The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-10-23
BARBARA'S BURGLAR.
BY NJ. G. FARLEY.


The day was oppressively warm. The
sun shone down on the little vine
covered villa with such a scorching
glare that even the great red roses on
the lattice dropped and hung their
heads with fatigue. Bees droned lazily
among the honey-suclae cups, and Dick,
the pet canary, had long since ceased
thrilling his shrill notes, and with pant
ing breath and distended wings sought
the shadiest corner of his gilded cage.
Overcome by the stiffness and the ex-
treme heat, old Miss Pennyfeather sat
out on the back piazza under cover of
the vines, the rutfies of her muslin cap
hanging Imply about her face, and her
two mittened hands hanging idly in her
lap, fast asleep
Barbara, her pretty niece, was she'll
ing peas on the doorstep. AS q pro-
longed and startling snore betrayed the
old lady's somnoient condition? Bar
bara picked up a handful of pea-pods
and, taking deliberate aim at her aunt's
open mouth, threw them with such skill
that Miss Pennyfeather suddenly
bounced from her sea and being very
near the edge of the plaza. lost her bal
lance and went rolling down the steps
upon the green sward.
This being rather more than Miss
Barbara had bargained for, she hasten
ed to Aunt Pennyfeather's assistance.
ooh, Aunt Pennyfeather, cried
Barbara, penitently, do forgive me. L
had no idea that you would attempt to
get up
60 away, you bad Bab." retorted
the spinster, testify. "What with your
perverseness and your practical jokes
you'll be the death of me yet. Get
away with you, say. L can help my
self. and no thanks to you"
eff madam will allow me-" said n
deep and solemn voice behind them, Il
shall be only too glad to render my as
sistanee."
Bah gllnced up. A tall and elegant
stranger stood there, holding his hat in
his kidded hands.
"Thank YOU" said Aunt Pennyfeath-
er, briskly, lyon may give me your arm
if you please. My niece here has no
respect for age and L am not unfre-
quently the victim of her pranks"
The stranger helped Aunt Penny
feather TO rise and conducted her to the
ssitting-room door.
In minute more Aunt Pen had in
'vited him In, and capped it all by ask
ing him TO stop with her for tea.
Il am expecting my nephew, Jack
Dean, to-day" she went on, "and If you
are intending to remain in this locality
for any length of time, / will be
glad to do what / can to make your
~ ,,1a in ,r,
for your kindness to me-"
The gentleman pulled card from his
pocket and presented it to Aunt Pen
nyfeather.
II am only theological student out
on little vacation" said he, in his
deeply solemn voice, "and at present L
am visiting for few days at Judge
Holcom's, on the hill yonder.'
Aunt Pen waved her hand with a
gratified smile.
Judge Holcoms family represented
the very highest aristocracy of the
countryside. To visit Judge Holcom's
was to have an e1tree to the very best
society for miles around, and this was
something even Aunt Pen could appre-
ciate.
"You haven't yet accepted my invita-
ton to take tea with us" said Miss
Pennyfeather, bl ,ndly. Il have a rare
old Dresden cup, only used on great oc-
casions, that you shall drink your tea
from if you stay"
"Your inducements are Irresistible,
my dear madam" replied the elegant
stranger, putting his glossy silk hat
down on the little table. "Do you
know, if j have hobby at all. that
hobby is for fine china and bric-a-braC
generally.
Miss Pennyfeather sighed.
GLOW 1 wish my nephew had taste
for such things" said she, plaintively
~but he hasn't. He is q good-natured
harum -scarum sort of fellow, but
Without any liking whatever for the
fine arts. And Barbara is just like
him. don't believe jack could tell q
Sevres dish from one of common deli
though on some things, such as horses
and dogs, fishing lines and guns,
think he is quoted as an authority"
you're awfully hard on poor Jack
aunty," said Bah, suddenly from tn,
porch where she was Smelling the peas
~Don't You remember how he swan
the river and saved four lives last sum
mer, when they would surely have beer
lost but for him?"
Aunt Pen looked at the strange gen
tIoman as much as TO say, "This is all
can expect" In return she received