The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-11

4
while recognizing the awkwardneSs of his
position.
Just then the door bell rang and Mary,
running hastily down in hopes that Jarvis
was arriving with the perlice, admitted Her.
| bert Rigby.
so, Dir. Herbert, thank the Lord you've
come" she gasped breathIessly, Miss VIII
lard's got a burglar in the closet upon tha
second floor, and we're all scared 70 death
with not man in the house, sir. Jarvis mas
gone for the perlice"
Burglars" Herbert was half way up
stairs as he spoke. He was brave as lion.
''Fhat under the sun is Tom doing that he
hasn't come TO the rescue?''
He stopped short as the little group of terri
fed women fell away to allow his approach.
Was that lovely girl Miss WLlard-that
beautiful creature staying with his aunt!
And she had burglar in the closet, brave,
splendid little soull
PLEASE, Miss Willard, this is Mr.. Herbert,
Miss Ashurst's nephew. He'll have the man
out in no time. lie amt afraid of nothin'!"
put in Mary, by way of introduction.
Miss Willard repeated her story. So there
was man in the closet, after all Where
could that stupid Tom Ellis be?
IN have himSout IN no time" said Her
bert. Stand out of the way, please. Now,
theng'-
And he was about to turn the key in the
door when he paused. petrifed. a voice is
sued from the depths
Herbert Rigby, if you open that door may
the Lord forgive you! never Will There's
an awful mistake; I'm not burglar. This is
NE, Tom Ellis!'
Il wac jru-0scibIa nor m raco~-,iza +hoca
familiar tones.
Herbert turned about TO lis companions.
ITS Mr. Ellis. ray friend, who came with
me to stay over Sunday, but how in creation
he ever got into this closet I can't conceive.
Perhaps he's i'll st any rate, if you Will
kindly step out Of the way I'll see what the
nlystA"- ~
3 sou hand lay on his arm, and two large
blue eyes looked into his
Are you quite, quite sure:" said the clear
voice, SIS there no dangerl Lsheuld never
forgive myself if anything happened to'you"
mo, no danger, thanks" returned Her
bart, stirred by this delightful interest in his
welfare. 1T is certainly Tom. and, though
he is an idiot TO have got into such 1x, he's
not dangerous. l can nlanage.him, when the
coast is clear"
skirt had vanished, Herbert turned the key
and reared with laughter as his friendstepped
out, melancholy figure, Indeed in his sweep
ing robes Of flannel and the discuncerted face
he wore Explorations ersued, and after the
innocent cause Of all tho tuElGlt had escaped
upstairs to IN his proper apparel Herbert
told the whole story 10 Miss Willard and the
maids
i second huriy-buriy burst
into the hall below Mrs. Ashurst, Jarvis
and two burly policemen arrived all at the
same time, in q state of unheaTd Of excite
ment, and it was only with the greatest diff
Guilty that they could be induced TO compre-
bend the whole story.
The policemen were dismissed with hand
some tips, and Jarvis cleared himself brill
iantly from any suspicion of cowardice By
declaring that he knew all the time it was
just silly notion on the part of Miss Willard.
HAL ladies 'as 'ein!" ne observed in the
kitchen that evening.
When dinner wasfinally served and every
thing explained to every bodys satisfaction,
it seemed as if theusual constraint and stiff
ness Of the AsLIgsU establishment had en-
tirely given way before the furry Of the
afternoon. Aunt Ashurst was amiabihty
itself; put on.her new false frontin honor of
the occasion, welcomed Herbert with efPu-
sion, and when she found that Tom Ellis
mother had been one of her dearest school
friends half century ago, she literally fell
upon the neck Of that emD&rrassed,y youth and
wept.
Miss Willard, who turned out TO be dis
tant connection of the Ashursts, who had
been invited to make a little. visit IL Boston
on that account, looked too bewlUcfIngly
pretty for words i'll pink muslin. and smiled
at Herbert across bhe roses GA the table until
the hero was half distracted She was as
bright as she was lovely, AID cuatted away
in Philadelphia bvogus SO gayiy that they
were in breeze Of iasf;htar sal the evening
And when they got Back into the dancing
room she sat down at the j-nE,iiag old piano
and sang kathleen, IGY7oXrneen' and Aud
Robin Gray" in her cieer, sweet voice, while
the young men listened daaigh:edly, and4Aunt
Ashurst, over in her dim. corner, wiped away
a surreptitious tear.
Did anything come Of itg Well, ALL know
s that class nay Hsroert Rigby captured
he last handful Of flowers from the tree, and
hat no Immediately presented thsn TO
beautiful girl in DIG hat, who was sitting |
with Mrs. Ashurst.
"Wh6 is thatF said some.of the fellows,
She's just stunning"
Why" cried Tom Ellis, haven't you
1eards That's Rig6y's hauce. The engage !
nent is announced today."-G. Z ". in /
Boston Herald. !