The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-15
POLLY'S BURGLAR.

Gray and icecold the twilight had daraenet
over the Stone Tower, until the ruddy glow
the fire became insufficient to dIspel the creep
ing shadows, and Mamie broughtin the lamp
1t was a great, low.celed room, with an an
Itiauecarvcd cornice and wainscOt OF oaE
which reached above Nannic's shoulder
room where the faded crimson hanglngs shu
out the dying daylight, and the pattern OF The
carpet had long become indistinsuishable.
Aud the three blooming, brighteycd young
girls in this ancient room seemed as much ou
of their element as cluster of rosebuds would
have been lying on an Egyptian sarcophagus
But Colonel Copely liked secuson and an
tiquity. Moreover, he liked economy. And
when he brought his three motherless daugh
tiers down to the Stone Tower he grimly gave
them to understand that they, too, must teach
themselves to like these three aspects OF lie
There's one thing" ColoHel COpely, who
was man ha,er added to himself, they'll &c,
no beaux here! No girl ought to dream OF a
beau until she Is twenty-five years old, at the
very least"
Which was rather hard on Amy and Nan
ME- who were nineteen and seventeen, and
had their pretty heads full of vague visions OF
love and lovers. And even little Polly, the
youngest, who had barely turned fifteen, had
an imaginary ideal IN her brain, with dark,
melancholy eyes and brow like ivory, which
she hoped one day might be realized in a
sutton.
And upon this windy March night, when
Colonel Copely WAS In the city, and Miss
Baird, the gOverness, was confined to her room
with an attack of inflammatory rheumatism,
Amy and Mamie were going to a surreptious
party.
"Of course papa wouldn't let US 90 If he
were at home" said Amy.
"And we couldn't manage it ii Miss Baird
wasn't laid up, either" sagely added Mamie.
"But everything happens for the best" said
Amy. Do look at this lovely colored silk,
Nan. WasR't it good of Mary Sinclair to
lend US the three dresses to choose from?
think l. II wear the gold-colored silk, with this
black lace mantle"
And j." said Mamie, who was pink and
plump, with china blue eyes and radient,
bronze brown hair, shall wear the white all
brocaded over with pink rosebuds, and the
rose.colored satin slippers. o, Amy, darling"
-pouncing upon her sister with little, &c
static kiss-"we sha'nt know ourselves"
Couldn't 60, too, pleaded Polly, whose
gypsy beauty cleaned in between the apple.
bloom faces OF her sisters like a JaceQuemnot
rose among white moss pink. Couldn't |
kwear the pretty garnet silk that you've neither
Of you chosen?"
"Nonsensem cried Amy "You are only a
child"
81 shall be sixteen IN nine months" urged
Polly. "And I'm almost as tall as you and
Mamie And | never, neger was at grown
up party in my life!"
Polly" said Mamie, with autocratlc sever.
ity, hold your tongue! It's quite out of the
question. You are to stay here with Miss
Bard"
But Miss Baird Is always asleep in the
eveniDgW whimpered Polly.
80 much the better for you" pronounced
Mamie, And to look after the house"
THE house won't run away" pouted Polly,
still rebelious.
THAT isn't the question under discussion"
said Amy. Get the work. basket now, like a
darling, and hel US tuck up these dresses a
little, for Mary Sinclair Is at least half a head
taller than we are. And there Is no time to
lose'
Polly drew deep sigh and obeyed.
why was IT, she argued within herself
that she must always be put down and snub
bed, and kept IN the background, because she
was the youngest, and wore short troCks with
her HAIR braided IN two Chinese tails down
her back. II ever she was a grown.up young
lady, shed show them
But Poly got little better natured when
she was allowed 10 make waiilcs her ownseit
for tea, in the absence of Mary Eliza, their
sole domestic, whose brother had bethought
himself to fall Ill OF fever, half mile or so up
the mountain at this suspicious time, Of all
others, and TO select a jar of raspberry jam, by
way of accompaniment.
For Polly, tall though she was, had not
quite outgrown the age of tea-sets and delight
in playing at housekeeping. And she arrang-
ed the tea-rose buds in her sisters HAIR and
gave the last dainty touch to their dresses
| Polly was born lady'smaid, the girls de-
clared, laughing-and looked regretfuly after
them, as, with their splendor all shrouded IN
black serge cloaks, they hurried down the
frozen road, two merry, fleetlng shadows
30, dear, oh, dearl'' said Polly, aloud "how
1 wish ! was going too"
And she winKed the tears down and ran
back into the wainscoted room, where the
lamp still glowed, and the logs blazed and
snapped on the hearth, so hurriedly that she
never once remembered Amy's farewell eau
ton as to the locking and doub!elocking OF
the outer door
Miss Blair was asleep after her supper and
her medicine. There was no use going to her
for companionship; for she snored and slep,
with her mouth open, and was not IN the least
an ideal slumberer. Aud the kitchen was
very lonesome without Mary Eliza, and even
the cat was too drowsy to purr or frolic with
a ball of knitting yarn.
What shall l doy" SAID Polly 80,
know I'll try on the garnet silk dress, and
fancy I'm grown.up young lady going to q
ball !"
She was walking up and down the floor
trying TO see hcrseli in the old Venetian mir
ror that hung above the tall, wooden mantle
when the creeking of board In the hal
startled her. Flying to the door, garnet silk
train and all she came face TO face with
} man.
IL beg your pardon!" he said, apologetical
ly; "but you did not hear the knock, and
h What do you wantY" cried Polly, all IN
panic. go away at once"
, II called to see If the young ladies'
Polly waited TO hear no more Vague idea
of peddlars, tramps. burglars, midnight assas