The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-12
SAVED BY A PIGEON.

1t vas the sweetest little thing you
ever saw-a wee carrier-pigeon, with
pure white breast, its wings a soft
pearl-grey, and its arching neck gleam-
ing with iridescent hues.
A boy had brought it over from Elm
wood that morning in a dainty willow
basket, lined with pink cottonwood,
and its handle adorned with bows of
pink ribbon.
"From Larry, of coursev' cried Aunt
Judith, as l entered the breakfast
room. 81 don't believe earth ever pro-
duccd so gallant a lover." she continued
in her teasing way. 81 believe he
sends you a present every day, Yes
terday it was a beautiful boquet of
flowers, the day before a box of bon
bons, and the day before that-well,
let me see-he came himself! And
what have you now, pray, a turtle
dove?"
"No; a carrier-pigeon, and Larry
says it is a trained one, too" l replied,
referring to the letter, a. dainty billet
which had accompanied the gift.
"Aha. Now we shall have tender
missives flying over our heads, 1 pre-
sumo! Away with prosaic postage
stamps, and all that"
81 wish Larry had sent her a big
bulldog instead of the bird" said papa,
as he helped himself to the toast.
"Why, papa!'I gasped. GLOW I'M
poetical!"
VERY useful. my dear. Especially
just now when there are SO many
burglars about"
Il hear Mr.. Sayre's house has been
robbed, and Golden's jewelry store,
too said Aunt Judith. Goodness
me, 1 hope they won't come here.
We're in such a lonely, out-of-the-way
place, too. Thomas turning to my
father, don't you think that you had
better take the spare silver and the
family diamonds to a more secure
placer"
"I've been thinking about that very
thing said papa. "We shan't need
them till Meg here" turning to me
with a smile, 'becomes Mrs. Lawrence
Carroll. So I might as well take then
down to the bank and lock them up in
the safe"
'But what if they break in the
bank" l asked.
Papa laughed derisively. He wa.
always Boosting of the safety of the
bank.
"They couldn't open the safe unles.
the cashier and l were both tire. It,
n Of the best combination locks made
Tn positive that anything put in tina,
safe is perfectly secure"
Poor papa! "How little he though
But there, that's just like me, al
ways getting ahead of my story.
Larry didn't spend that evenin,
with me, and so l went to bed quit
early. l soon fell asleep, but somehow
didn't rest very well, and was gla,
when l awoke, for | was dreaming tina
Larry and | had an awful quarrel.
But the sick, wretched feeling didn'
pass away with my awaking. Ihad
smothered, suffocated feeling that mad
me actually gasp for breath. Think
ing that the bedclothes were lyin
across my face, l reached up my han
to draw them away, and found there
instead, a handkerchief saturated wit
asubtle, overpowering scent.
Chloroform! Yes, that was it. Bu
what did it mean? Shivering with
nameless terror, but with my senses a
aroused, l sprang from the bed an
went to the door.
1t was slightly ajar, and through til
opening alight shone family. l creI
softly out into the hall, and leanin
over the railing, looked down. Ol
heavensl what did | see?
Four strong men, wearing blac
marks, and armed with revolver
dragging along my dear old father!
"You villains! What is the use
this?' Iheard poor, dear papa say. :
shall never, never do itl'
"You won't see the sun rise agail