Connecticut western news., 1880-12-08
A NIGHTS EXPERIENCE.

"Oh, Joseph, must you really go?"
 'I really must, answered MT. Joseph Hawes, as be tied up certain papers in a pocket-book. ssBut don't look so tragi- cal, Fanny. If were going to execu- tion, you couldn't put on more discon- solate expression. I shall be back by tomorrow noon certainly"
 'sBut for you to be away all night, and Aunt Sophie and I left alone in this Lonesome place, where we haven't been two months, and don't know the peo- pie P
 'sWhy, there are cook and Andy in the kitchen"
 ssYou forget that cook left us, yes terday, to see her sick mother; and as for Andy, had much rather that he, too, should be away in your absence 9 Nonsense, Fanny! How can you be such coward? Andy seems faithful, honest fellow"
 "He may be; but we cannot be cer- tain, and he looks so wild and unciv- ilized. And, besides, you know he was tramp when you took him in"
 sNot exactly tramp-only looking for work, poor fellow and very glad and grateful he was to get it. But if you and Aunt Sophie are afraid to stay here tonight without me"
 ''Oh, don't trouble yourself about me, I beg of you, Josephp' said Miss Sophie Hawes, who entered the room in time to catch her nephew's concluding remark. ssl am not timid, if Fanny is, and feel quite capable of taking care of myself under any circumstances. When Johns house caught fire"
 "Oh, yes, we know how self-possessed you were onthat occasion, Aunt Sophie p interrupted Mrs. Hawes, hastily. ''But 8 fire, with friends all around assisting you. is very different from robbers and mnrderers breaking in at night, when you are all alone in secluded country house"
 Robbers and murderers Nonsense, Fanny P said her husband, impatiently 'fHow many country houses in thou, sand have been broken into? And this is as quiet and respectable neighbor hood as can be found in the State. cannot imagine how it is that womer are such towards. But, as I was about to remark, it might be as well for you and Aunt Sophie to spend the night al Uncle Sandy's. It's only about mile distant, and he and Aunt Janet would be delighted to have you.
 Fanny caught eagerly at this pro posal, though Aunt Sophie considered the step perfectly unnecessary. She had no fear of burglars; and even were they to put in an appearance, she could defend the house against them. Sht had always been remarkable for courage and presence of mind, and it had ofte1 been said that she needed but the oppor tnnity to prove herself real heroine.
 But Fanny carried the day and n sooner had her husband ridden of, ol his way to the country town, to atten' meeting, than she proceeded to mak her arrangements for spendeng the nigh at Uncle Deacon Sandy's.
 There was not much to be done-onl to set the house in order, and put fe7 articles in hand-satchel to take along But with this. and locking drawers an closetu, and hiding certain valuable al ticles in secret places, where, in case ( burglars, they would not be discovered it was nearly sunset when the two we1 ready for their walk to the deacon's.
 "I have been thinking, aunt" sal Mrs. Hawes, as she stood, hesitatingly in the entry, [" if it would be best | send Andy off the place. If he left here alone, nobody knows what h may be tempted to do-rob the hous perhaps, then set fire to it and run away I'll just give him anote to the druggist the village for those things we wanted and quarter to get a nights lodging the tavern there, and he can be back b six in the morning. Then the hous will be safe, as nobody will know of or absence"
 Andy quite cheerfully undertook "tl misthress' errand.; and Mrs. Flaw, watched him as he went of, whistlini and fiourishing stout shillalah.
 Then the two ladies took their ws by short cut across the fields to De con Sandy's.
 They had not lived long in tn neighborhood, but the path was famili to them and they walked on quite chee fully, until turning thicket of wi plum, Miss Sophie, whowas in advanc suddenly paused and warningly held , 8 finger.
 s'What's the matter ?" Fanny aske
 She pointed toward an opening in t plum bushes. Fanny peered throug and drew back pale with dismay.
 " Trampsl'' she uttered, faintly.
 Three or four rough looking men, wi sticks and little bundles tied up in han kerchiefs, were sitting under the side of a haystack. One of them W drinking out of black bottle, and t others talking together with appare mys terious earnestness.