The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-28
MY ESCAPADE.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

It is now many years since i, Miss
Helen Cranstoun, performed the one &C.
centric act of my life. I was old enough
by that time to have grown prim and
"governessy, and years spent in preach
ing propriety to young ladies had had
their effect upon me, and knew that it
would never do in my position to be
spoken of as peculiar. And yet-But
YOU shall hear. had at that time an
engagement in Mrs. Harding's family to
finish the education of an only daughter.
The house was q large double building,
and the study or school-room, was in a
wing across the hall. Next it was a
handsome. well-furnished apartment
which had been given to me as bed
room. It was removed from all the
other bedrooms of the house, and at
night was entirely alone. However, I
had no fears of the supernatural, and no
terrors of any sort, and the room suited
me.
On this night I had retired, as usual,
and the whole house slumbered, myself
included, when was aroused by some
thing-I hardly knew what-a sound, a
movement, perhaps merely an impress
sion. Whatever it was, it induced me to
rise and open my door little. Instantly
q draught of cold air struck me, and
thought that the hall door was open
wide.
"Who is there?" I cried aloud, but all
was dark and silent save for such little
velvet pat as a cat would make in cross
ing marble floor.
However the draught had no business
to be there, and I stepped back to my
room and lit WAX candle which l
always kept on my stand, and came out
again with my dressing gown wrapped
about me.
The door was not open, but a window
one OF two on either side of the hall
had been lifted, and heard clatter as
OF the dropping of articles of iron or
steel in heap. Something was wrong.
With sort of tremor rather of excite
ment than fear creeping over me, ran
up stairs and knocked at Mr.. Harding's
door, crying:
''Thieves are in the house !"
In moment more my employer and
his brother were both in the lower hall,
armed with pistols, and search was
made of every room on that floor but my
own. As had been there, there was no
thought of finding any one in that apart
ment.
The police were sent for, and some
burglars tools were discovered outside
the open window.
They explained that the window must
have been opened in order to admit some
small boy who could unfasten the door
tor them. A small boy indeed he must
have been to get at those long, narrow
slips; but nothing had yet been done,
and after while all returned to their
own apartments to sleep, if possible.
But shan't you be timid in your
lonely room? Won't you go up stairs
and sleep with Kitty ?" asked Mrs. Hard
ing. I'm sure it's dreadful for to be
down here alone, Miss Cranstoun."
How glad 1 am to-day that my nerves
were steady enough to allow me to de.
cline the offer, and laugh at any idea of
fear on my part; but governess cannot
yield to fne lady terrOrs, and las l
have said-had occupied that position all
my life.
I retired to bed again, knowing the
house safe for that night at least, and
was Just about dropping off to sleep,
when felt, rather than heard, some one
creep from under my bed. My door was
locked. Whoever it was, was alone
with him-one never thinks of her
in such circumstances; and the darkness
was the worst of all. struck light at
once. Some one tried to blow it out,
and failed. 1 clutched at the dark OBJ
ject near me, and found it to be the
wrist of small boy; and now We stood
face to face, and 1 held him tight and
looked at him. 1t was a child Of ten
years--not more-a little, slender, dark
creature, dressed in o dark blue shirt
and pantaloons, and with list slippers on
his feet. His head was almost shaven, it
was cropped SO closely, and he looked
rather like little gnome than q child.
knew at once that he was the boy the
burglars had slipped through the win
dow--a tight squeeze for even this slim
thing futtering in my grasp.
''Be quiet, child" said; I'm not 60
ing to hurt you. I suppose you are only
q tool of those wicked men. Sit down
there and let zoe look at you"
He sat down, looking at me in terror.
"You must tell me the TRUTH" said.
Il want to be your friend. You came
mere with the burglars9"
He nodded.
"They put you through the window to
open our door?"
Eyes," he said.
"Did your mother know of it,"