The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-28

i)y.
Aqd this was the home for which
had so foolishly IcI the sweet old farm
house IN Ter the New Hamp.hire maple
tees! Il ever poor mortal was wretch
cdIy homesic'1, it wa I.
At last, Aunt Jocasta ted On a
snufTy Cd bonnet, that looked as If it
might have been slept in every night
Tor a week, and announced her inten-
tion of "runnin around" to a friend Of
hers for a few minutes.
"The shop is shut" sail she, "and
you can pull out the sofy-bedstead and
go to bed any time you please. I'll let
myself in with a night-kcy when I come
in."
I gozed mournfully at the u~invitiag
old sofa, which was eventually to he
transformed into my resting place; and
then was the time, left all alone by lie
light Of kerosene lamp, that smoked
lally, in which I tasted the kccnest
bitterness of my lonely lot.
The rustling of the maple trees under
Gooscbcrry mountain, the rush of White
Cascade, the hooting of owls in the
tr2cklcss forest-all those SCUM d3 would
have been as music to ny cas- con-
| pared with the muffl2d roar of wheels,
the rise and fall OF distant voices, tie
indescribablc murmur of city life that
surrounded me here.
Just then peculiar sound struck on
my ear-the grating of key il Il lock.
l started up, every word that had ever
read or heard of the audacity of New
York burglars recurring freshly to my
mind. The so1ad still continued 1t
was nearer than I had at first imag-
ined.
Iro5o up, trembling, and shra1k back
into the darkest corner of the room, as
tall, dark haired young man came
stealthiIy il, with a light cloak thrown
picturesquely across one shoulder.
But then l remembered my duty to
Aunt Joca9ta. That must be performed
at all hazards. And scizing up the old
fashioned brass warming pan which
stood on one end in the corner, rushed
at him without a seconds delay.
go away from here" Icried. 'Po-
lice! Help! help! Police! Go away
this momcntw
had the satisfaction of hearing my
brass warmin 5pan ring a lively salute
against the head Of my amazed enemy;
but just at that moment l caught nv
foot in a rip il the carpet and fell head
long to the floor, warming-pa pan and all.
In a second, my antagonist, minus the
hat which my implement Of warfare
had knocked off, stood over me.
you little vixenr' said he. "What
ought 1 to do to you2 What do you
think you deserve"
''Policc!' l shrieked, rcsoIuto to the
last, although sickcning sensation of
pain thrilled through every nerve, and
l knew that nay left elbow was bent ua-
der nc
But the word died away into a moan.
care you hurt?" tho burglar asked.
II think I've broken my arm, - I
walled. bat, oh, plecse go awayl
Reflect what an awful thing il is to
break the commandment about stealing
You arc young yet-at least you don't
look very cid and surely you can't be
entirely hardened to a life of sin. Please
promise never to do so any more---and
Ill let you go this time. Only promise !"
The tall burglar was looking down at
me with a grave, solicltous face, across
which came a shadow of amusement at
my words.
You'll let me go, will you2' said he.
Every considerate of you, I'm sure.
But the question is now how to get you
up from the floor without hurting you
You seem to be all tangled up in that
lrass concern there"
'If you vii take hold of my hand, "
said 1, Il think L can pull myself up"
And so the burglar and l succeeded
in hoisting myself up and getting me on
a chair
That Will do" said I, with dignity.
'No 60. At once"
'But why should I 60" said the
young man. II lodge upstairs. Didn'
you know that? Mrs. Pod berry kee ps
the key of my room in here, and just
came to get it, as usual"
care not you a burglar?' said I, with
an effort.
NO." said the young man; I'm a
telegraph operator. But you're grow
ing paler every minute. Shall run for
doctor?'
The next thing knew was that Aunt
Jocasta was liberally besprinkling me
with Florida water; a doctor was ban
daging up my broken arm, with my
burglar assisting, after most scientific
fashion, in the background.
"However did you do it?' said Aunt
Jocasta. "Hitting folks ~ver the heads
with warmlng-pans, and breaking your
own arm, goodness knows how! One
might know you were from the country,
taking decent people for burglars, and
| raisino the whole neiphbOrh0od like