The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-16

herself Tor the night whom grandma called :
''You put the every day teaspoons under
the mattress, but you forgot the best ones,
Lucia. There's half-dozen Of 'om up In
that old teapot Is sofd-and the sirup-cup.
Bring them all here"
"You can't sleep with the teapot and
sirup-cup under the mattress, grandma"
"Yes, can. Put 'em over the back side ="
Lucy had resumed her position on the
sofa and was getting finely drowsy when
the ..%Iil, GID LADY cried; Lucia you awaFs''
I've just thought-my sleeve buttons
and your grandfather's sleeve-buttons and
studs and my brooches, and some finger
rings are in that Christmas box Johns
wife gave me, under the linen sheets in the
lower bureau drawer"
''Where could they be safer!"
Il should feel q great deal easier about
them IL had them here by me-"
Lucy rose and obeyed orders By dispos-
ing the Christmas box beneath the yaat-
tress. Again she composed herself for sleep.
No answer.
"Lucia!''
"Yes'm."
,Do you know where your srandfather's
gold-headst cane is"
"In the darkest corner of the clothes
press, behind two old umbrellas and a band
box, with two overcoats hung over II"
"Bringit right here and put it over back
side under the mattress"
During this little arrangement the teapot
was dislodsed and fell over behind the bed.
DO please let It lie there, grandma" F"
prayed sleepy Lucia.
"No; indeed, shan't let it lie. A burglar
with dark lantern would sec 1t shine.
Crawl right under the bed and bring it out,
Lucia-that's good girl"
The last injunction Lucia had received
She crept under, brought out the teapot
aud restored it to its place under the back
side of the mattress
"You haven't disarranged that blanket
so that the black trunk shows, have you.
Lucia!'
RE! Reluctantly ., Lucia i admitted that the
"Well. crawl right under and fix the
blanket!"
50 Lucia .'crawled" under and fixed the
blanket.
She was now fairly awakened. After
into a pleasant dose when she was aroused
by shrill whisper.
"Lucia"
'yes'm.n
81 hear somebody at the back. room win
dow"
40 no, grandma"
"Well, you get up and sec. Pm not going
to lie here and be murdered alive. You
sleep like the dead"
Lucia rose and Investigated. at was
only the wind in the blinds"
go around to the windows, Lucia and
see IL the fastenings are secure"
20 grandma"
swell, il you don't, I SHALL"
Lucia made the circuit. She had once
more wrapped the drapery of her couch
around her and lain down to pleasant
dreams, when there came a rattle, a clatter
and q clash in the bsd.room-the teaspoons
had fallen out.
"Lucia!"
Lucia rose and replaced the tea spoons
under the mattress. Once more she had
fairly caught the edge Of q nap whom an
eager voice broke upon her ear.
"Lucia."
No response.
"Lucia!-I don't see what makes that
girl sleep SO unnaturally sound-Lucia!
hear step on the piazza. Just hop up
and look out of the Window"
Lucia hesitatei She must choose be-
tween evils. This experience might be
repeated every night during tho August
moon.
"Grandma,' said she desperately. "that
wasn't burglar whom you saw staring at
the house this morning. 1t was a gen.
tleman with whom I am slightly &C.
quainted."
"Gentleman! Whol"
ellis name is Biscoe.'
what was he up this way for2'
ITO enjoy the cenery, probably"
"Why wasn't he looking at tho scenery,
then-not staring at the house!''
'ltwas very bad manners, but he recog-
"Why didn't hs call, then. like Chris
tian--not stand there staringl"
care to call"
Silence for few moments
II nsot l,o
"Yes'm."
.How long have you been acquainted
"rm not very we'll acquainted with him.
He once called at our house to see papa
whom papa was absent, and once We had
an hours conversation IL the Spencer
Junction depot, when we were both wait
ing for train, and We me three or four
,ther times. know something of him
ecause the wife of q cousin whom no es.
eemed very highly was once my intimate
riend. Now do please 90 to sleep, grand
Tho clock pendulum had monopoly of
sound for perhaps five minutes.
"Lucia!'
No answer.
.Lucis: you aslsepl'
"No, ma'am.n
"Is that Barstow widowsr or . bach
elorr'
Lucia groaned.
married man-six children"
The jinyling Of the teaspoons aud forks
betokened that the old lady had sprung up.
right In bed.
"And you spent an hour with married
man In . railroad station, Lucia HaydenW
spent twof"
"Makes talk"
well, I don't care, If it don't make it in
"You ought to care"
snow think more upon it." gasped
Lucia, II believe he is unmarried"
Silence broken only by grandma's So
liloquy, II wish hadn't done any thing
about those festhers-as its turned out"
.'Yes, ma'am"
"You asleepf'
"No, ma'am"
whats his occupationi"
"Whosel"
"Why. that Blistou's."
Professor in st Paul's college"
"What's he professor ofP
"Clams-what kind Of clsmsYn
"The kind that lie quiet nights.''
"Oh suppose it must be natural history,
fsh and reptiles, and all such. Is hs worth
mo; presume not"
aLivsa on salary, does hs?"
..Do you know how muchr
mo; do. do lot me get to sleep, grand.
The short, sweet hush speedily broke BY
, reanimsted voice: "Lucis!"
"Ye3, ms'am."
That bustoa looks - II he drank"
"Does he's"
A-l