The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-06-21

gang of burglars, instead OF gentle
men or men of honest and honorabls
calling. What if they should be some
Of the scamps who broke into DR.
Scott's house, over in Lebanon, and
carried of his instruments and his new
dentist chair? l know they shouldn't
come here rs they go to SO many
houses. particularly with father and
Jim away. | should never have mo-
mcn,'s peace"
Il should think you would feel
timid a. it is remarked Susie, with
glance round the room. We were eat
ing fruit in the dining-room, whero
the Sideboard and buffet were crowded
with silver and pretty things
Where do you keep all theSe2'
asked Mr.. Heming. You surely do
not leave them exposed in this way
during the nightr'
''Oh, no, indeed They are all car
ried up into mothers room Mine Is
next 10 it. 1t Is a terrible nuisance,
and if they were mine l should just
leave them here The house is safe
enough
You have burglar-alarms. l sup
pose2'
NO. wa 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 l like TO be atone. Dear mo.
don't think | could stand il without q
few hours 20 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 and Mr. Heming were
ready TO take leave. and waiting under
the halI-Lamp.
i believe this viii be n match" l
thought, as / kissed Susie And
really" carrying on the same thought
as / went slowly upstairs again, i
don't see why it would not be a good
thing Susie is certainly q quiet, pref
" little Jhingi And no Is not half
such L fright as / thought him. There
was quite a glow in his eyes 10 night
Usually, he j. "a dull rs ditch-water.
Not much like those everlasting Child
ester Brothers"
As / set my candle on my dressing
table, l saw reflected in tho glass tho
sco-uiuI curl of my lip at the mere
thought Of those Cheap Johns, n 7
had named them No respectable don
list would do sucn thing as this busi-
ness of theirs. Where did they get
the means to live as they did. whiIo
they carried IL on? Pulling over Il.
l fell asleep and dreamed ot-N-.
Homing and Susie mixing and rolling
pills together upon mothers silver
saIycr.
Two weeks later q 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 l was heartily clad
Of it Jim was in Boston. finishing his
trip with some college friends. Amonc
my guests of the evening were Susie
Brown and Mr.. Hemlng. Molly HAYES
and one OF the Chidestcr Brothersl
could hardly believe my eyes. But
Molly was as unconcerned a. possible.
introduced him with that little air of
hers which always says TO me rs blain-
" as words: See what | have
caught and ratified away all the
evening as usual. As for him. he be-
haved very well, and, although | did
not exchange words with him after
the introduction, must say l enjoved
looking at him on the sly. Nothing |
had heard of his looks had done him
injustice
They all staid late. Mr.. Heminr
and Susie We're the first to leave. and
Molly and the Chidester the last.
After they had crossed the doorstep |
saw him pause and glance back at the
hall and the stairway. 1t was n pe-
culiar and searching glance, and gave
me a chilly sensation of fear and
dread My suspicious wero all re-
newed and strengthened. For. will
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 sev-
eral baskets, and / concluded to sleen
IN mothers room instead Of my own.
Moreover. opened the doors between
the nursery and our rooms. Twas not
at all mindful of the delights of sucb
utter loneliness. l went back and forth
several times 70 the tumbled beds ntbo
nursery. euvying the rosy sleepers.
and 1t was late, indeed, before l Joined
them
Almost instantly, It seemed to ne. l
was broad awake again. and LOOKING
straight before me at a terrible. terri
bic sight.
There was n light in the room
pale, uncertain, hicke-ing light which
streamed upward from the floor AT tn,
foot Of the bed, and cast strange shad-
ows on the ceiling. The door into NV
room was shut, but the one into the
hall was wide open, as well as the
window beyond it, opening upon the
porch-roof. / felt the night-wind from
1t blowing over me. 1 think that woke
me- and not any noise or movement. for
lay perfectly still and calm until nv
senses returned and | knew
what to fear
"Burglars!" beat my frightened
heart The Chidester Brothersr'
came choking into my frightened
throat
| had too much sense to move or
scream L lay still as death, only
drawing long, even breaths as if sound
in sleep, and using my eyes for all
they were worth. The shadows on
the ceiling showed that things were
being taken up and put down-our sill
verify gigantic hands, but all other
outlines were so confused | could dis
-inguish nothing. How long the time,
how deadly cold the chills of terror
that swept over me, no one will ever
know who has not passed through it