The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-04
ton, time had passed unnoticed, but this

Simpkins disappeared-"twelve o'clock
aud-Aunt BramleyP'
I was scarcely in the least affected by
the little had drank, and the cool night
air quickly dissipated even this. Dick
however, was considerably more under
the influence of his potations, and it re-
quired some effort on my part to get him
through the streets in quiet, proper
manner. Once he broke out into a song
and then, discovering the bottle which
Fades had dropped into his pocket, he
insisted upon partaking of its contents, tc
prevent which transferred tito my own
and hurried him along as rapidly as pos
sible. At retired street corner, 1 gave
his head a cold bath under pump.
spout, so that, by the time we reached
home, be was sufficiently sobered to acl
| with discretion.
"Now," whispered, as we stood upon
the front steps, "you sit down here and
remain as quiet as possible. Of course
it won't do to .,ing-Aunt Bramley would
be sure to be the tirst to hear it /; so | will
60 round to the gable, and climb by the
lightning. rod into the closet-window.
Keep perfectly quiet until 1 open the
found it no easy matter to climb the
lightning-rod. I had done it often when
boy, by way of amusement, but it now
proved q most difficult task.
Again and again Islipped down, to the
serious detriment of my new suit; and ii
was after long and laborious endeavol
that I at length succeeded in reaching
the window of the second story.
To my Disappointment l found it closed
and was compelled to break pane before
| I could unbolt it from within.
In so doing 1 cut my hand, which, on
entering, I wrapped in my pocket-hand,
kerchief. Then had to. unscrew the
lock of the closet-door, at the expense oi
my bran.new pocket-knife.
l had taken pains to make as little
noise as possible; and now, drawing of
my boots, L commenced cautiously de-
scending the stairs to the first floor, on
which, at the back, were the bedrooms
occupied by my mother and Emma
Aunt Bramley slept up stairs.
had already nearly reached the foot
of the stairs, when I heard step over
head and sharp voice called over the ban
listers:
."Who is that..n
Of course there was mo answer; and
then the old lady began to descend the
stairs, at the moment that my mother
opened her door, with light in her hand.
With one instant's hesitation, l bolted
into the nearest door-an unoccupied
guest chamber adjoining Emma's.
"Who is that" again greeted me, this
time in a youthful voice, and sweet, de-
spite its quaver of terror.
CHANGING around, I beheld, through the
darkness, q slim, white-robed figure, cow
ering in the furtherest corner of the
room.
In an instant I comprehended it all.
Miss 4Keeling-my Juliet-had arrived
during my absence, by the nine O'Clock
train, and this was my first appearance
before her.
Recklessly rushed into the hall. I
was met by blow from the parlor po-
ker, in the hands of my alarmed mother,
which, fortunately for me, missed the
headat which it was aimed, aud, falling
upon the bottle in my pocket, dashed 1t
into hundred pieces.
At the same instant, Emma flung at
me q ashair.brush and a pitcher of water,
with other small objects which happened
to be conveniently within her reach.
/ might have escaped unharmed from
these. beyond drenchiug, but for Aunt
Bramley, who instinctively Joined in the
attack with an old, battered bust of Ma
poleon Bonaparte which had for twenty
years filled the honorable post, of family
lamp-holder, in a niche on the upper
landing.
Before the attack of this redoubtable
couqueror( which fell chiefly upon my
shins), suecumbed, and sank down on
the bottom step of the stairs, energetical-
ly rubbing my injured members.
"Merciful heavens /" cried my mother.
"Why, it is-Harry |"
In all the confusion that ensued was
vet conscious of the deep humiliation and
disgrace of my situation.
There stood my mother, looking deeply
mortified and distressed; there stood EN-
ma and Juliet, the latter twice as fair as
I had pictured her, with faces flushed
with indignation, and yet with an ire
pressible smile of amusement at my lu-
dicrous appearance.
And there was Aunt Bramley, seated
halfway up the stairs, deliberately taking
in everything-my torn clothes, my boot
less feet, the scattered cards, stray play
bill, and, above al, the odor of that in
fernal split brandy.
Was there ever case of circumstan-
tial evidence stronger than this9
"I thought" said she, frigidly-m
thought that Harry had gone to the mis-
sionary society meeting, and the lecture
of the Young Mems Association. Seems
to me-" glancing at the cards, the play
bill and the brandy, "that they must
have strange amusements at those places" :"
Imade no reply to this cruel taunt but
was conscious of a slight giggle from the
door, within which the girls had now re-
treated.
The sound was the death knell of all
my fond hope of love and happiness.
Where ridicule and contempt had once
entered, love could never follow. And
as to Aunt Bramley, knew as we'll as
though she had sworn it on the spot, that
/ should never get cent of her money.
"The worst of it," said my sympathiz.
ing mother, when in the privacy of my
own room, 1 had explained the whole
matter-"the worst of it is that all this
fuss was entirely unnecessary. / knew
you would be late, so left the front door
unlocked; and you and Dick could have
gotten in by simply turning the knob"
P. S.-Aunt Bramley left the whole of
her money to Tom, and Dick married Ju-
liet. t.,.-