bur pttve untH neIp came The second under like circum stances, had completely routed two des- perate villain And Lotta had demanded Jim'a pistol ? and declared that he only longed for a chance to emulate her heroism. And Jim had promised to watch the papers for 8 similar mention of daring Miss Desmond. So Lotta smiled when her eyes fell on the pistol, for as yet no opportunity for glory had come to her, and Jim would be home to morrow. . Aunt Lucy detained her with a last word-in case it should be any one, to "let her know immediately, immediate ty; but otherwise not to disturb her, as she was extremely fatigued."
 Just then her aunt came into the room, 1aS Annoying, as she had fancied every night since her husbands departure, that she "heard a noise, and a0ould dear Lotta, who was SO fearless, mind going down stairs to investigate ?"
 So Lotta thrust her little bare feet into slippers, threw on wrapper and eallied forth, pistol in hand.
 With dim recollection that the dining room window had not been closed, the vOuno pir1 made her noisaless wav fhithaT sy& at once. The gas had been put out and 8 miserable candle left burning. What Lotta saw by its dim light was tall young man, rather roughly clad.
 Alas Tom, usually something of a dandy, had that night donned his poor est array, his hair disordered his clothes grimed with dust and soot, from which not even his face had escaped, coolly examining her uncle's silver. Spirit oi Mrs. Brown and Mrs,-the other lady inspired her!
 +.-... s. z Drop that or I fire P
 Tom turned with start. What he saw was pretty girl in charming negtige, whose voice and hand both shook as she uttered this doughty threat and in whose face @ certain timid deter. imitation, look of one frightened at hel own daring, appealed to his sense o1 humor. But it would never do to laugh at her. Besides, that pistol in her un <. certain unfamiliar hand was no joke. Sc he said wsth due humility: s
 "I surrender But for heavens sake put up that revolver You as likely to shoot yourself as me-"
 "Not at all" evidently nettled. "1 s%sss am perfectly accustomed to using it. ,
 Need 1t be said that this was deliber ate ie uttered with intent of shrinking terror to the bosom of the robber?
 For the same purpose Lotta continued to level her pistol and eye him with mucl outward severity and not few inwar, l tremors thinking withal that your house T breaker is not the bold desperate he painted. Still keeping watch over one weary work, heigh-ho Tom rapidl determined to see the adventure through Time enough to make his escape shoul she call for help or should any fires complication arise. He hoped she wa not going to keep him standing all nigh Presently he ventures to suggest ths she could mount guard over him quites s.s well seated ~.
 Lotta assented gladly. Her burgls was quite 8 model she thought. An why should she incumber herself long'