The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-09


1t was the peddler's pack.
\ vague alarm seized her; yet in the
midst Of it she felt brave and selfpOssessed.
If he were leaving the house in this man
ner something was wrong, and her father
ought to know of it.
Perhaps-yes suddenly there flashed
upon her the recollection Of the peddlers
keen observation of her fathers movements
while he was getting the money out of the
secretary drawer.
The man was robbing her father.
Quick almost as the thought itself Kit
ty had sprung to the entry, and thence
to her parents bed room, which opened
upon it.
At her FIRST touch aud words the farmer
was wide awake, and, snatching loaded
gan which hung above the mandepieec,
was in the yard aud beneath the window
as quickly as Kitty herself could have
been,
There, indeed, was the peddler, his pack
already on his shoulder, something gleamf
ing faulty ike tin box in his hand, while
he groped about the ground, as in search
Of some missing article.
With one bound Farmer Lane was upon
him, and for some moments there was
heard only the sound Of a desperate strug-
gle, mingled with slno,herci Oaths from
the peddler, who at length, on hearing the
rapidly approaching footsteps and voices
of some Of the farm hands. who had been
aroused by Kitty's cries, suddenly wrench
ed himself from the grasp Of his antagonist,
gave him stunning blow iu the face, aud
with long swift strides made for the near
est fence, and was out Of sight before the
men could reach the spot
Farmer Lane was bruised and stunned;
yet for this he was, on coming 10 conscious
ness, cossolod by the sight Of his precious
tin box, unopened and safe. The thief
had been compelled to drop tin the strug-
gle, after which to pause aud look for i'in
the dark would have occupied too much
time and exposed him to capture.
Six months after the event just related,
Kitty lane was seated alone BY the bright
FIRE of the farm kitchen when there hob
bled in an old woman Of the neighboFhoOd,
sort Of poor peosiouer on the bounty Of
the farmers family
She had come for liniment for her
srheumaties, aud Kitty. as she gave The
phial into her hand, noticed that she wore
but thin wrapper for such cold weather.
"Stay," said she, kindly; and while
you drink cup Of tea | will search 10 the
attic for something thicker than this old
shawl to keep you warm.
The attic was the repository Of broken
or superannuated furniture aud old clothes
end blankets, and among this latter store
Kitty now proceeded to search.
As she pulled aside an old coat Of her
fathers, suddenly her eyes fell upon large
cloth cape, very much worn and faded,
which hung on a nail beneath it.
Kitty looked at it with a sort Of loath-
ing. It was the garment she had picked
up on that, to her, fearful night of the
peddlers attempted robbery.
Unconsciously she had kept it in her
grasp when she ran to give her father the
alarm, and next day Betsey, the kitchen
maid, found it, and had slowed it with the
rubbish in the attic, wondering whether
it would ever be called for. Il was this
for which the robber had been anxiously
searching when Farmer Lane seized him.
Since then the old cape had remained un-
seen and forgotten in the gloomy attic,
until now brought again to light by Kitty S
search.
1T looks shabby enough outside,
thought Kitty, as she stood gazing at it,
aBut the green flannel lining is new aud
thick. 1t will make a comfortable wrap,
ping for poor old Mrs. Holmes-if she viii
wear it" Reluctantly she grasped it, and
attempted to reach it down from its place,
But it had hung so long that the nail had
penetrated through the flannel lining, Q
slip Of which was torn off by the jerk she
gave it.
at can be mended, thought Kitty, 81
will ask Betsey to do it.
She stopped short, and her eyes grew
wider What was that protruding jrsi
beyond the torn edge Of green flannel !
Something green also-a piece of soiled
paper it at first seemed. She looked
closer. 1t was back note
Kitty took from her pocket tiny pearl
handled pocket-knife, aud, carefully cut
ting away some stitches, produced bank,
note--a ffty-dollar bank bill
She could hardly believe her eyes bat
OF further stripping away the cloth she
discovered another, and then another, all
carefully stitched against the thin oiled
silk, which formed middle lining Of the
old cloth cape, and protected them from wet
Trembling with excitement, and sort
of horror which yet fascinated her, the
girl sat down at the dusky attic window
and stripping out the green flannel lining
unstitched note after note, until there lay
before her such wealth as she had neTel
before dreamed of-nearly $4,000. Gained
honestly it might be, and yet, perhaps
stolen.