The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-06-27
THE CH|DESTER BROTHERS.

The first time | ever heard of the
Chidester brothers Mollie Hayes spoke
of them to me.
"Have you seen the Chidester broth
ersP" she asked, never giving me a
chance to answer.
"Oh, Jennie, they are too splendid for
| anything. They are as handsome as
| they can be"
''Who are they?" l asked.
"Oh, they have been in town about
week. They are at Tomlinson's and
they drive beautiful pair of blacks in
light wagon"
''But who are they? Ideclare, Mollie,
You never stop talking long enough to
say anything"
Moilie laughed. She has the sweet
est temper-and did not stop a mo-
ment.
''They are"-she said slowly-t'oh,
| don't know who they are, except just
the Chidester brothers; nor what they
are, eXcept-dentists."
..Dentists!'' | exclaimed
''Yes, dentists. They are travelling
from place to place in their own car
riage and practicing as they go. They
enjoy travelling, aud like to study the
country and the people, you know.
They have two offices at Tomlinson s.
but they drive out into the country and
call. and they will go to any one who
sends for them. 1t is very convenient,
now isn't it?
mo, don't like strangers, anyway;
but when it comes to strangers, you
don't know"
But. Jenny, they are so pleasant
and so handsome, and really quite like
gentlemen" mildly demonstrated Susie
Brown, who was calling.
Like! But / want the men | know
to be gentlemen, and don't believe a
gentleman would think of peddling
either teeth or tooth-brushes. One is
of no higher grade of business than is
the other"
Mi. Heming, Susie's escort, and the
very quiet assistant of Mr.. Brown, our
druggist.
Mr. Heming had been a stranger a
year before this, but he had come to
Meadowside we'll recommended. Be-
sides, he was so very plain it would
never have paid him to be anything
but ''eminently respectable.
''Of course | am right" I cried.
"Why, these men may be part of a
gang of burglars, instead of gentle
men OF men of honest Gnd honorable
calling"
II should think you would feel timid
as it is remarked Susie, with glance
round the room. We were eating fruit
in the dining-room, where the sideboard
and buffet were crowded with silver
and pretty things.
ssWhere do you keep all theseP" ask
ed Mr.. Heming. You surely do not
leave them exposed in this way during
the nights
'Oh, no, indeed. They are all car=
ried up into mothers room. Mine is
next to it, 1t is terrible nuisance
and if they were mine I should just
leave them here. The house is safe
enough. The boys are in the nursery
and the servants in the attic. But /
| like to be alone. Dear me, / don't
think l could stand it without a few
hours to myself. Listen! That is
the way it is from morning until night.
just excuse me while settle them.'
! ran upstairs, and when [ came
down Susie and Mr.. Heming were
ready to take leave and waiting under
the hall lamp.
Il believe this will be a MATCH" /
thought, as l kissed Susie. ''And
really" carrying on the same thought
as went slowly upstairs again, IL
don't see why it would not be good
thing! Susie is certainly a quiet, pref
tv little thing! And he is not halt
such fright as thought him. There
was quite glow in his eyes tonight.
| Usually he is as dull as ditch water.
So much like those everlasting Chides-
ter brothers."
Two weeks later party OF the young
| people came out to spend the last even
| ing of my loneliness with me. Father
and mother were coming home the
next day and l was heartily glad of
| it. Jim was in Boston finishing his
trip with some college friends.
| Among my guests of the evening was
| Susie Brown and Mr.. Heming. Mollie
HAYES, and one of the Chidester broth
| ers."
| They all staid late. Mr.. Heming and
Susie were the first to leave and Mollie
and the Chidester the last. After they
had crossed the doorstep l saw him
pause and glance back at the hall and
the stairway. 1t was a peculiar and
searching glance and gave me chilly
sensation of fear and dread.
Under the effect of that last glance,
| however, | had all the silver gathered
up most carefully and packed in sew
| eral baskets and | concluded to sleep
in mothers room instead of my own.
| Moreover. l opened the doors between
the nursery and our rooms. was not
! at all mindful of the delights of utter
loneliness. | went back and forth sew
eral times to the tumbled beds in the
nursery, envying the rosy sleepers. and
it was late, indeed, before | Joined
them.
Almost instantly, it seemed to me,
was broad awake again and looking
straight before me at the terrible, ter
rible sight.
pale, uncertain. flickering light which
foot of the bed and cast strange shad
ows on the ceiling.
.'BurgIars!" beat my frightened
heart. 'sThe Chidester brothersr' came
choking into my frightened throat.
| had too much sense to move OIL
scream | lay still as death, only
! drawing lolS, cHcu biettlo f'o IL So"ho
in sleep, and using my eyes for all
they were worth. The shadows of the
ceiling showed that things were being
taken up and put down-our silver
by gigantic hands, but ali other out
lines were so confused | could distin
guish nothing.
Suddenly l heard sound-a soune
which filled me with sickening dread
The boys were awake-Were moving
were calling me,