The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-03
THE BURGLAR.

"There is no use talking, Mr..
Wylks, I cannot stand this much long
or. You have been out every night
this week until after twelve, and l
haven't slept a wink, fretting about
you, until I am almost tired out"
"Well, don't worry about me, dear.
Go to sleep tonight, and get a good
rest"
"That is just like q man, to talk 80.
Go to sleep, indeedl I presume you
would, and leave the house to take
care Of itself, to be broken into by
burglars, and maybe the whole family
would be murdered. IF you loved me
as you used to when we were first
married, you would not be willing to
leave me every evening for the club
house, while I worry and fret, and get
my nerves all unstrung."
"It is necessary that I should attend
to these things, my dear. The coun-
try must be governed. and growing
needs require constant watchfulness
and new laws. I don't mean to be
out any than I am obliged to.
You must be willing to sacrifice a
little for the good of your country.
Just make up your mind that you will
60 to sleep, and you won't be troubled
any further with wakefulness."
1.-THE idea of me coolly making up
my mind to 60 to sleep while you are
out is perfectly preposterous. I
wouldn't be 80 heartless."
"Well, I won't go out tomorrow
night, I'll stay in with you; but to-
light must"
"Oh, dear! I suppose I must stand
it; but I'm sure something will hap
pen. I have a presentment, and when
did my presentments aver fail? We
may never see each other again. If
You come home and find baby and me
killed, don't be surprised"
"Tll try not to be-" replied Mr..
Wylks as he put on his overcoat and
smiled down at the troubled face of
his wife. Then he gave her a good-by
kiss and left her, and she hurried
through the house to make sure that
the windows were all fastened down
and the bolts of the doors all pushed
into their ~fastenings. then she sat
down and read all the startling acct
dents, the terrible burglaries and the
frightful murders that the daily papers
furnish so plentifully, and when she
had got herself wrought up so that
she could sit still no longer, she once
more visited all the windows and
doors and warned the girls against
removing a single bolt or bar. Then
she returned to her cozy sitting room
and sat down in silence, listening for
the sounding Of some thieving wretch,
and trying to imagine what she should
do if one of the villains should con-
fro1t her and demand her jewels and
the key to the silver closet.
Time went on and the clock struck
IL, srill she was undecided what she
had better do if anything unusual
should happen. The girls had gone
sp to bed, and were, undoubtedly,
sound asleep.
dalf an hour crept by. Baby cried
out in his sleep, and Mrs. Wylks hast
eneG 20 him, for there was no nurse to
attend him. Mrs. Wylks would never
trust the little darling with any one
but herself. She shut and fastened
the bedroom door, and lay down be-
side Ler little one to soothe him Ito
sleep. The clock struck IL, and then
Mrs. Wylks heard a noise. Breath.
lessly she listened; soft footsteps were
creeping up the stairs. They paused
a moment at her door, and then she
heard the knob turn, but as the door
did not open the midnight maraudel
passed softly on. She heard him ente,
the sitting room, and for a momen,
Ill was still.
Something must be DONE" solilo
quized Mrs. Wylks, as abe softly raiset
herself from beside her sleeping infant