Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-01-31
BURGLARS.

"NOw, see here" said Deacon Parle,
to his two daughters, ''things kinder
looks as eff I wouldn't be home tonight
and there's all them contributions for the
yaller-fever sufferers up chamber in the
red closet (tarnation fool | 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 a woman of sense and experience,
but Sarcy Ann had to hev her twins JUS
on this pertickler 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 cur us eff | had to 90 and say
'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 cuten' 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 lowered about him, bring
ing him his gloves, tying his Sunday
cravat, putting little dainties in his
traveling-bag, filling a small bottle wiz
lemonade, in case he should = Nv
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'll
find the rifle and the pistol both loaded;
but I 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 go away nowhere, and see
you don't let no bcggars 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 a maid and man. But it so nap
pencd that the last man had fallen in love
with IKE rosy-cheeked ''heIp," and that
they had married and departed together
only the day before The new servants
had not Yet arrived, and the farm was in
a 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 a 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.
"pll get tea, Kitty" said Matte, as
the sun began to set. Il 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 postolhce
for her. The young druggist spoken of
in the neighborhood as Kitty Parley's
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
off 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
neighbours and get some patterns she had
been promised before the water bubbled.
The neighbor's 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,
IN old friend stepped out of wagon at the