The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-08-12
A MAN IN THE HOUSE,

And she has tilted him.
Chicago Rambler.
A MAN IN THE HOUSE;
''Back on the midnight train if can
make it. One chance in q thousand.
I'll try though, And don't you young
folks over sleep yourselves tomorrow
or you'll lose days fishing-bound to
rain Thursday. BY by!''
The Colonel was half way across the
lawn as he shouted tho warning to the
little knot gathered on the veranda and
IN the hallway. The whistle of the To-
connective rounding the bend at Potter's
Point woke tho echoes. If Dan, the
Colonel's reliable servant, reached the
station in time the down train would
stop for solitary passenger, otherwise
he would come back to us grumbling,
AS the handspring of half our pleasure
seemed to be leaving us with every
bound the Colonel made, "cuttine
across lots" as Dick Mayberry termed
it. we wished for once that Dan, like q
Princes promise, would fail the Colo
mel, But the train slowed up as soon
as it came in sight, almost stopped,
then started again with suddenness
and fury as if to make up for lost time
and the little group looked blankly
at each other.
The Colonol's wife. meantime,
glanced over the telegraphic message
that had torn the Colonel away from
US just when we were beginning to en-
Joy ourselves. Her unruffled counte-
nance treasured us. Nothing serious
threatened.
"A matter of business-to serve q
FRIEND" said Mrs. Potter, smiling, as
she joined us. lit is annoying, but it
cant be helped, so we will Just man
age to do without him."
Then all the gentlemen voted her a
paragon. and the ladies said there
never were two people so well matched.
We were q merry party. just ten
before the Colonel was called away:
The Colonel and Mrs. Potter, and four
young couples there by express invita-
tation. We had explored the mysteries
of Luker's Cave, ''done" the noun
tain ridge, ten miles distant, on horse
back, and on the morrow would 20
fishing. Two days of unalloyed
pleasure followed by evenings so en-
joyable that we were wholly oblivious
to the world outside of Potter's Point.
How she managed never could sur
mise: but there never was q woman
with the tact the Colonel's wife dis
played. What proof could be more
convincing, what demonstration more
powerful, than the four marriages en-
suing in less than year--marriages
which made life partners of the four
couples that danced, sung, and made
love under Col. Potter's roof in June.
1.-The evening has not been so dreary
after all,'' said the Colonel's wife,
archly turning to Fred Blyther.
Fred, who was pretending to turn
the music for Miss Haldine, looked at
his watch and exclaimed:
''Half-past l, by Jove!"
There was loud protest, but when
five or six watches were covertly
glanced at as many tongues averred
the thing was incredible. Time had
never sped 50 swiftly. And as all af-
fected horror and expressed contrition
the Coloners wife scarcely needed to
remind us of the necessity of an early
start on the morrow. There was q
scurrying to bed that attested dispo-
sition to make amends for the dissipa-
ton INDUCED.
Did you ever remark how soundly
one sleeps after day and evening Of
rare enjoyment? The entire household
was enjoying the bounty of Natures
sweet restorcr-balmy Sleep" when a
hand was laid on mine, and voice
knew we'll electrified mo with the whis-
per:
There's a man in tho house, Allck. -
l sat bolt upright in bed. The door
of the room was closed. Between the
door and my bed Fred Blythe stood in
his night clothes. There was just
enough light to discern him.
"Are you surc?"
"Postivcly. Mayberry is sleeping
with me. He heard him. Whoever it
was Dick, says he was in our room.
He is dressing himself. Come to our
room quietly"
Think l did not consume more than
one minute getting into my trousers
and vest> When l entered the adjoin-
ing room, Mayberry and Blythe were
similarly attired. Dick had lit a wax
taper. I had the presence of mind to
assure myself that Dick was satisfied
he had heard some one in or about the
house. also prided myself then and
afterwards upon the forethought !
displayed in reminding my companions
of the necessity of assuring ourselves
that the person who made the noise
was not the Colonel. Then, taking
the leadership into my own hands with
the decision that marks all leaders o.
men, I pointed to my companions feet
Instantly both removed their slippers
"Will we waken Stowbridge?'
whispered May berry.
''No!" answered promptly. Arthur
is heavy sleeper and would be sure tt
make mess Of it,
led the way in theupper hall il
the dark. had put out a hand-my
left-to feel for the stair-rail.
thought should be near, when a dool
opposit to me, on the right, opened.
held ny breath, and reaching back
grasped Mayberry's arm with my-right
hand. Dick grasped my hand ant
pressed it in return just as low voice
in a tone I shall never forget, sale
without q tremor-indeed, with per
feet composure:
"'Whoever you are, warn you. t.
leave instantly, or l will alarm tn,
house
1t was Alice Trevino, whose voic.
always thrilled me, and whose in
difference made life miserable until W,
were cast together at Potter's Point
Very few words suficed to explain tn,
situation. A whispered consultation