Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-14

and had attained the fixed high
key in which he usually intoned
the service, and the SQUAD of his
own voice thus pitched gave him
courage-'to express the adnira-
tion / feel for your niece"
well, she's an excellent crea-
Iture. Mr.. Preedy," agreed Aunt
Crosby; and in despair at his per-
tinacity, she put down her pen,
frightened her pinched glasses on
her nose, and turned her keen
! face full round to await the fur
Their remarks of her visitor.
What a wife she would make
Mrs Crosby !" cried the cheered
rector. enthusiastically.
A glimmering of the truth lit
up the old lady's mind, and she
replied:
"You should be a better Judge
of that than me, Mr.. Preedy: did
you want 10 marry her ?"
"Oh. Mrs. Crosby, you are too
good! May l hope?"
With an odd smile on her puck.
cred old face. Aunt Crosby said:
Hadn't you better ask her ?
I'll go out as she comes in"
And suiting the action to the
word, the mistress of the mansion
left the room as her niece entered.
That night about half past
twelve. two hours after every one
h. d retired, Mrs. Crosby heard a
footstep on the gravel walk below
the window. She got up at once,
lit her candle, and throwing on a
, warm but faded dressing. gown,
she marched along the passage
and down to the room where re-
posed the butler and the plate
chest.
The sound'of the old mans snor-
ing showed he was undisturbed.
His mistress raped sharply.
get up, Barnes; there's a man
walking dnder my Window
Quickly old Barnes obeyed, and
then he called young footman to
assist him and the two armed
themselves with pokers and sailed
forth from the bay-window of the
dining room, while Mrs. Crosby,
candle in hand, stood just with
| in 1t.
After providing about for a few
minutes, the men were about to
come In, when the younger of the
two spied shadow close up to the
gray wall of the house. He sLrang
forward, shouting:
"I've got him !"
And Mrs. Crosby, in voice
worthy of Mrs. Siddons, cried from
the window:
Bring him here !"
Then the butler lending his as
sistance, a struggling, expostulat-
ing man was dragged into the
presence of the owner of the man.
SION. Turning to vent her wrath
upon him, she exclaimed in amaze
ment, and Barnes cried in the same
breath
"Its Mr.. Preedy!"
sLet me explain-Mrs. Crosby
1 entreat you !" gasped the rector.
"Oh. send away the servants ~
"Eave bin h'after somethin'.
then !" said the young man, con-
fidentially, as he appeared to re-
tire, but really fingered by the
door to listen.
"Speak, sir y commanded aunt
Crosby.
"Well, then,' whispered the rec
tor, in an agitated voice. "she has
promised to be mine-and-I
meant no harm, indeed, kind Mrs.
Crosby: but / just walked back to
look at the light In her window I"
There was an Ominous silence,
and then came a crackle of laugh
ter like the sound of holly leaves,
and Aunt Crosby chuckled out:
Go home, Mr.. Preedy; go
home and go to bed! We old
folks should think of our rheuma.
tism before we perform rs Romeos
and Juliets. Good night 10 you.
I'll bolt the window now, If you
don't mind"
Look at that now" cried the
young footman, delighted.
"Shame on you for listening,
James |" replied Barnes, adding
with growl, "Waking US all up
to look at Miss Dorothy's winder.
Well, I'm bles ed il there is a fool
like ON old fool !"
In one of his recent lectures In
London DIR. Erasmus Wilson ex-
hibited the photos raph of a
woman SO years old and five feet
FIVE inches high, whose tresses,