St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-28


dating little thing. Besides, she said she
didn't care much about Aunt Margaret
choosing her-not if wanted to go. Be-
cause I'd be sure to have good time, and
she was 'fraid she should be homesick
without Mamma. And then we wondered
what Aunt Margaret's pet was. Bess
thought it was cat, because old maids
always liked cats; but | told her bet it
was poodle dog, with ribbon around it's
neck--the kind you see in pictures. Aunt
Margaret seemed to me just like a woman
to have poodle dog.
1t didn't seem | had been asleep more
than two minutes when Bess shook me. |
knew it couldn't be morning, and when l
had winked and blinked, and finally got
my eyes open, it was as da,k as pocket,
only where the moonlight came through
chink in the blind.
"Bess," | cried, "what's the matter2'
'tIts my TOOTH" she moaned. cts
been aching ever SO long, and l can't stand
it any more. Won't you go down and ask
Aunt Margaret for some 'lixir?'
If there is anything do hate, it is to be
woke out of a sound sleep and asked to do
something. But got up, after minute.
I'd had the toothache myself, and knew it
want very nice.
tDo you know where she sleeps?" l
asked, sitting on the bed, and trying to
prop open my eyes with my fingers.
'No, but-l've got to have something.
Can't you find her7"
81 guess So" l answered, feeling my
way into the hall. But before I'd gone
more than two steps, she came creeping
after. I'm afraid to stay here alone"
she whimpered. ''I'm going with you"
We'll, come along, then, Baby" And
we crept slowly down the stairs. 1t was
lighter in the lower hall, and. felt little
more sure. Somebody must sleep in that
little room off from where the table was
set, whispered Bess Don't you know
what lot of flowers we saw there2" Just
then hit my elbow against door, and it
interested me SO much forgot about an
swering her. But after I'd walked into
half dozen cupboards, and most tumbled
down the cellar stairs, we found our way
into the dining room, where it was SO dark
YOU couldn't see your hand before your
face. l was creeping along, scolding about
nv arm, with Bess Just in front of me,
moaning over her tooth, when Rattle !"
"Crashl" "Bangw Over she went into
something, with noise enough to wake
every body in the house. "Bess = cried.
ooh e-e Alice, don't 60 step further.
| walked into the woodbox and spilled the
wood all over the floor, and-oh, Alice 7"
For just then came gruf voice, not
loud, nor like any | ever heard before. and
it seemed to come from out of the little
room where we were going. whats
that p
"Oh." moaned Bess, "they're burglars.
They're just getting into the window, and
they heard me fall. Oh, Mamma p and
she covered down on the floor; while L
well, I'd often wished, when l read stories
about Grave Elsie" and ''Sam, the Boy
Hero" that could have chance to show
my courage. But didn't enjoy it-not
very much, my heart was beating so.
l took step forward, and reached out
my hand It tHuched the woodbox, and
then, just as grabbed stick of wood, I
heard Aunt Margaret's voice from away
off somewhere. ''Children, what are you
doing2 Are you there7 am sure I
heard you"
That settled it. :'They know, now, we
are awake, thong ht. 'sThere is no use
in keeping quiet. Somebody must scare
the burglars away" 1t was funny
never knew bad such heart before
but as soon as thought that, it rose right
up in my throat But wasn't frightened
Anyway, made up my mind not to be. l
knew the safety of the whole house was
depending on me, as mnch as if had been
George Washington or General Grant, or
any other big man. And just shut my
teeth, and said, ''Pll be as brave as they
were, too"
kept tight hold of the stick of wood,
and, when it was so l could breathe lit
tie, crept toward the door. The curtain
of the window was up. and little light
shown between the leaves of the plants.
I'd Just time to hope shouldn't hit Mary
instead of the burglar, when l saw a
shadow moving over by the window-and
threw the wood straight for it.
ssCrash !" went something tumbling off
from the stand. "Crash !" went the
flower pots, rolling from the shelf
Crash /" went the breaking window
glass. But before the noise died away l
heard the voice again.
"Myl What will the old woman say ?
Ha-a-a-aW
Such laugh as it was Not like any
you can imagine a person would give.
Bess shrieked for Mamma" and / made
up my mind it must be crazy man in
there. They're awful to have around, so
don't think you can blame me for holler-
grabbed another stick of wood.
e.For the land sakes, "'and Aunt Marga-
ret came rushing into the room, candle
in her hand, and Mary just behind her
"What on earth ais you? Be you crazy 7?
1 do believe the child's got the nightmare.
Here, wake upp'
"Ha-a-a-a7' came the laugh again.
Marina" sobbed Bess.
sfTtS Lu rr1 erS T cried az heard them
talking. And ones crazy. | threw a
stick, but it didn't do any good, There !"
and slammed the other one, Cratic !"
"Crash p' "Bang p it went.
ssHa-a-a-a?" sounded the voice.
ga crazy man! He'll kill us sure !"
yelled the companion. But Aunt Margaret
didn't yell She gave sort of sniff,
picked up the candle, and walked straight
into that room. We were sure she would
be killed But before any of us had more
than time to catch our breath, back she
came, holding on her finger an ugly red
and green bird.
'sThere, !" she exclaimed, her black eyes
swapping, as she put down the candle. 81
knew it. There want any burglars there.
And you, Alice Jane Case, have been
smashing windows and breaking flower
pots, and raising cain generally, just be-
cause Poll happened to wake up and
speak to you.
stHa-a-a, - laughed the parrot.
There isn't any necessity of my saying
more, is there? Only that Bess, and not
I, will go to the White Mountains. Aunt
Margaret sent for Mamma the next morn
ing. She had made up her mind, she.
said. Not that she took any great fancy
to Bess. But there were only two of us,
and Alice was worse than crazy creature.
Didn't say / was always unlucky IL. B.