The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-02-12
BURGLARS.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

"Now, see here" said Deacon Parley
to his two daughters, "things kinder
looks as ef wouldn't be home tonight.
and there's all them contributions for the
yaller-fever sufferers up chamber in Tie
red closet (tarnation fool l was to take
charge of 'emD. There is about two
thousand dollars altogether, and that s
enough to tempt thieves. Eff your ma
was to hum, | wouldn't feel skeered
She's woman of sense and experience.
but Sarey Ann had to hev her twins lust
ol this perticliler occasion, and there is
your ma off for a week."
"Why, pa, nobody knows the money is
here, cried the second daughter, Kitty.
They'd be more likely to expect to find
it at the store in the safe
"That's jest why fetched it up, said
the deacon. 81 hev got to produce it up
to the church meetin' to-morrer, and I'd
feel purity Gurus eff | had to go and saw
'twus stole-and them boys is so long
tongued and gabby. Can't sell pound
of flour without tellin' all creation all
they know. So led them to believe I'd
put it in the safe, and made lot of fuss
about their lockin' up keerful, and mean
while hum fetched it,"
"Well, that was cute" said Kitty.
''Leave pa alone for fixing things, "
said Matte.
The two girls were remarkably fond
of their father, and believed him the
wisest of men. As he got ready for his
journey, they hovered about him, bring
ing him his gloves, tying his Sunday
cravat, putting little dainties in his
traveling-bag, filling small bottle with
lemonade, in case he should grow
thirsty, parting his hair so that the bald
spot on top wouldn't show, and listening
to his counsel.
"Ef l amt to hum, said he, ''you'r
find the rifle and the pistol both loaded !;
but | guess the bolts and bars on this
here house is all good. You Jest see to
them, and it's all right. Fasten up
early. Don't 90 away nowhere, and see
you don't let no beggars in.
All of which the girls solemnly
promised, and kissing their father,
waved their kerchiefs from the porch
until he vanished at the turning Of the
road that led to the station.
Usually the Farley farmhouse boosted
both maid and man. But it SO hap
pened that the last man had fallen in love
with tke rosy-cheeked "help, and that
they had married and departed together
only the day before. The new servants
had not yet arrived, and the farm was in
n lonely place, and the mother-as the
deacon had said--was at her daughters,
where two little strangers" had arrived
together.
Still the girls, healthy, merry, and not
at all imaginative felt no alarm. They
went to work with will to tidy the
house. They had pickup dinner in the
kitchen, and they took their crochet
work and couple of novels on the porch
in the afternoon.
'l'll get tea, Kitty" said Matte, as
che sun began to set. II know you want
to finish that blue row."
And Kitty answered:
"'Yes, l should like TO, Matte, if you
don't mind"
However, when Matte had gone
kitchenward, it occurred to Kitty that
there might be letter at the postoffice
for her The young druggist spoken of
in the neighborhood as "Kitty Parleys
steady company" lived in New York,
and missive was to be expected from
him at any moment. Therefore Kitty
thought that she would run over to the
office while Matte was making tea. So
she caught up her shade hat and started
OIL down the lane, taking short cut
over the meadows. Matte at the same
time having put ON the kettle, believed
that she could just step in to the next
neighbor's and get some patterns she had
been promised before the water bubbled.
The neighbors back door was only across |
two vegetable gardens, and Matte did
not need hat, for the sun was quite
gone. Away she went, with her light |
step and quick movements, never guessing
that her sister had left her post. So it |
came to pass that the house was deserted /.
for the space of an hour; for when Kitty |
got to the Office the mail was Just IN
the letters had yet to be sorted, and |
while she was waiting for this to be done,
an old friend stepped out of wagon at the
door. OF course, there was a long chat,
for Mrs Jones had to tell of deaths and |
marriages, of an elopement, of the
'doings" of the evil-disposed and the
good luck of her son Billy, who had |
gone to California and made little for
tune III Los Angeles in no time. While |
at the neighbor's the pattern was hard to
find, and then Matte had TO learn Just
how to match the notehes, and then it
was not civil to go without little talk,
and there was a confidence only to be
impaired at the gate, regarding a certain
John, who was paying attention to the
Young lady Of the house. Time flies so