The Colfax chronicle., 1890-06-28

Whe got wrought up TO that pitch
chanced to notice three little boys in
the yard of the tenement houses, look
ing up at me. / beckoned to them
eagerly. They were gamins; their
street education had sharpened their
wits; they comprehended that wanted
them. AS one boy they nodded, and
started on run around the block.
Hope entered my heart once more.
went to the front. There they werc,
and with them-O. blessed relief 1.-TWO
policemen.
They saw me, and then they and the
three boys, and sundry others who had
collected, disappeared in our area. Then
along time passed, parleying with Biddy,
suppose, trying to make her let them
| in.
was in agony. Ten minutes, which
seemed like an hour, passed, and then,
with joy never could have believed
such a vision could inspire, l saw the
head of policeman above the garrer
roof.
But let me go back a little and tell
l
two hours after l had gone-as every
one upposed-Biddy went up to her
room to dress. She was startled by
mysterious sounding knocks and voices,
as she thought. She knew no one was
in the house except my father down.
stairs. She was superstitious; she ran
down with a wild face, and met my
mother in the hall. She declared that
there were 'spirits" up stairs, whisper
ing, and knocking. and groaning.
| My mother laughed at her, and went
up to the third story. She too heard
muffled knocks, and what sounded like
voices, which she could not account for
or loca te. She went into all the rooms;
she looked in every closet; she saw the
spring door closed, and she never
thought of any one being up there.
She was a little startled herself,
though she did not think it was spirits,
and she got father up there. He went
to please her, though he poohed and
said it was nonsense, etc. When
he got there the noises had stopped;
probably that was when was coaxing
the street boys. So he said Mon
sense!'' more emphatically than ever,
and came down.
When the two policemen with their
clubs pounded on the door and de-
manded admittance, and Biddy went to
the door, she was scared again; and they
walked right in.
"What do you want ?' asked my
| father, meeting them in the hall.
I'VE want the mad woman on yonr
roof" they said,
''Good heavens ~ cried my mother,
how could she have got there ?"
They all went up the stairs in process
sion, the policemen leading.
When the door opened, and the head
appeared above tiny relief, after the
strain l had been under was so great
that for the first time in my life
tainted away.
The policemen dragged me down
some way, my head still tied up in the
apron, and the old carpet trailing after
me. They were about to carry me down
the next fight, preparatory to carrying
me off to the station, suppose, when
mother happened to catch sight of my
! face.
She shrieked: 'swhy, it's my daugh-
terri
OF course she took me in charge, and
the policemen turned upon the crowd
who had followed in from the street,
drove them out, and we were left alone.
When l came out of my faint, my
nerves were all unstrung; l couldn't
control myself; I laughed. cried, ]
could hardly tell my story. The whole
thing seemed so absurd and ridiculous,
| to be prisoner on ones own roof for
| hours And yet it had somehow been
80 tragical to me.
More tragical indeed than / dreamed;
for that very evening the blow fell.
Mother dispatched father at once to
Aunt Durgin's to explain; but the ans
wer he brought back was crushing.
Aunt had talked her plan over with
my mother. made her promise secrecy,
and invited me to tea, to talk it over
and make her offer. 1t was-oh, it was
to have years study abroad! The
one thing wanted!
When did not come, she thought il
was because / did not want to be both.
cred to take tea with an old woman-she
was always SO suspicious; so she sent
for Cousin Jane, who lived very near
her, and made her the offer to go abroad.
That was the news that father brought.
Jane didn't want to study, SO she had
a year of travel, and Aunt Durgin died
before the end of it. So you see, my
dear, If / hadn't been so careless hta'
once, my life would have been very
different, and l shouldn't have been q
common music-teacher all my days.
Olive Thorne Miller, in N. Y. Independ-
ent-
LIGHT PRODUCES SOUND.
A Wonderful Discovery In Science Made