West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-01-23

the other had been absent. The kettle
was boiling, so Matte made the tea and
set the table and rang the bell, tucking
the patterns behind platter on the
dresser, and Kitty entered at the signal,
expecting a scolding for keeping tea
waiting, but none came.
The girls took their tea, chatting pleas
antly over it, aud then Matte said
Suppose we lock up and go up to our
room. IL does feel little spookish down
stairs alone.
'It does, said Kitty. Down cellar
first and then everywhere else
Farley farmhouse was we'll provided
with bolts and bars, and every room had
good locks Of its own. The girls fastened
everything on the lower door, and then
went up to the front room. where their
parents slept, To see to the windows,
though it was probable that their father
had attended to that before he went
away. Kitty went first with candle.
Matte followed. She had stayed 10 put
the cat into the wash house, and now
came up on the full run with that feeling
that some Unseen thing Is behind YOU
grabbing for your back hair, which
seems to indicate that all women have a
disposition 10 believe il the supernatural
for who among us has not ielc it.
She had just got 70 the top step when
she heard Kitty scream violently, aud
heard something fall. Asshc rushed in
20 the room, she saw that it was in dark
rcss-Kitty had dropped her candle.
kitty" cried her sister, "what is
the mattorl"
"Oh, don't ask mel" walled Kitty.
"Get IA match. oh, oh, oh :"
Matte CROPPED about, humping her
head against the bedstead, the wardrobe,
and her sisters head, before she found
the matchbox. But it came TO hand at
last, and then she struck light, found
the candle, and lighted it. Kitty sat on
the floor rocking TO and fro and moan
ing.
"what is the matter, dcarl" pleaded
Matte.
"Oh! don't you secl" sobbcd the
sister, "don't you sce'"
And Matte, staring about her, did sec.
The door of the rcd closet-the treasure.
house where the collection for the yellow
fever sufferers had been locked up--was
wide open. Not only was the cash-box
gone, but the bundles of linen, stockings,
gowns, cloaks, and shawls also TO bc sent
South, had vanished, and pinned TO the
door was large placard bearing these
words, written in blue pencil.
Thank you for making it so easy for MS.
We didn't have n might Of trouble, and
whole hour 10 help ourselves We had quite
a little lunch, too, out of the buttery. Good
bye! "BURGLARs.n
kitty, said Matte, "don't you al
most wish we were dead?"
~ do, said Kitty. "Why, it seems
to me that to face pa tomorrow will be
more than can stand
1T isn't facing him so much" said
Matte, "though that is hard but what
an injury we've done him. He'll have TO
face the congregation and tell that story.
He'll have TO make it up out of his saw
ings. Poor pa Oh, oh, OH and all
because 1 went over TO the Dusenbury's
for a nasty little paper pattern could
have done without-al my fault, all
mine!"
"No dear" said Kitty. 'I didn't
know you went out before; but | was
away a whole hour, over at the post
Office. ] met Selina's mother, and she
had lot TO say, and they hadn't fixed
the letters, so you see, left the front
door unguarded ] did it, They came
in at the front door. Oh, dear, dear,
dear, dear. What a wicked girl ! am ="
Chow wrong Of both Of us" said
Matte. "Now, if I'd just spoken to
you
"Or / to you, said Kitty. Then both
began 10 cry again. "If we had anything
to sell, SAID Kitty, "if we could save Il
any way, if we had jewe.ryl Oh!Td go
out to seryice-Td 90 into factory TO
earn it. Blu ma wouldn't let us-oh"
IF we took poison we wouldn't cost
any more; it would save money! said
Matte
"P-haw our funerals and the disgrace,
and they'd feel so W sobbed Kitty.
"Old Moses Patch asked me 10 marry
him once. really think I'll go aud tell
him / will il he'll give me rs much as has
been stolen, right away" said Matte
Mr.. Patch is engaged to Widow Bur
ridge, Selina's mother told me that to-
day said Kitty. "No; VIC can't do any
thing But what does It matter about
us, when dear pa will have 10 suffer for
our conduct--dear, dear pal"
Again the girls sobbcd, and It was
nearly two o'clock at night before drowsi-
ness fell upon them and they weat sadly
across the entry TO their own room, where
they cried themselves to sleep.
Kitty awokc first, and began 20 cry
again. Matte, aroused by the sounds,
sat up and looked about her.
~ feel as If all life had altered :" said
she.
$50 do I, " said Kitty. 81 don't want
TO get up
"I suppose VIC must, said Matte
She arose and dressed herself and went
down-stairs Hardly had she lighted the
fire, when she heard feet upon the garden
path. She looked up and saw her father
approaching, and cried out
"Home 30 early Why, pau then
threw herapron over her face and began
- sob
"why, what's the matter, Matter"
asked Mr. Farley.
"Oh, pa" said Matte, OF can't tell
you"
Anything the matter with ma or
anybodyW he asked
mo, thank goodness" SAID Matte
'nut. - 10 De- the very worst thing next