The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-07-01
THAT HoRRIBLE BURGLARY.


THAT HORRIBLE BURGLARY.
q IA Ger Tree Tale.
Oh, my, but the wind did blow!
When went around the house, that
night. locking doors and windows be-
fore going to bed, there was lust q
breath Of breeze signing about
nothing more; but by the time had
my head fairly pumped upon the pill
low, the gale was going like mad.
When / first came to this Western
country used to be surprised at the
quick, unceremonious way storms had
Of coming upon people-hah the time,
it seemed to me, out of q clear, inno-
cent-looking sky.
In my old home I prided myself upon
reading the signs of the skies; but here,
goodness me! when 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 70, and the sun would shine out
as though it was in high glee at hav-
ing fooled me. So ]. gave up being q
weather prophet and took it just as it
came.
That night everything out of doors
seemed to be In commodon. The loose
0tunKloS Ou tu6 uOUSS Cl3ttcIcu up 6uQ
down, and half the time it seemed to
me that the bed on which lay would
blow through the side of the house.
know I'm foolish old woman, but at
the thought couldn't help setting my
ruled niRhtcAp straight. and smooth
ing back my hair, because if should
90, why there was Deacon Albee's house
right opposite. and-but, Lord bless
me, what am l saying!
Wen, naturally 1 was lonesome
enough. without child or chick; but I
did very well until somehow got it
into my head that burglars always
chose such nights to do their mischief
il. After that I started at every
sound, and 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. I knew I had forty
dollars and eighty cents laid away in
my poor departed Jason's old wooden
chest. and 1 felt that to lose that
would be q terrible thing to me.
The house was q cottage, with hall
running the length of its two rooms
an " L. being built beyond. My room
Wa ~ bne DacAs opcuuik 1uSO y uaA 6uu
the front room adjoining. So my eyes
lingering, must say, with more dread
upon the one leading into the hall.
II should be robbed of that forty
dollars and eighty cents-ik said to
myself. just then blind went wh4ck!
and springing up in bed. I began to say
the prayer my mother taught me,
..Now lay me down to Sleep" though
I'm sure It looked 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 / heard .
step in the little hall. and before had
time to move from my place the door
latch lifted. and the door swung back,
and there he stood, the very object I
had been dreading-Mr. Burglar HIM
self.
.sGood evening, ma'am," he said, in
such polite way that found myself
in the motion of bowling back and say
ing good evening, too. r--ss
He was middle-age6 man. with
mustache and whiskers, and he had
the brightest eyes ever saw in per-
sons head. The hair on his temples
was quite gray. All in all. he looked
and not midnight thief.
"Ouite . windy evening, ma'am," he
went on, As he stepped into the room.
"You must be lonely by yourself"
Somehow this touched my temper.
forgot who was speaking, and answered
back Is tart as could be:
"Ieprefer to choose my company,
He laughed and shrugged up his
shoulders 'tsls
Z" You do, indeedI So do I. In this
case have my preference-not you. !"
Then he sat down leisurely in my rock
ing chair, and stretched out his feet as
though he intended to stop q while.
ssWin you be 90 kind, sir, IS to 60
about your businesse What do you
think Of yourself, sir, to be iutruding
upon the privacy of my room at this
hour Of the night, sir"
He leaned back his head upon my
bright worsted tidy, and laughed fit to
KIN himself.
emo harm is intended to you, my
charming woman" he said. al swear
it-no harm Is intended to you'll"
And saying this. he laughed longer
and louder than ever.
ssDo you come into my house to make
game Of me before my very eyes?" !
asked, my temper pretty much stirred
mn. ssH Won were q gentleman, sir
This was too much for him.
IA 9entlemani Oh, aw- that's toe
rood? If professed to be . gentleman
you'd stand q good chance of getting
your throat cut without so much as by
your leave, ma'am, to begin with! A
gentleman? With an my faults, thank
Heaven that Is not among them"
"You need not have gone on thai
way to prove it, I said. tartly.
SWefl, you're sharp old damsel
aren't youf' turning his big eyes upor
me, and twisting his mouth in com
icai way which shall never forget
AZ swear you'd be pretty good looking
II YOU didn't wear such o wide ruffie Oh
your night-cap. Jolly, isn't it a lunker
big enough for . graveyard fence!
"Sirr said, looking savage.
sMadamr' he answered, initiating
my voice and tone to perfection.
"Oh, il Iwere only out OF this bed
sirr. Ibegan.
hinde. you from getting out I'd like t.
70 you ineonu W "Sus uo, yV'
rood r-nothing creature? Oh, II thu
wind would only blow you away?'
1T one goes the other is sure TO 20
too,n he said. stolidly.
"H brother Joe would only wnken'
said.
He cooked his eye knowingly.
ssYou want to make me believe tha
he is in this house somewhere, eha M.
dear madam, You are as transparent a
air. Had he been under this roof yo'
would have screamed blue murder loni
before this"
..Oh. oh, you vsrmintr' I groaned i
pure agony ef spirit. "What do yo
wantP''