The National tribune., 1882-11-02

waiting in the same place
She snatched the key, and said, "TIl be back
in moment" and vanished into the darkness.
Bessy was almost wild with excitement, but
she kept as quiet as she could, and presently
the fairy re-appeared.
Her first words astonished Bessy:
Have you a dog?'
eyes" answered Bessy, "but he's the best
dog that ever lived. He never bites any but
bad people, and his name is Watch"
What do you do with him at night?"
why, we let him run around the garden to
keep away thieves"
You do, do you? That's right" said the
old fairy. You just give him this fairy meat;
it will keep him from barking at the fairy
send, and soaring her away"
Yes, Madam Fairy" returned Bessy; "I'u
remember, and I'll put my shoes and papa's and
mammals all in a row by the door, and please
tell your fairy servant to fill them up to the
brim with gold. Remember"
"Good-by," said the old fairy and when Bessy
looked around she was alone. So she scampered
back, and meeting Watch by the gate, whis-
pered in his ear,
Here is piece of meat the fairy sent you.
comes tonight
Watch took the meat, ate, and growled over
it.
Bessy put the key back softly. Then feeling
very lonely and excited, she crept softly around
to the kitchen door for light and companion
ship. There stood Lucy kneading bread for
breakfast, while Ann sat by the door knitting
q long, cotton stocking.
Bessy came close up to her and stood still,
looking into the kitchen. With everything
shining and clean. 50 coy and comfortable, it
was quite delightful after the mysterious lane,
and the old fairy who smelled of tobacco
"Why, you darling" said Ann, q was just
coming to look for you. Where have you been?
You look as scared as a cat, and as wild as
witch. What's the matter?
Nothing" answered Bessy. al wish mother
would come. What time is it?"
Half past eight" said Lucy, looking at tho
clock. She'll be along soon now Don't fret,
and I'll give you a big piece of cake"
Bessy was as fond of cake as other little
girls; so she sat down on the doorstep to eat
the cake, and listened for the wheels of the
carriage.
At last they came and Bessy flew down to
meet her parents with delight, for she felt lone
some and queer.
Mamma called Ann to light the big lamp on
the round table; then she looked at her little
girl, sat down, and took her on her lap, saying:
"Well, what have you been doing, little one?
You look tired and cold. Have you had your
tear"
How Bessy longed to tell them of the Won
derful good luck in store for them! But she
remembered her promise, and only answered:
Yes mamma. am sleepy"
So mamma took q candle from the mantel-
piece, and led Bessy to bed, undressed her, and
listened to her little prayer, and tucked in the
quilt; then she said:
I'm be back for the light after I have had
my supper Shut your eyes, like good girl,
and 90 to sleep"
As soon as her mother left the room Bessy
slid off of the bed and into the next room,
which was her mothers, to hunt for two pairs
of shoes. After some funbling she found a pair
of slippers of her mothers, and large pair of
boots of her fathers. She put them in row by
the door, and then jumped into bed again.
1t was not until after what seemed to Bessy
a long, long time that she heard her father and
mother come out of the dining-room Then
she heard papa say:
"Why, what's the matter with the kew
can't turn it." She heard the key taken out.
and papa say again: "What is this in the key?
1t looks like wax"
After little she heard her father turn the
key and hang it up on the hook. Pretty soon
came into Bessy's room. Bessy closed
her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She felt
mamma kiss her, aud heard her close the door.
How long she slept she never knew; but
suddenly she started up wide awake to find the
stars shining down on her through the window.
Everything was as still as it could be. Bessy
if the fairies had come yet.
She stepped out of bed and across the room.
and put her hand into the big boots They
were empty; so were her own little shoes and
slippers.
well, they haven't come yet" she whis.
pered.
She was about to return when her attention
was attracted by a flash of light in the hall.
Bessy peeped out, thinking it might be the
fairy; but what was her surprise at seeing two
large men, in stocking feet, coming up the
lower stairs on tiptoe. The one behind carried
L lantern, and was making it flash backward
md forward, up and down, as the old fairy did
in the lane.
What could they want? she wondered.
The first man carried sack over his shouI-
Ier and pointed toward the closet where BesSv
knew all the silver-ware was kept Then the
nan with the lantern began pushing what
oolled like an enormous nail between the lock
md the door, stopping every now and then to
listen.
In a few moments the door flew open. and
10Th went in together. Then Bessy saw them
axe down the beautiful silver pitchers, tea-pots,
rays, and forks and spoons and put them into
he bag. They did it so softly that there was
lot even the least little chink from them
Though Bessy was very little girl and be-
ieved in fairies she knew these men had no
light to take papa's silver. So she thought she
must tell him. She ran to the door between
heir rooms, and pushed it open a little way.
Papa! papa.' she cried, a." two big men are
n the house. They have taken everything in
he silver closet. Take a stick and drive them
way"
Up jumped papa, Selling pair of great pis-
OILS, and made a rush for the stairs, with Bessy
ehind him.
They had not reached the first step when the
wo men darted out of the room below.
But on seeing papa with pistol in each
and, they dropped the bag and ran toward the
nen hall door, and were ont of Si0bt in a mo-