American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-02-19

The mice kept up continual clatter,
bat-oye and above it L began to hear
noises outside. There was a,crunching
of the gravel as under some heavy
tread, and under the window heard
mems low voices. 1 jumped up and
went to the window.
Hush, hushr' said one voice. Shell
stake u fit if she hears us. Wen have to
creep in quietly"
You 60 through the hail." the other
voice answered. I'm take shorter
! cut, and climb up here. l know the
shutter has no fastening"
Like lightning l remembered the In
spection the tramp had made of the
vine. 1t was. he and an aecomphce
! with him. Girls. was horribly fright
ened, but | did not lose my senses.
was afraid to run down the corridor,
/ for the other ruffian would be there in
a moment, and besides, what protection
would Claire and Nina beP
l determined to sell my life as dearly
AS possible, but though 1 CROPPED about.
could End no missile but the pitcher
and basin, and two heavy candlesticks.
1t was starlight night outside. but
dark as pitch within.
My heart was in my throat when
heard kind of scramble! among the
vines, "a low laugh, and an exclamation,
by lingo! it's tougher job than l
bargained forr' 80,
Iheard him step over the railing of
the balcony. and then saw the shutters
open, and the. figure of a man sharply
defined in the dim light 1 grasped
I the pitcher. and threw it with all my
might; and you know, girls, I'm great
on hitting n mark.
70 hardly know what happened ]
heard the man say, aThunderationn
and make rush back to the balcony,
but tell you, everything 1 threw at him
went IS straight as an arrow, and the
-candlesIcks hit, him On, the head as he
was striding oyer the naluster.
There was another aFhtnde tation!"
d GOOD deal ldh1er THAI the first, and
lnhen Iheard a'crash and knezv my bur
EglT hash't stopped tocount the rounds
of the lR1der. 4 had ,settleds him. that
was certain. Then 1 lost alr.control of
myself and commenced screaming Just
as loud as the yeriest coward: 1 threw
open my door, few dS~n the corridor.
Of she burglars in the. housea I cot
Claire,s door open, and gyou may guess
what . rumpus followed. I don't know
which screamed the loudest. :. Claire,
Nina or l, but'our united voices mist
have been terrific. ~ 81
20 In a moment or two. . man .appesred
on the threshold. ''The other bur-
glarr'lI cried, seizing a chair and let
ting it fly at him.
"Oh, good Mr. Burglar. don't muir
der usf You can take. anything you
wait, 70 sobbed sClaire, Sailing on Her
knees and hidihg her 'facS with her
hands.sg 80 - - t.s
&, you. little sgooseyp' tho man said,
.ad yancing in the room,, and then bot
tie oof essence I had Seized from The
table hit him plump on his shirt-bosom.
- care you all mad?" he cried. Hold
on! Claire, Claire, don't. you know
me" o., IN az ~
MAX, MAXI was all 1 heard, and
thep saw her fly into his arms. and
sat fiat down on the floor, for my
strength had gone. a..
: Claire: was SO hystencal' She could
give no explanation. ASK Mag, she
can. telhyou," was all she said. ct :
! q Miss Bradford, ! presume, he
said. smiling at me, Though. L didn't
expect the pleasure of meeting you uh-
til Tomorrow. We've had very sharp
'fhbbinS His chest, land
I'll be much obliged If you'll tell me
what you were,s screaming about, and
why l should be met as if 1 was bur-
because ons did climb VI. up into n my
room, and -
= II was' interrupted by a burst of
laughter.
i, git Was Charlie" shid Mr.. Gordbh.
"He decided to return with me, and
not expecting Miss Bradford. until, ~
morrow, climbed up into his old quar-
ters- The impatient fellow xouldn't !
wait until the door was ossned: Ide-
fell in a chair. and laughed uproar-
iOusly.Ii y. II "a as
rsprang to my feet, and can tell
you, my heart was in my throat. 4 Mr..
Gordon. Mr.. Gordon,,,''. stammered,
"a Pm sdfcadfuIly afraid I've hurt HIN
with the pitcher and basin and candle
sticks! l think he fell through the vine,
zoo, for ! heard Q crash.n - 10
Seriously alarmed. Mr.. Gordon caught
Up the lamp and ran down stairs. Claire,
following him. remembered Ihad on
nothing but a night gown, but 1 stood
1t the head OF the steps until heard
The han door topen, and then 4 confa-1
sion of voices. At last Mr.. Gordon
and heard him say,
= By -Jove, old felIowi she nearly fp- 81
SIZED you, though, didn't shcf She's
'poileR your beauty for awhile, and look,
1t my Shirt bosom. She lefS her mafks
IN u.s." ---i
Putting my fingers into my ears. I
lei toTy roeR. erept intp psdJ
Utterly wretdhed and Inundated. r
lad won glory enough for one night,
ugelyn In a fey minutes. Claire stood
,y<my bedside But by her vdsce,S 81 could
zee that she vas trying to irestrail her
aughter.
s?Chrlie' $ AZ right.yMag.lt she MD,
and you mustn't worry. He deserved
y he gPt, fog coming upon YOU in'that
md then she laughed long and loud.
le looks as if he had been pummeled
y prize-fighter. Go to sleep, dear.
lou wpnt need an Introduction !. to
;harles to-morrow. / did mean you to
trike him. make q deep impression, but
GU We SURPASSED my expectations.r
You may imagine, girls, didn't close
NJ eyes that night. Bot ths WORST vas
Ding down to breakfast the next morn
1g. Mr. Gordon was very kind. end
red to put me at my ease, but his
rother was pretty sti&. and his face,
semed by sticking-plaster looked IKE
Il tEink he tied to 81 agreeable, ,Sut
course he must have hated mel and
hen something was said jestingly
boutpy braysry, he Laughed in an nm
feasant, ironfcal manner, and said,
Miss Bradford's shrieks were courage
Asly loud" y ~ "a u ~ {
The man who frightened us had been