The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-18

man could know what preparations for
his reception are going on here" said she.
1.-The knew he'd probably give up try
ing to get any thing here
Il think myself he made up his mind
this morning he didn't wish 30 get any
| thing here.n
Nothing easier than to be mistaken.
| Appearances are deceitful" said the old
| lady. Push that black trunk that is I'M
der my bed to the back side, Lucia, and let
| the blanket hang down so as to hide it,"
| How do you suppose any burglar could
enter this house and get the things out of
a trunk under your badstead without your
| knowing it, grandma"
| "Chloroform ~ calculated the old lady.
Lucia laughed so heartily the old lady
pushed up her spectacles and looked severe
| displeasure.
Get my silver teaspoons and forks out
of the cupboard and put them between my
| mattress and the straw tick Put your
| poor grandfather's gold watch and my
spectacles under my pillow"
Lucia slept upon hair-cloth sofa in the
| sittlng-room. The sittingroom was six
teen feet square, and the corner the sofa
| occupied most remote from the old lady's
| sleeping-room. Lucia had lust adjusted
herself for the night when grandma called {:
"Y GU put the every day teaspoons under
! the mattress. but you forgot the best ones,
| Lucia. There's half-dozen of 'em up in
| a box on the top cupboard shelf. There's
| tnat olu teapot is Sold-and the Slrup-cup.
| Bring them all here"
| "You can't sleep with the teapot and
sirup-cup under the mattress, grandma"
Eyes, can. Put lem over the back side -
Lucy had resumed her position on the
sofa and was getting finely drowsy when
the old lady cried: Lucia, you awake"
| "Yes'mn
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 a great deal easier about
them if had them here by me.n
Lucy rose and obeyed orders by dispos-
| ing the Christmas box beneath the mat
| tress. Again she composed herself for sleep.
| Lucia
| No answer.
| "Lucia!n
| "Yes'm"
do you know where your grandfather's
| gold-headed cane isl"
I'm the darkest corner of the clothes
| press, behind two old umbrellas and a band
box, with two overcoatS hung over it."
Bring it right here and put it over back
| side under the mattress"
During this little arrangement the teapot
was dislodged aud fell over behind the bed.
DO please let it lie there grandma"
| prayed sleepy Lucia.
| mo; indeed shan't let it lie. A burglar
| with dark lantern would see it shine.
| Crawl right under the bed and bring it out,
| Lucia-thats good girl!'
The last injunction Lucia had received
| from home had been "Humor grandma ~
She crept under, brought out the teapot
| and restored it to its place under the back
| side of the mattress.
! lyon haven't disarranged that blanket
so that the black trunk shows, have you,
Lucia"
Reluctantly Lucia admitted that tho
black trunk was visible.
well crawl right under and fix the
blankatr'
So Lucia 'crawled" under and fixed the
blanket.
She was now fairly awakened. After
considerable effort she had again fallen
into pleasant dose when she was aroused
by shrill whisper
"Lucaw
''Yesm."
81 hear somebody at the Darkroom win
dow"
30 no, grandma"
"Well, you get up and see. Pm not going
to lie here and be murdered alive. You
sleep like the dead"
Lucia rose and Investigated. SIT was
only the wind in the blinds"
Go around to the windows, Lucia, and
see If the fasteningS are secure"
20 grandma
well, if you don't, l 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, clatter
and a clash in the bed-room-the teaspoons
had fallen out
"Lucia"
Lucia rose and replaced the tea spoons
under the mattress. Once more she had
ia iJslV oh T. tho cd pa of ,han
eager voice broke upon her ear.
Lucia"
No response
Lucia! Il don't see what makes that
girl sleep so unnaturally sound-Lucia! l
hear step on the piazza Just hop up
and look out of the window"
Lucia hesitated. She must choose be-
tween evils. This experience might be
repeated every night during the August
moon.
Grandma" said she desperately, ''that
wasn't burglar whom you saw staring at
the house this morning. 1t was a gen
teman with whom | am slightly ac-
quainted."
"Gentleman Whom
"HiS name is Biscoe.'
what was he up this way for!
ITO enjoy the scenery, probably"
"Why wasn't he looking at the scenery,
then-not staring at the house"
ut was very bad manners, but he recog-
nized me-"
"Why didn't he call, then like Chris
tian-not stand there staring"
Perhaps after the view he had he didn't
care to CALI
Silence for few moments.
Lucia You awake, Lucia ~
"Yes'm."
"How long have you been acquainted
with this Mr.. Brstow!n
"Tm not very we'll acquainted with him.
He once called at our house to see papa
when papa was absent and once we had
an hours conversation in the Spencer
Junction depot, when we were both wait
ing for train, and we met three or four
other times. ] know something of him
because the wife of cousin whom he es-
teemed very highly was once my intimate
friend. Now do please go to Sleep grand
ma"
The clock pendulum had monopoly of
sound for perhaps five minutes.
"Luciah
No answer
Lucia: you asleepr"
mo, ma'am"
as that Barstow a widower or bach
elor9N
Lucia groaned.
Married man-six children"
The jingling of the teaspoons and forks
betokened that the old lady had sprung up
right in bed.
And you spent an hour with a married
man in a railroad station, Lucia Haydenin
What harm would it have done had l
spent twop'
makes talk"
III I 1