The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-10-31

snoulucrs-lOOk NJ mel can earn money
somehow. And. by heaveui IL this is all
your respectability and Christianity
amounts to, don't care il don't see no
more OF it. There are plenty to welcome
me, and YOU have driven me to them.
Remember that. son Of my mother"
He thrust his hat upon his head, and
dashed out OF the room, striding through
the outer Office with no heed of any one
there. aud changing the door as he dc.
parted.
Ono darl night. few weeks later,
James Graham, in full fellowship with a
gang Of burglars. was receiving instruc-
tiols from companion how to enter and
conceal himself in u house that had been
marked for robbery. The lesson was
given in front of the doomed house itself
and after his companion had left him,
Graham muttcred: "Yes, | belong to the
fraternity nOw. / am here to rob this
house. ! have the mask and the pistol
in my pocket. | have my little dark
lantern, too. I'm u burglar. and burg
lars were the only men who welcomed
me back out of prison. My brother
turned his back on me. Ny brother-I
wonder what my mother would say il she
could see me now! II she knew"
He stopped himself with an oath
seemed, with Il motion Of his hand, to
cast away the thoughts that were upon
hin--and in moment more had mounted
to the window indicated by his comradc;
and finding that it opened easily, had
Clamhercd in. His shoes were noisless.
lie made no sound as he moved; and
guiding himself by the lanterns light
looked for n place of concealment. 1t
soon presented itself A long wardrobe,
with door at either end. In this, be-
hiud a very curtain OF suspended gar
mcnts, he hid himself.
lie heard, after while, baby cry,
and in a minute more step ran across
the entry, and ray Of light glanced
through the kcyhole at one end Of the
wardrobe.
"Ada," cried lady's voice, "come
here. Baby is wide awake and / can't
leave him."
Then another rustic, another step, and
there were two women very near him
50 that he could almost hear them breathe.
"I'm so glad you came to-day, Ada, ="
said the other. "whcn | am all alone.
Charles was called away so unexpectedly
this morning! | declare the thought of
that accident makes me ill, and am nerv-
ous all alone in the house at night, dear.
/ Besides being always glad to see you,
am so thankful TO have you to-nightm
"And | am never nervous, Jessie, said
the other. II am as good as man
about the house, mamma says. I've
hunted imaginary burglars with a poker
many a night Mamma isalways imagin-
| ing burglars, dear soul"
"Don't speak Of them said the ma.
tron, who was evidently quieting her child,
as only mother can. "Ths house would
he more of temptation to them tonight
| than it has ever been before since we lived
here. There are two thousand pounds in
that safe, Ada. Charlie hadn't time to
! deposit it in the bank. They telegraphed
that Mr.. Bird might be dying"
AS she made this confession. the man,
concealed so near her, listened with his
very heart in his ears; but it was not to
| the statement so well calculated TO re-
/ joice burglars heart. That was for
! gottcn. He heard only the voices and
the names these two women called each
other by. Ada! That had been the name
OF the girl he loved. Jessie! That was
his sisters name. After all, what was it
to him2 Like his brother, the latter had
cast him off, of course and no doubt
Ada only remembered him with horror.
Still, how like the voices were. Could
it bc| lie stole forward, and knelt down
with an eye to the keyhole, but he could
only see part of woman's figure sway
on her bosom.
Dear little fellow" said the voice OF
the other woman. GLOW sweet babies
are!'
She came forward now and knel,
down, and he saw her profile. 1t was
Ada Musgrove-for he had left her d
girl of sixteen, and found her n woman
of twenty-six, but handsomer than ever.
"You love children so that wonder
you don't marry" said the matron; and
now James Graham knew that it was hi
sister who spoke. ~ know William
wants you 20 have him. He always ha,
loved you. And, Ada, he can give you
Gll that makes life happy"
James Graham's cheeks flushed in th'
darkness. He hated the world NOR
than ever now. He hated his kinsfolk-
this cruel brother and sister of his mos
of all.
"IIc cannot give me the one thini
necessary for welded happiness-love 70
him. said Ada. "No, Jessie; | hav
sad this to you before, but must sa
it now. loved poor James too well eve
to love any other man while know Ii
, lives
: "Ah, Ada" cried Jessie, stoopin
over, lit is q comfort to me to know yo
still love my poor brother. l thought
was the only living being who still love
, him"
And then James Graham, listening o
| the other side of the door. heard thes
4 two women weeping together, and fc
{ him.
= eyes, Ada" said his sister; an
a though poor James is so sadly disgraceC
t still when he returns will be glad to SC
Lin. and this shall be his home il