The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-06-28

not help thinking of how badly her
mother would feel should that silver by
any chance be stolen. 1t seemed to
her that there were strange noises all
about the house; and once sound as
OF window being moved softly up set
her heart to humping in very lively
way.
"What a goose / ami she said at
length, aloud, and jumping out of bed
as she spoke. ''It's nothing but rat.
But I'll go down and lock that door.
can't 60 to sleep till do"
She slipped into wrapper, laughing
at herself all the while, and went softly
down-stairs-so softly that she could
scarcely hear the sound of her own
stockinged feet as she walked. She
took down the paddock and KEY, which
were seldom used, from nail in the
kitchen, and went bravely into the
pantry The moon shining in at the
window lighted her way, but it was
surely not the moonlight which shone in
that dreadful preserve closet, streaming
out at the door which stood wide open.
Katy's heart stood still with horrori
There in the closet, on the wide lower
shelf was a lighted lamp, and beside it
glistened the heavy old-fashioned cake
dish that had belonged to KatY's great
grandmother, and before itstood- Katy
was sure-the tramp.
She could hardly keep from scream
ing, and her hands shook as with the
ague; but with one quick dart she
slammed the closet door, put the heavy
hasp in place, and sprung the paddock.
There was startled exclamation from
her prisoner as she did so. 1t was all
Katy heard before she fled from the
pantry to the outer door, unlocked it,
and sped away through the moonlighted
night toward Aunt Priscilla's, a mile
distant
F'He can't hurt Tilly," she painted,
land she won't wake up and he-can' t
get out. But maybe he'll burn the
house up. o why can't father comel
and what makes it so far to Aunt
Prissy'sr'
She didn't get to Aunt Priscilla's.
Just at that moment came the sound of
carriage wheels, and before Katy had
time to do more than recognize the old
gray she heard a startled cry from her
mother.
"Why, Katy! child alive. what brings
you here?n
Then poor little Katy, how she trem-
bled when her father picked her up
and placed her in the carriage; and
how, almost sobbing with the fear and
excitement of it, she told her story;
and how, by the time they reached
home, she was as nearly in Mysteries as
it was possible for Well-ordered little
girl, with no nerves to speak of, to be.
"There, there, deari And in your
wrapper, toof' said her mother, anx-
iously. "You might have put on
shawl, Katy. You'll catch your death. !"
''You must have dreamed it all,
daughter" said her father. But he
lost no time in entering the house, and
he provided himself with huge pistol,
which hadn't been discharged for
dozen years, before he unlocked the
closet door and began to open it eau
tiously. Then Katy and her mother,
waiting by the kitchen door, which
they took the precaution to hold wide
open, heard an exclamation of surprise.
''Aha! you'd better come out, sir,
and give yourself up peaceably."
with the greatest pleasure. 1t was
laughing voice, and it was laugh
ing, remarkably good-looking face that
presently showed itself over Mr.. Dill
lingham's shoulder in the pantry door
way.
Katy's mother took an eager step
forward. Il believe-it is Frank" she
cried. "Why, Frank, Frank Sawyer,
where did you fall from?''
The minute Katy saw hermother half
crying on the young mans shoulder,
with her arms around his neck, she
knew that this was the uncle she never
to have seen, who had
been abroad for years. Poor little
Katy once more! How astonished and
ashamed she was! To think she had
locked her mothers only brother up in
the preserve closet for a thief! How
dreadful it was! Katy with burning
cheeks, drew back in the shadow of the
open door.
"But howl deelare,n laughed |
Mrs. Dillingham;, II don't much |
blame Katy"
1T goes without telling,'' said Katy's
uncle, laughing too. 81 came on the |
ten-o' clock train, and made up my
mind to walk over from the station. /
When got here | knocked at the door,
but nobody woke up, so / Just made
my way in through the window. was
hungrier than cannibal, and thought
I'd get something to eat without wax
ng anybody up. / was after preserves
know have a sweet tooth
when saw grandmother's silver, and
was taking look at it for the sake
'f old times, when presto! found
myself prisoner.
1T was Katy said Mrs. Dilling-
nam, laughing until she cried. Katy
why, what are you hiding for,
,hildP Come here go
And Katy reluctantly obeyed.
''Now how was it, daughter?" asked
Ter father, when this strange uncle had
haken hands with Katy and kissed
ler half a dozen times on each cheek.
So Katy told the story over again,
his time with good many laughing
And you were kind of burglar
he said, slyly glancing up, .sbeeause
Tou were after the preserves. Won