The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-06-27
MY NIGHT LODGtR.

Why-well, you are different from other
folks A very clear and satisfactory deini-
ton
This having the word "queer" attached
to my name used to annoy me my dolls
were the only specimens of humanity to
whom confess this. To them conided all
my secrets and my manifold trials. They
were attentive listeners-never interrupted
me. There was Rosa, the very large one,
| she was my prime favorite, and--oh, there
was so many of them.
When was eleven years old our folks
tried to make me think was too old to play
with dolls. felt as though life would have
| no pleasure for me were my dolls taken from
me. No ono knows how loved them.
| used to go to my room and, locking the door
| to keep my fun-loving brothers and sisters
| from intrudng, would play by the hour
with my miniature family. Another favorite
| resort of mine was the garnet. 1t was full of
boxes, barrels, and chests, containing old
papers, books, and letters. Many of the
letters were very ancient, written by rela-
tives of whom had scarcely heard. There
were letters from parents to children, from
brothers to sisters, and love-letters. The
latter interested me the most, although
thought they were rather silly. | suppose |
could not appreciate the height and DEPTH
and length and breadth, of the tender pas
| sion.
Filling my pockets with apples, would
take possession Of the garnet and some COM
Portable old chair, minus an arm or rocker,
aid there Iwould sit for hours, reading. i
ISL q passion fdSyhost stories, and stories of
P6kbersSand pilates, although they used to
Tighten mesterfbly. When in the midst of
a most frigINful story, down would tumble a
bundMtot something from the ratters, making
considerable noise, and leading me to imagine
the ghosts and the robbers had stepped from
the book to the garnet.
| An old apple-tree stood by one of the win
dows it had the greatest faculty for I'M
earthly creaking and grooming, and the
lightning-rod kept up a malicious racket |
declare it is wonder didn't lose my senses,
| reading so much trash and hearing SO many
fearful sounds
But this has nothing to do with my
"lodger.' | believe | am becoming garrul-
Gus.
In the first place, l must tell you papa
was rich farmer, and our neighbors were
few and far between"
When was in NY twelfth year papa and
mamma made up their minds to take pleas
ure tLip to the far West. This was some
thing unusual; they seldom left home.
Well, they went, and my two sisters, my two
|
/ ing house."
One day all except myself and our servant
girl were invited to go to a dinner-party.
| confess dreaded to have them go.
"kata, we will bring you any amount OF
candy" said Opa,
"Now, pet, you know yon and Sarah
can stay here just as well as not" said
another.
"Don't be baby, Kitty" said third.
Finally l resignedly babe them "get out
of my sight,
Sarah and l were good friends; she told
4 me stories and sang songs till began tC
think it was quite fine thing to be left al
\ hOme.
"Tired Of staying in the house, | saun
tered down the front walk apd amused my
self by INDUCING in forbidden pleasure
| swinging on the gate. Looking down the
road spisi man coming along. flew tc
the house, and, satiatel that he was coming
in, ran to Sarah. Selling her by the dress
with both hands, exclaimed: son, Sarah
there is dreadfullooking man coming into
th9 house !"
Sarah gioked up the poker and walked te
the door, while ]. Initiating her example
snatched stick of wood. sH9denly Sarah
cried:
"You little goosei It's Bill McCarty -
i sure enough, ~ WAS oaTtl > Dcltl. Ilcl
matber was very sick and McCarty was sem
to bring Sarah home Immediately.
i Here was diieWMa. Sarah didn't want
to leave me, and unless she started home
then she might not see her mother alive. II
was nearly time for the rest of the folks t,
come home, so ] managed to raise courag,
enough to say That / was willing to remain
4 alone.
In few minutes Sarah was %, and was
left in possession of our great house, wiiGl
never seemed so large to me before. | tried
to read, but it was impossible; all the murde
stories ! had ever heard came to my mind
remembered that none of our doors coult
DO locked. Papa, who had few strang
ideas, declared locks were nuisance. ] fel
! tbat was doomed.
A west out to the yard and. to my dismay
discovered thst the sky was overcast and
storm near at hand. could see tn
rain coming; faster and tastSr IL came
it was soon at the house. Oh, how 1t di,
rain!'
| On each side of our yard was brook
pretty ana Psaceable in pleasant weather
but very little rain traBsformed them hot
i, into raging torrents. As ! stood at the win
dow saw first one bridge, then the othaI
4 swept of. knew now that must stay alon
all night it would be impossible for IN
brothers and sisters TO get home.
Travellers, or, as Sarah called them
"trampers," often stopped at our house owe
night, as there was no public house near
To my horror, now saw one of them comm
across the Geld Should ] hide No, tina
was not to be thought ol Without stoppin
to knock, the great rough man wa'Eei in.
"Can stay here all night 20
dared not refuse him, so as firmly as
4 could, answered.
| "Pes,"
:, He seemed surprised at seeing no one Blu
myself and questioned 8s much. told hin
my brother was up stairs writing; HAT W
two We're alone. This was the first thin
that entered my head to tell him. Such
yillainous coutenance AS that man had
His hair was cut close to his head, leavn
his huge ears IN bold relief. Wicked look
ing eyes, and a brutal mouth, completed hi
general expression OF ferocity.
ed-time came, and directed the man I
= room up stairs in the servants depart
ment; not the sup stairs " where had sal
my brother was. Now that there was rea
danger, was calm and reasonable. fas
ened the door that led mp stairs with my en-
broidered scissors, which happened TO be j
my pocket, so as to guard against surpris,
and hurriedly collecting our silverware, car
ried II to mammals room and hid it in til
| bed. NO one W0nld have supposed the be
had been disturbed, ! was elated at my il
genuity.
/ then hunted up what few jewels th
girls possessed, and placing them, with whs
!; money could find, in box, tied them i
my pocket. After doing this, | stole dow
stairs, and removed my scissors from m
door. These scissors We're counted anon
my most valuable treasures. | had LA
them many years, and was not disposed I
lose them now.
expected the man would only wall iii Ii
thought | and my fictitious brother wel
asleep, and would then search the house {,
valuables, and finish by killing me. Onl
one plan for escape that originated SCENE
feasible. | determined to wait till ! hear
my lodger in the room below, and then wra
myself in papa's shawl, and jump out of IL
window. was not kept in suspense loni
the peculiar squeak of the sitting room do,
warned me that it was time to act. Quiet
U raised the window, and just as the stel