The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-09-02
The door had just been closed when
the rector audibly murmured:

have such an amusing way OF putting
thingsp And he ventured on little
nervous laugh, from which he supernat-
1rally scbered down the next minute.
'Perbaps-ah-she might marry"
"What is the idiot driving at?" said
Mrs. Crosby to herself, irate at so many
Interruptions. "Marry, did you say p
she inquired, aloud. "About twenty
five years ago Dolly was fne-looking
young girl. Still, she might marry now,
and so might 1, for the matter of that,
if any one asked me ! Take look at the
Times, Mr.. Preedy; they'll bring the
tray in a moment;" and the pen
scratched again.
"What a cruel old womanl" said the
rector, mentally. "She won't let me
speak I'll try her again, though, see if
l don't"
And having manfully turned the news
paper inside out, he gave preparatory
cough.
"Mrs Crosby, I have long wished"
"Why can't he keep still?" muttered
the old lady, soto roce.
81 say I have long wished"-and he
had attained the fixed high key In which
he intoned the service, and the sound
of his own voice thus pitched gave him
courage-''to express the admiration 1
feel for your niece"
"She's an excellent creature, Mr..
Preedy," agreed Aunt Crosby; and in
despair at his pertinacity, she put down
her pen, pinched her glasses tighter on
her high nose, and turned her keen face
full round to await the further remarks
of her visitor.
"What wife she would make, Mrs
Crosbyp said the rector. enthusiast
cally.
A faint glimmering of the truth litup
the old lady's mind, and she replied,-
"You would be better Judge of that
than I, Mr.. Preedy. Did you want to
marry her?"
ooh, Mrs. Crosby, you are too good.
May I hope, then?"
With an odd smile on her puckered
old face, Mrs. 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, at about half-past twelve,
Mrs. Crosby heard footstep On the
gravel walk below her window. She got
up, lit her candle, threw on a warm but
faded dressing gown, and marched along
the passage and down stairs to the room
where reposed the butler and the plate
chest. The sound of the old mans
snoring showed he was undisturbed
His mistress raped sharply.
"Get up, Barnes, there's man walk
ing under my windowp
Quickly old Barnes obeyed, and then
he called up 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
within it. After prowling about for q
few minutes, the men were about to
come in, when the younger Of the two
spied a shadow close up to the gray wall
of the house. He sprang forward,
shouting
eve got him"
And Mrs, Crosby, in a voice worthy
Of Mrs. Siddons, cried from the win
dow
"Bring him herel"
Then, the butler lending his assist
ance, a struggling, expostulating man
was dragged into the presence of the
owner Of the mansion, Turning to vent
her wrath upon him, she exclaimed in
amazement, and Barnes cried in the
same BREATH
"Its Mr.. Preedyp
"Let me explain-Mrs Crosby 7 en-
treat you" gasped the rector. ooh,
send away the servants, pray, dop
Il ave been halter somethin',
then p said the younger man, confden-
TALLY, as he appeared to retire, but lin.
gered at the door to listen.
"Speak, sir" commanded Aunt
Crosby.
"Well, then, whispered the rector, in
an agitated voice, ,,"she has promised to
be mine-and-I mean mo harm, in
deed, dear, kind Mrs. Crosby; but 1 just
walked back to look at-the light in her
window |"
There was an ominous silence, and
then came crackle Of laughter like the
sound of holly leaves burning and Aunt
Crosby chuckled OUT
"Go home, Mr.. Preedy; 60 home and
60 to bed We old folks should think
of our rheumatism before we perform
as Romeos or Juliets. Goodnight to
you. I'll bolt the window now, If you
don't mind,'