Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-11-22
Maggie and the Burglars.
You are not afraid. Maggie ?,'

"Me afraid !" said Maggie. "I'd no feal
born with me. AS for the house, it's the
strongest fastened ever was in. You
say yourself there's no lock burglar
could force, and l M not one to let tramps
or the like in of my own free will. God
knows the place will be safe enough
when you come back-as- safe as though
there were regiment of soldiers in it !;
and I'll have all bright for your new
wife, Mr.. Archibald,
She called her master Mr.. Archibald
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, hospitals
ity 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 menskeep about
them but then it was as secure as q
bank vault-patent locks and burglar
alarms that first sent bullet into any
one who sought to enter by stealth, and
then rang bell to wake the household,
were attached to every door, and furi-
GUS Watchdog, that lived on raw meat,
was in the back garden. The Van Mott
at q moments notice.
He had ways and means of accumulat-
ing property which were mysteries to
his neighbors, and they were suspicious
that the little back parlor, sacred to
business, had even seen such lesser deal.
ings as the loan of money on the gold
watches, cashmere shawls, and dia-
monds of genteel distress.
Two or three mortgages that he had
bought up had been rather cruelty fore
closed, and he was q hard landlord and
bad person to owe money to altOgeth-
er On the whole, he was disliked In
the place, and, rich as he was, would
have und it hard to get wife to his
liking among his neighbors at Oakham
However, having resolved to marry
there had been a Mrs. Van Mott, who died
years before-he sought out wealthy
widow of saving disposition, who lived
on q small farm some miles out of town,
and having already disinherited her
daughter for espousing an estimable
man of small means, and turned her
only son out of doors for equally pru-
dent reasons. was not likely to bring
any troublesome generosity into lis
household, and had offered himself to
her and had been accepted.
And now, though both their economi-
cal souls revolted against it, custom de-
creed a wedding of some sort, and q
honeymoon trip somewhere. and they
had decided to do it as cheaply as posi-
BILE. For this brief time Mr.. Van Mott
must leave his business and his houses,
and it was upon the eve of departure
that he held the above conversation with
hts old servant, standing With his port
manteau in his band, and regarding
her gravely.
"Yes, yes, ,"~he said, II presume it is
all safe enough. And I'll speak to the
night watchman, and give him dollar
to take particular look at this house
Well, good bye, Maggie; make things
as neat as possible. If they look dirty
my wife may think the furniture old
and want something new for the par
lor" And Mr. Van Mott departed.
"Yes, yes," said old Maggie, INC
doubt she'll have fine, extravaganl
ways. Poor master! What pity he
should marry, after all-but old fools are
the worst fools. Ayoung thing of eight
and forty, too, when he has sensible
servant, sixty last January, and knows
what belongs to good housekeeping. u
he wanted to marry, why didn't he ask
naes I'd not have gone gali1vanting and
spending. All, well, he'll suffer, not l. y
And Maggie trotted away to begin bel
sweeping and dusting.
She had truly said that there was nc
fear born with her; but as the night
drew on she began to feel somewhat
lonely. Her masters presence was
strangely missed out of the great house,
and there was something ghostly In the
look of his empty chair when she peep
ed into his little back Office.
IF I was superstitious. she said to
herself, II should think something
dreadful was going to happen. | fee
chilly up and down my back, and keeI
thinking of funerals. I'll make myself
a cup of tea and see if can't get Ovel
In
And accordingly old Maggie shut her
self into the snur, kitchen, and i. htine
two candles, drew out pot of the
strongest young hyson, and putting bel
feet close to the cooking stove began tc
feel much more comfortable.
The old clock tick ed away on the man
tie. the hands pointing to half-pas'
eight.
I'm going to bed at nine. said Mag
gle. 1--WE worked well to day. Much
thanks I'll get for it, doubt. Hark
What's that ?'
1t was a sound outside the door
slow, solemn grating of the wheels :
Then feet trod the pavement, and the
bell rang family.