Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-29

just about this time received let
ter calling me to the city upon mat
ter of business. Fanny made arrange
ments for me to go by an early train,
so that might return that same even
ing, for she was timid, and dreaded the
thought of my absence for a single
night. Upon my arrival, however,
found that | could not do this |,
therefore, telegraphed my wife to that
effect, and also that Miss Jones, whom
l had invited to visit us, would go in
my place. Fanny was fond of all
young ladies, and Miss Jones in par
ticular. So 1 flattered myself that L
mcnt that l need be in no haste to re-
turn.
l was hardly able to conceal the boy
ish delight with which / entered my
club that evening. My friends were
glad to see me, in a way; but l felt
that they were less enthusiastic than
the circumstances demanded They
greeted me with: "Well, Warren, you
begin to look BETTER" and "Glad to
see that farming agrees with you,
George" till l felt like knocking every
man down that met. The salad was
flat and the wines insipid. | thought
of Fanny's dainty table with n sigh. l
even stole glance at my watch to see
if could catch the train and get back
that night. The thought of my wife
made me uneasy. She would be lonely,
so far from neighbors. She had owned
TO me that even in our pleasant home
on Fourth street, with Tidy in the
nursery, she had sometimes been so
nervous in the long nights when
l was away that the beating of her own
heart sounded like knocking ut the
street door. Or when the little curly
dog pricked up his ears TO listen she
wondered that l had not thought of
this before. There was slow train
leaving at midnight which would reach
Peachville about two in the morning,
and / resolved to take il. l had not
u minute to spare, and as we crawled
along at snails pace was puzzled ut
my own impatence to get back. 1t
was long enough after two when left
the train and began my homeward tramp
through the deep sand.
Fanny in the meantime had received
my telegram and fastened to meet Miss
Jones at the station. Ii was lone
some drive for the little woman; SO she
took Tidy and the boys along, for the
new carryall was very roomy. AS she
returned with her guest her heart sank
heavily, TO remember that there was no
one there to greet her. Still, she tried
to keep up a show of cheerfulncss, as
with q laughing "Opcn, Sesame and
,l.e 81. 1,n
door and entered. Tidy fastened to
prepare supper. while Fanny slowed
the boys in their cribs. Then the two
women sat on the piazza, talking as
women will as long rs they dared.
When no excuse could serve to keep
Miss Jones up longer my wife rueful-
ly lighted her to our pretty guest
chamber, dreading beyond EXPIRE ;sion.
no doubt, the return to her own quar-
ters.
Il hope you don't feel lonely, dear,
away up hcrcp" she said ut last, taking
up her candle.
"N-n--o, not lonely exactly" re-
turned the girl; 81 little afraid, per-
haps:" ~
"AfraidP' cried Fanny, and the cold
chills crept along her spine.
Eyes, little, because you were all
away so long and the house was left
alone. / only thought some tramp
-" Fanny interrupted her, saying,
as calmly as she could:
"Then come down and stay with me.
l shall be glad of your company"
How good my wife was I am afraid
Miss Jones guessed by her eager in
-. I'll hot
had finished the sentence about the
tramp she should have tainted
So the two descended 10 my wife $
room, which was in the al" and
opened into the nursery, as we'll rs up
on the piazza. / suppose they had UNI
consciously frightened each other, for
they carefully inspected all the fastcn-
ings,. which Tidy had secured hours be-
fore, and began to prepare for bed.
They talked till they were tired, then
each tried to make the other believe she
was asleep, lying with widc-open eyes
and ears strained to catch the hum of
an insects wing. What q comfort it
would have been if the call of some
watching sentry could have assured
them hour by hour that all was well!
At last sleep fell upon them, but how
long they slept they could never tell.
Fanny was Weakened by faint sound,
as of some one trying the outside door.
A lamp had been left burning in such n
position that the door could be distinct
ly seen. AS she listned, it slowly
opened.
"Shut that door!" che cried, with
the voice of clarion. Itslowly closed
Up sprang Miss Jones in mortal fear,
her face as white as her pillows. The
poor things looked nj each other in 81
lence. Again the door began to open,
and once more Fanny commanded it to
shut. The order was obeyed; but suit
ing the action TO the lurking falter in
my wife's voice, no doubt, the move
ment was less prompt than before.
With one bound Fanny sprang TO it and
turned the key, which was still inside.
Then the women held long and anx-
ious consultation, neither trying this
time to conceal her fears. There was
no use in waking Tidy, who would only
add to the panic by rousing the sleep.
ing children. Dreadful rs it seemed
the only alternative was to call for help.
So they crept upstairs, and. thrusting
their heads out of the windows, they
both yelled like Indians: Murder?
"Fire" "Thievcs!' "Help" Alas,
their only neighbor was q mile on, and
deaf at that, and echo only answered,
They descended and waited. Not only
did the noise continue, but they dis.
J tinctly saw the knob turn. They had
begun TO barricade the door, when Til
dy appeared. Miss Jones a'terward.
told me that Tildy's black eyes cleaned
out of her white face. like the eyes OF
the brothers of the Misericordia, y
from behind their masks.
Just then the baby lifted up his voice
My wife hurried TO tie nursery, an(
had only succeeded in reducing bis
shrieks to q simple whine, when Tild,
uttered n bloodcrdling cry:
Teddy is gone"
Satisfied that it was too trac, Fam,
| took up the alarm with variations: IN,