The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-09
MAGGIE AND THE BURGLARS

"You are not afraid, Maggie? ?"
"Me afraid !" said Maggie. I'D
no fear born in me. As for the
house, it's the strongest fastened eyel
| was in. You say yourself there's
no lock a burglar could force, and
am not the one to let tramps or the
like in of my free viii, God knows
the place will be safe though when
YOU come back-as safe as though
there was a regiment of soldiers In
it, and I'll have all bright for your
new wife, Mr.. Archibald"
She called her master Mr.. Archi-
bald still, this old woman; but she
was the only one who still used his
Christian name. He was an elderly
man himself, and had few intimate
friends, hospitality not being one OF
his virtues.
He was rich, and there was much
that was valuable in the house
more ready money too, than most
men kept about them but then it
was as secure as a bank vault-pat-
ent locks and burglar alarms tha,
first sent a bullet into any one who
sought to enter by stealth, and then
rang bell to wake the household,
were attached to every door, and a
furious watch dog that lived on
raw meat, was in the back garden.
The Van Mott mansion could have
withstood n siege at Il moments no
tice.
Mr.. Van Mott was Il money deal
er. He had ways and means of ac-
cumulating property which were
mysteries to his neighbors, and they
were suspicious that the little
back parlor, sacred to business, had
even seen such lesser dealings as the
loan Of money on the gold watches,
cashmere shawls, and diamonds OF
genteel distress.
Two or three mortgages that he
had bought up had been rather
cruelty foreclosed, and he was hard
landlord and bad person to owe
money too altogether. On the
whole, he was disliked in the place
and, rich as he was, would have
found it hard to get wife to his
liking among his neighbors at Oak
ham.
However, having resolved to mar
ry again-there having been a Mrs
Van Mott, who died years before
he bad sought out a wealthy widow
of a saving disposition, who lived
on a small farm, some miles from
town, and having already disinher.
tied her daughter, for espousing an
estimable man of small means, and
turned her only son out of doors fol
equally prudent reasons, was not
likely to bring any troublesome
generosity into his household and
had offered himself TO her and had
been accepted.
And, now, though both their eco.
nomical souls revolted against it
custom decreed wedding of some
sort, and honeymoon trip some
where, and they had decided to dc
I it as cheeply as possible. For thi:
brief time Mr.. Van Mott must leave
his business and house, and it was
upon the eve of departure that h'
held the above conversation with
his old servant. standing with hi,
portmanteau in his hands and re-
garding her gravely.
"Yes, yes" he said, / presume j
is all safe enough. And I'll speal
to the night-watchman, and giv'
him a dollar to take a particular
look at this house. Well, goodbye
Maggie, make things as neat as pos
sible, if they look dirty my wifi
NAV think the furniture old, ant
want some new for the parlor,
And Mr.. Van Mott departed.
"Yes," said old Maggie, 'no doub
she'll have fine, extravagant ways
Poor master, What pity he shoult
marry after all-but old fools arr
the worst fools. A young man o
eight and forty, too, when he has
a sensible servant, sixty last Janua
nv. and knows what belongs to goot
housekeeping. If he wanted t,
marry why didn't he ask me? X
not have gone galivanting ant
spending. All, well, he'll suffer
not l." And Maggie trotted ava.
to begin her sweeping and busting
She said truly that there was NJ
fear born within her, but as tn
night drew on she began to fee
somewhat lonely. As her master
J presence was strangely missed on
! of the great house, and there wa
something ghostly in the look of hi
empty chair when she peeped int
his little back Office.
IF | was superstitious," she SAT-
to herself. IL should think some
thing dreadful was going to happer
| feel chilly up and down my bach
and ] keep thinking of funerals
III make myself cup OF tea, an
see if / can get over it."
And accordingly old Maggie shu
herself into the snug kitchen, an
, lighting two candles drew a pot
| the strongest young hyson, an
putting her feet to the cookin
: stove began to feel much more con
$ Portable. :,