Middletown transcript., 1883-02-02

evening. Anecdotes and adventures
were familiar to him, and he evinced
the greatest interest in Aunt Penolope's
winter rheumatism and summer hay
cold, besides being quite sure Of a rem
edy for the red cows horn ailment.
~ think he's a very pleasant, soeiable
sort Of man, and I shouldn't wonder
if we bit on bargain about the black
poplin tomorrow morning." said Aunt
Pen, in high good humor, when he
had gone up to bed, and she was rak1ng
up the embers Of the fire, with Isabel
leaning on the mantel-piece beyond.
Open the bedroom door, Isabel
that's right. i like to see the shine Of
the keepin'-room fire on my walls at
night. Get your candle, child come,
it's after ten.''
"Aunt Pen. h said Isabel, hesitat-
ingIy, CT should like to sleep with
you tonight n
Aunt Pen. dropped the poker and
tongs On the stone hearth with great
clatter.
"Sleep with me Why, yes, if you're
a mind to. But what's the matter !?
You ar'n't afeard o. nothin', be you ?''
"N-no, but the room up stairs is 50
lonely, and the wind whistles down the
chimney, and the noise Of the rats in
the garret overhead makes me ner-
vous II
"Get your things then, quick But
you'll get used to all these outlandish
noises after a while"
Isabel ran up stairs after her little
rufied night-dress and dressing jacket.
She involuntarily quickened her steps
as she passed the door Of the north
chamber, where the peddler was en-
sconed. 1t might have been her fancy
but she certainly imagined that the
door Of that apartment was ajar, and
creaked softly as she passed it II
Aunt Penelope was leisurely prepar-
ing for bed as her niece came duttering
down the stairway. Isabel looked eau
tiously round the room as she set down
the candle.
Aunt PEN, is that pistol hanging
over the fireplace ? What an old fash
ioned thing II
"Lal child, yes; it's your Uncle
Wilde's old blunderbuss. that I haven't
never had the heart to put away since
he died. He thought a dreadful sight
ont i"
els it loaded ?"
No, to be sure it ant II
But, Aunt Pen, don't you think it
would be safer to have it loaded, in
case of-of thieves Or burglars 2"
"Maybe 'twould,'' said Aunt Pen.
but there ha'n't been no one here to
look arter it, and | can't load it,
"But think I could, Aunt Pen. I
have often loaded and unloaded my
brother Toms revolver. Where are
| the powder and ball m
"They're in the cupboard; but it's
all awful rusty old thing, and I'm most
afeard for you to handle it, Isabel"
III can oil the rusty spots, aunt"
Aunt Penelope looked obviously on
while her niece oiled and cleansed the
ancient weapon, and loaded it with
quick, skillful fingers.
"There, !" said Isabel, replacing the
pistol on its hooks, n now we shall both
feel deal safer"
"May be So, said Aunt Pen. ; ''but
I never was troubled with burglars, and
| don't expect ever shall be-"
So saying, the worthy old lady turned
over on the pillow, and fell fast asleep.
Isabel, however, was less amfnable
to the influence Of Somnus. She tossed
and turned now closing her eyes and
trying to WOO sleep, now straining
them out Of the uncurtained window
opposite, where the stars shone fitfully
through flying racks Of March clouds.
The house seemed full Of strange, un-
earthly sounds-the stairs creaked dis
mally, the broken shutters tapped
against the siding, and droves Of rats
and mice skurried overhead, between
plastering and floor, like small regi-
ments Of infantry OF the double-quick
over a hostile country.
"Hush what was that stealthy
sound !? Surely something besides wind
and fancy.'' Isabel listened intently.
She was right. It was the fall Of
mufled footsteps softly descending the
stairs, and the next instant the gleam
of dark lantern betrayed the outline
Of the peddler's form, stealing quietly
into the very room where she lay
Oh, for the pistol now but it hung
over the mantel, and the burly figure Of
the midnight marauder interposed be-
tween! He went straight to the door
Of the pantry closet, from which he had
doubtless seen poor Aunt Penelope take
her stockingfoot Of bank bills that very
afternoon, and tried it. 1t was locked,
and the key taken out
He paused an instant, with low,
muttered execration, then turned and
began searching in the various little
hooks and repositories about Aunt
Pen. q old-fashioned bureau-top where a
key was likely to be kept.
Now was her opportunity. His back
, was toward her, and with q skillful
calculating Of time and distance, she
J thought she could noiselessly steal
across the room and possess herself OF
the pistol before he discovered that she
was not asleep,
! She had just balanced herself on heI
! elbow with one foot on the floor, thank
full beyond expression for Aunt Pene-
/ 1ope's measured snores, when an mad.
: vertent movement Of the mans hand
> overturned A camphor bottle upon 9