The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-12-31

alarm IN the WIDOWS chamber II you
dared to raise SASH Mrs. Lyle was
aggrieved, distressed, and robbed, as
she considered, and reproached herself
daily that she had been so weak. Her
only CLEAN of comfort was that she had
so far guarded Annie from her lover.
Poor thing! she was far too innocent
and honest to cope with a modern girl.
However, the burglar-alarm had not
been up a week before another sensation
invaded Pembroke. Only two or three
houses above Mrs. Lyte's, the head of
the family reported that he was aroused
by his wife just in time to see a bona Jide
burglar disappear down stairs, and go
out the way he came in. Having no
weapon at hand, Mr.. Smith considered
discretion the better part of valor, and
did not follow up the stranger; but the
same night the household at Mrs. Lyte's
were all aroused by a wild clangor of
the alarm from a parlor window.
Lights flashed into every gas
burner at once; nobody waited
for wrappers. The whole family,
even Biddy from her attic, assembled in
the upper hall and Miss Lyle went into
helpless Mysteries on her door-sill, quite
unable to get any further, while Pepper
barked Ike a high-pressure engine; and
Sam, forgetful of his pistol, brandished
an old umbrella with great ferocity.
Annie alone had been cool enough to
put on her waterproof cloak, and Sam
declared afterward he was sure he no
ticed her gray travelling dress under
meath it. However that was, she alone
| 1-fx ~ hp nd
soothed family fears till one and all sub
sided into their beds again, assured that
no burglar would re-appear after such
battling.
Next day how the neighbors flockcd
in to condole and congratulate! All but
one indignant and Intelligent female,
who declared solemnly that she believed
the agent had sent round man, Just to
convince people his alarm was good
thing. But nobody agreed with her,
and Mrs. Lyle confessed she was only
sorry she had held out so long against
this excellent protector of lone, lorn
women. 1t was dinner-time before these
kindly folk dispersed; and when. the
bell rang, Annie did not come. She had
a good healthy appetite, and her delay
was unusual; but nobody could find her;
nor did she come 10 tea; but the even
ing mail brought her excuses in small
note, which ran:
DEAHAUxr EN-pve gone to New York
with Frank Chester and his sister to be mar
ried. am awfHlly sorry you were 50 scared
last night. Frank wrote TO me he should be
at the window and i meant to get out first
and tell him about that horrid alarm but
was Just mite too late. Weare going right
back TO Chicago, and guess pail get over it
before long; but IL he don't, Frank is just
rs lovely as can be, and Pm awfully happy.
Love TO you all; and do please forgive poor
dear Frank for soaring you so. 1t was all
that hateful burglar thing.
Good-by, dear.
Your very loving ANNE.
Mrs. Lyle forgot all about the bur
glar when she read this note, and
laughed and cried like girl; but she
forgave Annie long before she forgaye
the agent who made her throw away a
hundred and twenty-five dollars on a
| fixture she did not want or need, for
there has never been another burglar
seen or heard in Pembroke since Frank
Chester tried Mrs. Lyte's parlor window !;
and people do say Mr.. Smiths visitor
rode on nightmare, to which the good
man is subject, and was the di-
REJECT result of strawberry short-cake
and cream. However that may be, Mr..
Petrarch p. Hart did not find another
customer in that village, and Mrs.
Lyte's silver is still safe in the old chest
in the garret.--Harper's Bazar.