The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-05-03

for week, and announced her inten-
tion Of ''runnin' around" to friend Of
hers for few minutes.
'The shop is shut" said she, "and
you can pull out tho sofy-bedstead and
go to bed any time you please. I'll lot
myself in with a night.key when come
iu."
gazed mournfully at the uninviting
old sofa, which was eventually to be
transformed into my resting place; and
then was the time, left all alone by the
light Of kerosene lamp, that smoked
badly, in which l tasted the keenest
bitterness of my lonely lot.
The rustling of tho maple trees under
Gooseberry mountain, therush Of White
Cascade, the hooting of owls in the
trackless forest-all those sounds would
have been as music to my ears COM
pared with the mufflod roar of wheels,
the rise and fall of distant voices, the
indescribablc murmur of city life that
surrounded me here.
Just then peculiar sound struck on
my ear-the grating of key in lock.
I started up. every word that had ever
read or heard Of the audacity of New
York burglars recurring freshly to my
mind. The sound still continued. 1t
was naarar than b.d ~ 6rn+ ;r.o.
ined.
Irose up, trembling, and shrank back
into the darkest corner of the room, as
a tall, dark haired young man came
stealthily in, with light cloak thrown
picturesquely across one shoulder.
But then I remembered my duty to
Aunt Jocasta. That must be performed
at all hazards. And seizing up the old
fashioned brass warming-pan which
stood on one end in the corner, rushed
at him without seconds delay.
go away from herep' Icried. 'Po-
licel Help! helpl Policel Go away
this moment!"
I had the satisfaction of hearing my
brass warming pan ring lively salute
against the head of my amazed enemy !;
but just at that moment caught my
foot in a rip in the carpet and fell head :
long to the floor, warming-pan and all.
In second, my antagonist, minu, the
hat which my implement of warfare
had knocked off, stood over me.
"You little vixen" said he. "What
ought to do to youa What do you
think you deservc~
''Policer' shrieked, rcsoluto to the
last, although sickening sensation oi
pain thrilled through every nerve, end
knew that my left elbow was bent un-
der me.
| But the word died away into moan.
care you hurt2" the burglar asked.
81 think I've broken my arm"
walled. "But, oh, please go away
Reflect what an awful thing it is to
break the commandment about stealing
You are young yet-at least you don't
look very old and surely you can't be
entirely hardened to life of sin. Please
promise never to do so any more---and
I'll let you go this time Only promised p'
| The tall burglar was looking down at
me with grave, solicltous face, across
which came shadow of amuse ment al
my words.
you'll let mo 60, will your said he.
every considerate of you, Pm sure.
But the question is now how to get you
up from the floor without hurting you.
You seem to DO all tangled up in thai
brass concern there"
'If you will take hold of my hand,
said l, Il think l can pull myself up u
And so the burglar and l succeeded
in hosting myself up and getting me or
chair.
''That will do" said I, with dignity
''No 60. At once!"
''But why should I CO." said the
young man. 81 lodge upstairs. Didn'
you know that7 Mrs. Pod berry kee ps
the koy of my room in here, and I JUS
came to get it, as usual"
'.Are not you burglar2" said l, will
an effort.
"No," said the young man; "Tm
telegraph operator. But you're grow.
ing paler every minute. Shall l run TO
a doctor9"
The next thing knew was that Aun
Jocasta was literally besprinkling m
with Florida water; doctor was ban
daging up my broken arm, with m
| burglar assisting, after most scientifi
fashion, in the background.
'However did you do it2' said Aun
Jocasta. "Hitting folks over the head
with warming-pans, and breaking you
own arm, goodness knows howl On
might know you were from the country
taking decent people for burglars, an
7 raising the whole neighborhood lik
: thisI'
a "One might know she was from tn
country" interposed the TELEGRAPH
operator, laughing, "because she is s
good and gentle and accomplishing
Besides, things did look rather sus
piclous for me, Mrs. Podberry, 20
, must own."
a "Well, I meant to hev told her abor
: your key, Mr.. Harford," said my aunt
g "but l clean forgot it. i don't s'pos
the child's so much to blame, after al
e but it would seem as if one might kno
y burglar from gentleman, anyho
Q you can fix it. And now, if you're dor
+ with Lucy's arm, doctor, do look artt
!, that cut on Mr.. Harford's head-bleedil
+ steady, all over his hair"
n stared with terrified eyes.
y sDid-I do that2" / gasped.