Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-07-03
that HORRIBLE BURGLARY.
An DER True Tale.

An Ger True Tale.
Oh, my, but the wind did blow
When went around the house, tina
night, locking doors and windows be
fore going to bed, there was just
breath OF breeze signing about
nothing more; but by the time ha
my head fairly pumped upon the pill
low, the gale was going like mad
When l first came to this Western
country used to be surprised at tn
quick. unceremonious way storms ha,
Of coming upon people-half the time
it seemed to me, out Of n clear, inno
cent-looking sky.
In my odd home prided myself upon
reading the signs of the skies; but here
goodness me! when 1 thought it would
snow it was sure to rain, and when
could have taken solemn oath that the
clouds were going to pour, why. whisk
they'd go, and the sun would shine oul
as though it was in high glee at hav-
ing fooled me. So gave up being a
weather prophet, and took it just as il
, came.
, That night everything out of doors
seemed to be in commotion. The loose
shingles on the house clattered up and
! down, and half the time it seemed to
me that the bed on which lay would
blow through the side of the house. l
know Pm foolish old woman, but at
the thought l couldn't help setting my
ruffled nightcap straight, and smooth
ing back my hair, because if / should
go, why there was Deacon Albee's house
right opposite and-but, Lord bless
me. what am saying!
Well. naturally 1 was lonesome
enough, without child or chick; but l
did very well until l somehow got it
into my head that burglars always
chose snch nights to do their mischief
in. After that l started at every
sound. aud as there were thumps and
clatters on all sides, and in every direc-
ton, it isn't to be supposed that got
much rest.
didn't step to reason that there was
very little in my poor old house TO
tempt evil-doers. l knew l had forty
dollars and eighty cents laid away in
my poor departed Jason's old wooden
chest. and l felt that to lose that
would be terrible thing to me.
The house was a cottage, with hall
running the length of its two rooms
an ''L'' being built beyond. MY room
was at the back, opening into hall and
the front room adjoining. So my eyes
vert first from one door to the other,
lingering, I must say, with more dread
upon the one leading into the hall.
IF should be robbed of that forty
dollars and eighty cents" l said to
myself. Just then blind went whack!
and springing up in bed. 1 began to say
the prayer my mother taught me,
Now lay me down to Sleep" though
I'm sure it looked a great deal more
like sitting up asleep than lying down.
"What an old fool you are, Polly |
Quimby," began to say, aloud, trying
to get my courage up to the sound of
my own voice.
AT that moment was sure l heard
step in the little hall, and before l had
time to move from my place the door
latch lifted and the door swung back,
and there he stood, the very object l
had been ading-Mr. Burglar him.
self
GOOD evening, ma'am." he said, in
such polite way that l found myself
in the motion of bowling back and say
ing good evening, too.
He was a middle-age1 man, with
mustache and whiskers, and he had
the brightest ewes l ever saw in a per-
sons head The hair on his temples
was quite gray. All in all, he looked
like a respectable Christian gentleman,
and not a midnight thief.
"Quite windy evening, ma am" he
went on. as he stepped into the room.
You must be lonely by yourself
Somehow this touched my temper. l {
forgot who was speaking, and answered {
back as tart rs could be:
II prefer to choose my company, |
sir" $
He laughed and shrugged up his
shoulders. t
"You do, indeed! So do l. In this
case l have my preference-not YOU I
Then he sat down leisurely in my rock
ing chair, and stretched out his feet as S
though he intended to stop while. S
Twill you be SO kind. sir, as to 90
about your business? What do you Il
think of yourself, sir, to be intruding S
upon the privacy of my room at this Il
hour of the night, sir?" 1
He leaned back his head upon my S
bright worsted tidy. and laughed tit to i,
Kill himself.
mo harm is intended to you, my S,
charming woman" he said. 81 swear
tho harm is intended to you!" S:
And saying this, he laughed longer q
md louder than ever. u
"Do you come into my house to make
anne of me before my very eyes?" d
.sked, my temper pretty much stirred
lp. If you were gentleman, sir" 81
This was too much for him. O.
"A gentleman! Oh, aw-- that's too W
God? Ii l professed to be gentleman Al
ou'd stand good chance 9 Fl getting /
our throat cut without so much as by cl
our leave, mas am, to begin with! A
entleman? With all my faults, thank
[eaven that is not among them" sc
"You need not have gone on that y,
'ay to prove it," l said, tartly. fr
"Well, you're sharp old damsel.
rent you?' turning his big eyes upon
lie, and twisting his mouth in COM
al way which shall never forget. &C
l swear you'd be pretty good looking
you didn't wear such wide ruffle on er
our night-cap. Jolly, isn't it lunker, a
ig enough for graveyard fence!
"Sirr' l said, looking savage.
MADAM" he answered, initiating as
y voice and tone to perfection.
"Oh, if were only out of this bed,
rm began. til
"And pray. madam. what is there to tn
nder you from getting out I'd like to SO
now?" ri.
"Do you intend to insult me, you
creature? Oh, if the tn
ind would only blow you awayr' m,
- II one goes the other is sure to 60,
o." he said, stolidly. lik
" If brother Joe would only wakenp'
said. sci
He cooked his eye knowingly. do
a. You want TO make me believe that NJ:
, is in this house somewhere, eh? My tn,