The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-10-09
miscellaneous.
MOllie Wilson's Burglar.


Mary Wilson had passed the first seven
teen years of her life in country village
then she went to the city to visit her brother
and found its attractions so alluring that six
months slipped away and the time of her re-
turn to country life was, as yet, indefinitely
postponed. For two months previous to her
visit her country friends had We'd with each
other in telling tales of the cunning, the
wickedness, the subtility of city sharpers,
pickpockets and burglars, until the idea be-
came firmly fixed in her mind that she was
going into den of thieves but as yet, she
had met with no adventure worthy of note,
and was fast reaching the conclusion that
city people were no worse than their country
neighbors, when something occurred which
caused her, for Il short time at least to change
her mind. But of this, more anon.
She was still heart-whole although she
had been sought by several very eligible suit
Ors since her arrival in the city, for she was
a pretty girl very desirable for her own
sweet sake, but still more so as Mary Wilson,
sister of the wealthy and influential LAWYER
Wilson, and this was how matters stood,
when one Sabbath she CHANGED to see n
stranger in the pew adjoining her brothers.,
and could not help seeing that the stranger
was regarding her with admirng eyes, they
were, too, but she tried to dismiss all thought
of him, and them, as she had done of others
on similar occasions, but foundit impossible.
Those dark eyes presented themselves to her
mental vision with persistency for which
she could not account.
On Monday evening her brother bought
tickets and invited his wife and sister to nj
tend a lecture, and Miss Molle caught her
self wondering, as she donned her cloak and
hat, if the dark-eyed gentleman would be
there, and if he would look for her. She
found the lecture insutferably dull, and con.
Guided, after q time, to return home. She
whispered this intention to her brother, who
saw her to his carriage, and giving nstruc.
tons to the coachman to return for them, he
went back to his wife, while Miss Mollie was
driven rapidly homeward. Arrived there,
she left her hat and cloak in the hall and ran
lightly up the stairs to her room. The door
was partly open, although she was sure she
had closed it, the gas was turned low as she
had left it, and in the half light she saw, be-
fore she reached the doorway, man in the
room. His back was toward her. and he
was walking toward a closet at the other side
of the apartment. He opened the door and
stepped inside; one glance told her that the
key was in the lock; she ran swiftly across
the room, her feet making little or no sound
e.,
heard him mutter, "why can't they leave
things where a fellow can find them ?" Eyes"
she thought cher first surmise was correct ::
it was a burglar" Like flash she threw
herself against the door and turned the kew.
She was terribly frightened, and felt guile
sure that she should faint, but as her prison.
or made no demonstrations beyond trying the
door gently, this feeling soon wore off She
turned on the gas, drew a chair in front of
the closet door, where she sat down to con-
slider what was best to do. If she called the
servants they would be frightened there
would be noise and confusion, and perhaps
he would get away. If she went down after
a policeman, he might get out while she was
gone no, she would stay where she was and
keep guard until her brother should return.
She had surely caught him, and did it very
neatly, too and the more she thought of it
the Drawer and more jubilant she grew. She
wished lie would speak; she was anxious to
know how he felt about the situation Pres.
emily he did speak; he had very pleasant
voice; he tried the door again and asked:
"Who locked that door,"
And she answered promptly, II did"
what forY"
| don't intend that you shall get away,
either"
There was silence for q minute or two,
then the prisoner remarked: Don't you
think this joke has gone about far enough,
Molie, dear? Now let me out. There's a
darling"
"oh you wretch, you villain How dare
your"
"How dare what"
"Why, call me that"
Thought il was my sister. BY Jove !" he
exclaimed ina lower tone. Then he bent
down and looked through the key hole. This
is what he saw: A graceful, girlish figure,
robed in some soft, clinging material; a
bright, selfreliant face framed by masses of
fluffy brown hair. 1t took him some time to
make these observations, for the key hole
was so small that he could see but part of
the pretty picture at once. Then he remark
ed, II think, miss, that there is some mistake"
"Oh ! yes suppose so, " sarcastically.
II think came into the wrong house"
II think you did"
"Isn't this No. 2"
mo, indeed, it is No.2."
"Well, stop at No. 4 came there on Sat-
urday to visit my sister Mollie Blown. The
houses must be just alike. Invent to the lee
ture and found it dull, so came home, or
thought did"
"Humph la likely story"
II hope you will find it acceptable" re.
marked the young man, who occasionally
dabbled in literature. Then the comical side
of the affair forced itself upon him, and he
laughed, actually laughed she heard him
'"You seem to enjoy the situation" she said
somewhat spitefully, thinking it proof ofhis
total depravity.
II do, immensely"
81 should think you would, with the gal
lows staring you in the face"
1.-THE gallowsY
Eyes, | am sure my brother will have you
hanged"
"Your brother ?" then doub,fully and hes
ita,ingly, "Are you Bella Clark ?"
mo, indeed, am moi" very energeticaily /;
for Bella Clark-Dr Clark's sister and Mrs.
Browns nearest neighb on the other side
was what Mollie Wilson always designated as