Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-06-20

western foothills by the twIpkIIng
nghts OF a great turretted, pinnacled
structure that looked like some beauti-
ful castle, transported from a foreign
land. but was, alasi only an asylum for
the insane.
One night, about ten o'clock, when
the early moon had already gone to
sleep, and soft darkness covered val
ley and hill, we went reluctantly to our
roorss 10 prepare for the nights rest.
1t was so pleasant that it gave a guilty
sense OF wasting time to spend it in
sleep.
1 had just put on my soft flannel,
dressing sack, and unpiuned my hair
II Is my own hair, too-ready for Ellen.
my maid, to brush IL out, when Ethel,
with light rap, opened the door, and
stood there for a moment, framed in
the dark wood work, with the dusky
hall for background. looking ''pretty
as picture"
She had put on a long white cash
mere wrapper, let down her bright
auburn hair, which fell in curling
masses to her waist, and ioated around
her head Ike an aureola- y wax taper
held high up in the air threw a bright
light on the blooming face, the saucy
nose, little up, and the rosy mouth;
the graceful folds OF the cashmere con-
cealed the fact that she had ''no figure
to speak of, and altogether she looked
so cunning that my heart warmed
toward her, trying as are some of her
ways.
Come, granimaI" said she, gaily.
''we haven't looked for the 'man-in-
the-moon' yet"
This is a sport name she used to de-
note her cheerful sceptIcism on the
subject OF my fears. She isn't afraid
OF anything. 1t doesn't look well for a
girl to be so courageous In my
time, girls were afraid OF everything,
even a mouse. nowadays they dissect
mice.
caught up the poker, and Ethel
seized lawn-tennis racquet, that had
been laid aside for repairs; Ellen, my
maid, brought up the rear or the COT
umn, armed with a large, ivory-backed
hair brush, and altogether We had quite
the air OF that amusing painting OF
Toby Rosenthal's. "The Seminary
Alarmed
''II tell you what shall do, grand
ma, if the 'msn-in-the-moon' ever does
come down, :" said Ethel. 'tJust feel
OF my triceps'f Tor bicepsl and doubling
up her arm, she put my hand on 1t TO
feel a place as hard as a dOor-knob.
She got that going to the gymnasium,
climbing upstairs on her hands instead
OF her feet, throwing dumb-bails, Just
like boy. L don't approve OF such
things In my days girls danced the
minuet.
- should just strike out from the
shoulder, so.''
And, suitlng the action to the words,
she ''struck out" Away went the
racquet right through the mirror,
shivering it into thousand fragments.
We all stood aghaSt, but Ethel recOv-
cred herself ut once.
~ tell you, grandma, if 1 should do
that, it would be the last of him.
wouldn't it? Come, let's go on, and
then I'll help Ellen gather up the frag-
ments-"
Here Ethel dropped on her knees,
and explored with the offending rae
quet every nook and corner of the dim
fecess under the bed.
Mr.. Nobody here now," said she,
getting up with flushed face and tum-
bled hair; don't say after this, grand
ma, that Pm not attentive"
We then gave the closet thorough
investigation. thumped on the walls
with poker, shook out the water
proofs, that are certain to look as If
the sleeves were stuffed full of arms,
looked in old shoe boxes, and finally,
standing up in chair, l rummaged
along shelf running the length of the
closet, where | was always afraid that
some tramp would lay himself away
through the day.
Satisfied at last, We took up the line
of march, in and out of the winding
I
rooms, shaking old clothes, humping
dead walls, pOking into broken boxes,
and opening invalIded trunks, until We
reached the last room, a little bedroom,
with a shelving roof, at the end OF
which was low door, leading into
small closet, haIf-illed with u box of
worm-eaten books.
THUS endeth the farce" said Ethel.
throwing wide the little door, and
There he wasI
Low-browed, villainous, a shock OF
coarse black hair brisJlinG on his head,
= fierce black eye, glancIng out of his
his head, a bunch of false keys In one
hand and a pistol in the other.
Ethel entirely forgot about striking
out from the shoulder"
As for me, the poker fell from my
limp and trembling hand. and L said
OF all the absurd things that woman
could say on sucl IN occasion-I said,
as if he were a lOng-expected friend,
'H-o-w, how do you dop"
At this strange salutation, a grim
smile lurked round the corners OF the
m ans mouth.
Rather warm in here, thank yOu,"
he replied, with a mocking air of
politeness- "WIth your permission I'll
step out"
There was an ominous click of the
pistol, and-the man stepped out
The Howly Virgin save usl" cried
Ellen, she wears French cap, but
speaks with Dublin accent-and she
forthwith fell upon her knees, and
began to tell her beads
The burglar wiped the drops of
sweat from his ugly brow, and looked
gIeedily at the diamond scarf-pIn which
fastened my lace kerchief-
Don't be afraid, old lady," said he,
tamiliarly;!"I shau't hurt you, but III
trouble you for that pin"
''If It had Ecen to save my life.
could not have moved my trembling
hands; but Ethel stepped forward TO
unclasp it, and, if you'll believe me,
that child WAS as cool as a December
morning
First water" SAID the burglar,
grasping the PIN, looking at 1t, aud
then stufiing in into his pocket
Now, old lady, your watch" That
cut me to the heart, for Ethel's grand
father had given me that watch for a
wedding present 1t was set with
pearls all around the face, and on the
back, enamelled IN blue, was a forget
me-not, in small diamonds L valued
xx-aIdfny RING hlt mprcVl
In a twinklIng that went, too.
"Rather thin, {" said he, ''but will do
To melt up." Dear mel would almost
as soon have my withered old heart
melted up.
"Now'' said he, turning to Ethel,
ssve,u take the bureau-drawerS-"
E,IIap xpas living on the floor. where