The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-05-25


was quite safe"
In the middle Of the night walked up. A
masked man was standing over me.
"Don't be alarmed, MISS" said he. eft
amt our trade to hurt women nor children.
Just you keep quiet. It's my duty to gag
you, and to tie your feet and hands. But 1
amt going to hurt you. Your grandma,
she's submitted quite peaceable like a SEN
sible old lady. The French boy, he fought
considerable, and we had to knock the dog
on the head. All we want is the privilege of
going peacably through the house."
There we lay, Aunt Alantha and l, tremb-
ling all over, unable even to speak to each
other, while the muffied tread and disguised
voices Of the villains who had gagged Us
sounded all over the house for two mortal
hours.
At the end of that time all was stin, and
presently poor Francois came crawling up
stairs. very stiff and lame.
"Zey cut re ropes" said he, ''an' zey run.
ley come In by re big window. seen zem.
Madom an ma'amrselle hurt! I will cut re
cords very careful. Only wait"
81 thought that window was too high for
10y oao w ASoShs cok0 nunt Aihutuht tUc
moment her mouth was ct liberty
Francois spread out both his hands.
"ze diable." said he, "can come In when
ever zere is a crack 50 big as q chipmunk's
hair!"
Sancho lay stretched dead on the hearth.
The fires were out; It had grown very cold.
There's one comfort" said Aunt Alanths
although her teeth chartered so that she
could hardly drink the eatnip tea that
faithful Francois had brewed In q tin canister,
THE rascais didn't get anything for their
painsl"
"How do you know" said /.
Il know q variety of things" said Aunt
Alantha, CURLY.
We gave the alarm as soon as possible, but
In those wildernesses 1t was about as prac-
ticable to track band Of rufiians as to follow
the flight Of the wild geese who flew Shrek
ing over our heads toward the south. All
efforts were vain to trace their whereabouts.
Aunt Aiantha." said i. ''you must 20 back
to Albany with me. 1t is not safe for you to
live So"
Katharine" said Aunt Alantha, 81 shah
never leave this house alive. 1t is my home,
and here mean to stay"
She spoke the truth. The chill and the
shock, added to the infirmities of age, brought
on an attack Of pneumonia, which carried
her of In three days.
Papa and mamma FASTENED to attend the
funeral. "a
| A lawyer from Troy came peeping and
prying around with steady insistence
which reminded me somewhat Of the burg.
lars.
There is will" said he. leaving every.
thing to her niece Emily, the wife OF Cicero
Kyle"
Then our fortune Is madel" cried mamma.
But. apparently, there is nothing to leave
but this house, 200 acres Of mountain land,
and these few sticks Of furniture"
"Then," sighed papa, I'VE are as poor as
ever. She must have spent all her money In
speculations. What do you say childrens
There are some fine views her6Rbouts.
Shall we come here and live?"
mo. no. mop we all cried In chorus
Every WELL" said papa. Mamma Is the
heiress. What does she decide2"
ITO sell everything at auction" said
mamma. "for what it will bring and to leave
this gloomy place."
But 1t was not until we had completed all
the business forms, and we were climbing
into the wagon that was to take us to the
Lake Champion boat that Marian uttered q
cry of surprise.
''What is that hideous thing they are put
ting into the back of the wagon?" said she.
1.-THE case of stuffed birds. as liver, said
Letitia. sit must be mistake"
II bid 1t in myself, at the auction, "ccn-
fessed 1, hanging down my head. SIT was
only three dollars. And Aunt Alantha said
she meant mamma to have it."
"Mercyw cried mamma, ST wouldn't give
honseroom to such an atrocity."
but mayn't keep 1t MYSELF" 1 pleaded.
Aunt Alantha thought so much oft"
let the child have her way" said papa.
SO that Aunt Alantha's case of stuffed birds
was finally set up in my room at home, where
1t was unspeakably hideous, and nearly gave
me the nightmare. until got quite used to
it. ..
In the spring. when we cleaned house, the
maid thrust her broom-handle through one
OF the panes Of glass, and knocked NANCY.
looking yellow. hammer off Its perch. i
picked 1t up.
''POor thing!" said 1. tits coming all tn
pieces"
| II guess. MISS" said Bridget, "the moths
have got at 'em, worse luck"
''How heavy 1t Isl" cried /, .'Gracious me,
Bridget"
"Arrah. miss. it's full Of money, 1t is,,'
shrieked Bridget. "It's stuffed wild bank
bills, wild golden coin in the midst of It."
Soitwas. Every bird from the wee chippee
up to the solemn and puffy, blue-plumed
woodpecker. were so many impromptu bags
Of gold and notes.
In Aunt Alanths's sly craft she had dis
posed of her money where no earthly person
could expect to find 1t. and we had received
our inheritance at last. 44..1
"And tits all little Kate's doing," said papa.
IF she hadn't bought In the case Of stuffed
olrds at three dollars--wasn't that the sum,
daughter where should we all have been ~
VI course the thing got into the news
paper. as such things always do, headed
Strange Eccentricity Of Single Lady"
And, unused /, IL those burglars should have
CHANGED to read it burglars do read the
they thought?