Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-02-08
A MAIDEN LkDYS MISTAKE


Ono summer night, or rather abou,
2 o'clock in the morning, Miss Brind'
leton-who had imprudenily opened
her window (it looked on to u garden
at the back of her house) before going
TO bed, on account of the heat-wa'
awakened by noise, and starting "
she saw burglar in the room. Dis
turbcd in his occupation by the slight
exclamation which Miss Brindlcton
uttered when she 0wokc, he lifted Q
dark lantern which he laid on the table
unmasked the bull's-eyc, and turned
lis light full upon the lady whom he
was despoiling.
Undauntcd, Miss Brndleton-tho'
she could no longer see him now fol
the glarc-starcd straight before hel
and asked, swell, what are you do
ing?'
No answer being vouchsaied, the
advocate of womcn's rights continued
"That watch of mine is not valuable
one to any one except myself, for it is
n gift (; but ] have much more prcci'
ous one down stairs which will give
you if you will leave mo this one, and
l should like you to leave me those
rings, too; l will give you the worth
of them in money
eyes, l dcssay," grumbled the
burglar, "you want me to let you get
up that you may raise an alarm and
have me nabbed."
81 give you my word of honor that
if YOU 90 out of the room while L put
on my dressing-gown, Twill take you
down stairs and raise no alarm at all. y
"If you did, I'd mighty soon quiet
yer with my Jenny" growled the
burglar.
"If you feel so strong what have
you to be frightened about!' retorted
Miss Brindlcton, logically
'Well, you're a we'll plucked 'un, l
must say" remarked the burglar with
involuntary admiration; and with
noiseless steps, for he had taken his
shoes off, he stole out Of the room and
waited on the landing while Miss
Brindleton glided out of bed and put on
a peignoir,
Miss Brindleton used to keep her
check-book, money and other valuables
in a desk that stood in her study on
the ground floor. Thinking, however,
that it was best to show no signs OF
fear, she walked straight tn her desk,
unlocked it and was about to hand the
man a massive gold turnip watch, SET
with diamonds, which had belonged to
an uncle of hers, when the burglar
addressed her thus in low, sheepish
tone: Look here, miss, don't want
to take yer watch; Pm alone in this
job, so I'll be satisfied if yer pay me
off with f2O-that'll do for me-"
"Twenty pounds, you say" return
ed Miss Brindleton calmly, and TAX
ing up small gold bag she began to
count out number of sovereigns.-
GIVE, ten, eighteen, twenty
"You've made It twenty-one," said
the burglar, honorably pushing back a
superAuous coin while he pocketed the
rest. "And now, miss, I'll go, and
I'm much obliged to you"
81 think | had better let you out
through the front door; that will be
more convenient for you than climbing
out the window" said Miss Brindle'
ton "allow me to add that l am sor-
ry to see a man Of your size and
strength engaged in such dishonest
work as this; You ought to be asham-
ed of yourself"
"Ah, miss, it isn't everybody that
can be honest by merely wishing it,
replied the burglar, as he followed
Miss Brindleton into the passage : and
he made the lady n respectful and
rather mournfnl bow as she ushered
him out.
81 shall remember you, my man,
muttered Miss Brindleton to herself, a.
she closed the door and put up the
chain, and presently returned to he1