The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-05-09
/ should never have q mo.

should mink you would reel
timid as 1t is,' remarked Susie, with q
glance round the room. We were eat
ing fruit in the dining-room, where
the sideboard and buffet were crowded
with silver and pretty things.
Where do you keep all these?"
asked Mr. Heming. You surely do
not leave them exposed in this way
during the night
''Oh, no, indeed! They arc all car
ricd up into mothers room. Mine is
next to it. II is terrible nuisance,
and IL they were mine | should just
leave them here. The house is safe
enough"
You have burglar-alarms, ! sup
posc?'
mo, we have not Father talks Of
getting them, but there it stands-at
| talking"
.Then you do not sleep alone?'
Indeed, do. The boys are in the
nursery and the servants in the attic.
But like to be atone. Dear me!
don't think could stand it without
few hours to myself. Listen! That's
the way it is from morning until night
just excuse me while settle Them
/ ran upstairs, and when came
down Susie ard Mr. Hcming were
ready to take leave, and waiting under
the hall-lamp.
Il believe this will DO MATCH" /
thought, rs I kissed Susie. And
really" carrying on the same thought
as l went slowly upstairs again, Il
don't see why it would not be good
thing. Susie is certainly quiet, pref
ty little thing! And he is not half
such a fright as thought him. There
was quite glow in his eyes tonight.
Usually. he is as dull as ditch-water
Not much like those everlasting Child
ester Brothers.
| As set my candle on my dressing
table. saw reflected in the glass the
scornful curl OF my lip at the mere
thought Of those Cheap Johns. as l
had named them. No respectable dem
tist would do such thing rs this bust
ness Of theirs. Where did they get
the means to live as they did. while
they carried it on? Puzzling over it,
Ii fell asleep and dreamed of-Mr.
Heming and Susie mixing and rolling
pills together upon mothers silver
salver.
Two weeks later party OF the
young people came out to spend the
last evening Of my loneliness with me.
Father and mother were coming home
the next day, and | was heartily glad
OF il. Jim was in Boston. finishing his
trip with some college friends. Among
my guests of the evening were Susie
Brown and Mr.. Hem,ng, Molly Hayes
and one OF the Chidester Brothers! l
could hardly believe my eyes. But
Molly was as unconcerned as possible.
introduced him with that little air of
hers which always says to me as plain
" as words: ..See what l have
caught and ratified away all the
evening rs usual. As for him. he be-
! havcd very well, and, although l did
not exchange words with him after
the introduction, must say enjoyed
looking ut him on the sly. Nothing /
had asard of his looks had done him
l1justice.
They all staid late. Mr.. Heming
and Susie were the first to leave, and
Molly and the Chidester the last
After they had crossed the doorstep
saw him pause aud glance back at the
hall and the stairway. 1t was pc.
culiar and searching glance, and gave
me Il chilly sensation OF fear and
dread. My suspicious were all re.
newed and strengthened. For, viii
confess, the mans noble face and bear,
ing had influenced me, even in the one
interview.
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 sleel
: in mothers room instead Of my own
Moreover. opened the doors between
the nursery and our rooms. was no
at all mindful Of the delights OF sucl
! utter loneliness went back and fortl
! several times to the tumbled beds in tn,
nursery, envying the rosy sleepers
. and it was late, indeed, before joinet
them.
! Almost instantly, it seemed to me,
! was broad awake again, and lookin!
straight before me at terrible, terri
! BILE sight.
There was light in the room;
pale, uncertain. Pickering light which
= strcamed upward from the floor ut tn,
: foot Of the bed, and east strange shad
ows on the ceiling. The door into m,
!, room was shut. but the one into tn
. hall was wide open, as well as tn
window beyond it, opening upon thu
J porch-roof. felt the night-wind from
: it blowing over me. think that wok
me, and not any noise or movement. TO
lay perfectly still and calm until m,
: scattere senses returned and kne,
J what to fear.
..Burglars!" beat my frightene,
heart 1.-The Chidestcr Brothers.
= came choking into my tightene
: throat.
had too much sense to move o
: scream. l lay still as death. onl
drawing long. even breaths rs if SCUM
!. in sleep, and using my eyes for III
they were worth. The shadows o.
the ceiling showed that things wer
being taken up and put down-our sill
! VERIFY gigantic hands, but all othe
outlines were SO confused could dis
;, tinguish nothing. How long the time
how deadly cold the chills Of terro
J that swept over me, no one will eve
know who has not passed through
all.
p Suddenly, / heard a sound--a soun
o which filled me with sickening dread
The boys were awake-were moving
y were calling me.
: The burglar sprang to his feet, ligh
and noiscless as a breath, and stoo
y poised and ready, his back toward m.
20 There came the uuic!s naffer of littl