Connecticut western news., 1882-01-04


 think it was quite right to give that burglar in charge after he had behaved so we'll ?"
 "Do you call it good behavior to break into my house and steal twenty pounds from me ?" inquired Miss Brin- dleton, in grave surprise.
 "WeA, but Sophie. he had your life in his hands, you know; and if he had stunned you and then made off with all your things he might never have been caught, whereas now he will be sent to prison for twenty years"
 ''That is weak sentiment" retorted Sophie, in her primmest tone. "I was bound to get this man apprehended for the protection of others" E.L |
 Phoebe said nothing just then, but she remained unconvinced, and often afterward she alluded to the burglar in plying terms. The mans name turned out to be Raggles, and Phoebe would speak of him as ''poor Raggles." This poor Raggles was in time arraigned at the Old Bailey and sentenced to penal servitude for several years. As he left the dock he once more turned to Miss Brindleton, who was in court, with her sister, and said: s'It warn't kind o you, miss; you don't help chap to be hon. est, you don't. If you had let me alone after giving me them 'ere twenty pounds I should never have forgotten it, and it might a been the saving of me-" ..r.. gs4
 "Oh, Sophie, how dreadful" mutt tered the soft-hearted Phoebe, nestling close to her sister. "Don't you think you might ask the Judge to take off some part of the poor mans punish ment ?"
 "He has not got day more than he deserves" replied Sophia, with her lips set. Her heart was quite as tender as Phoebe's and it felt very sore just then for the wretched Raggles; but Miss Brindleton thought that any outward display of sentiment was undignifed, so she kept her feelings to herself. {
 She was not at ease, however, and when she returned home she catechised herself as to whether she had truly, ac- cording to the lights of her conscience, done her duty in getting Raggles sent to penal servitude :? Her answer was that she had done her duty, her plain duty, nothing but her duty, and she curtly silenced Phoebe next time the latter alluded to "poor Raggles."
 Raggles became forbidden topic. Nevertheless, Sophia Brinaleton did not feel quite happy about the man when she thought of him all alone.
 Six years passed. One night-a summers night, as on the first occasion Miss Brindleton was again awoke by a burglar. She sat up in bed, rubbed her eyes, and recognized Raggles.
 "I've got ticket of leaye," said this fellow, gruff1y; you know me, I dessay. Now, just come down and give me all you've got in your drawers, or I'll smash your head in. Look sharp"
 ''Why, you're Raggles P stammered Sophia, unable to say anything else.
 ''Yes, I'm Raggles, and nice trick you served me six years ago" answered the burglar, with curse. "Now, turn out of bed and come down; I've got your purse, watch, rings and other things in my pocket, but I'm not going to leave the house till I've got all your money and silver plate, and if you squeal, by golly, I'll wiring your neck"
 l Poor Sophia sat up in her bed bereft of speech. Her sister Phoebe was mar, ried now, and no longer lived with her; : she had only two female servants in the house, and 1t would have been useless to scream. But, on the other hand she happened to have e2, 1000 in bank notes and 5000 worth of jewelry ir her -valuables which were te have been sent next day to the bankers 'I'n give you a hundred pounds MT. Raggles," she stammered in hel agony. --.-.. -. -r ..-. s'I'n take everything you've got, was Raggles's blunt answer. "And nov look alive" ..-
 & 5 Half an hour later queer scene migh have been witnessed in Mss Brindleton' 3 parlor. Raggles had packed up in s small portmanteau, which he had pur = Joined from Miss B., every article c l value which Sophia possessed, and ? fatigued by his labors, he was lolling i g an armchair, while Miss Brindletor : with trembling hands, poured him ou s glass of sherry. .., ,.- d "Now go down on your knees an ;, swear an oath to me, " laughed the ticke
 of leave man, who, having tossed off hi # first dram, was holding out his glass fo
 second. ''Swear that you won't peac d against me, or I'll cut off all your hal o and your ears afterwards" =. l. 1T swear," faltered Sophia, who, set
 ing Rsggles's face so terrible, ha " dropped on her knees. .... k '"That'H do," said the ex-convict. g. I know that you're an honest woman an 'r wouldn't tell lie. If you did, thougl n one of my mates would find you out an I do for yer" ....z-. -sa..
 Saying this, Raggles shouldered h ,r lootings, all tied up in bundle, an d walked out of the house. He has bee o- living at large ever since. Miss Bri1 F, dleton has not dared to inform again to him, not even to speak about him to h. le sister Phoebe.
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