Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-09

tards got q burglar in the closet upon the
second Goor, and we're all scared to death
with net a man in tile house, Sir. Jarvis has
gone for the perlice."
''Burglars!'' Herbert was half way up
stairs as he spoke. He was brave Is lion.
''Nhat under the sun is Tom doing that he
hasn't come to the rescue?'
He stopped short Is the little group of terri
fed women fell away to allow his approach.
Was that lovely girl Miss Willard-that
beautiful creature staying with his aunts
And she had a burglar in the closet, brave,
splendid little soul!
please, Miss Willard, this is Mr.. Herbert,
Miss Ashurst's nephew. He'll have the man
out in no time. He amt afraid of nothin'!"
put in Mary, by way of introduction.
Miss Willard repeated her story. So there
was a man in the closet, after all. Where
could that stupid Tom Ellis be?
''Tll have him out III no time" said Her.
bert. ''Stand out Of the way, please. Now,
tAeng'-
And he was about to turn the key in the
door when he paused, petrified. A voice is
sued from the depths.
"Herbert Rigby if you open that door may
the Lord forgive you'll never will! There's
an awful mistake; Pm not burglar. This is
1t was impossible not to recognize those
familiar tones.
Herbert turned about to his companions
Its Mr.. Ellis, my friend, who came with
me to stay over Sunday, but how in creation
he ever got into this closet l can't conceive
Perhaps he's i'll. At any rate, if you will
kindly step out of the way I'll see what the
mystery is"
A soft 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 dangers 1 should never
forgive myself if anything happened to YOU"
NO no danger, thanks" returned Her.
bert, stirred by this delightful interest in his
welfare at is certainly Tom, and though
he is an idiot to have got into such fix, he's
not dangerous. 1 can manage him, when the
coast is clear"
The women scattered, and when the last
skirt had vanished, Herbert turned the key
and roared with laughter as his friend stepped
out, melancholy figure, indeed, in his sweep
ing robes of flannel and the disconnected face
be wore Explanations ensued, and after the
innocent cause of all the tumult had escaped
upstairs to don his proper apparel Herbert
told the whole story to Miss Willard and the
| maids.
| While they were still merry over the funny
misunderstanding a second hurly-burly burst
into the hall below. Mrs Ashurst, Jarvis
and two burly policemen arrived all at the
same time, in state of unheard 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 'em!' he observed in the
kitchen that evening.
When dinner was finally served and every
thing explained to everybody's satisfaction,
it seemed as if the usual constraint and stiff
ness of the Ashurst establishment had en-
tirey given way before the furry of the
afternoon Aunt Ashurst was amiability
itself; put on her new false front in honor Of
| the occasion, welcomed Herbert with effu-
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 embarrassed 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 in Boston
on that account, looked too bewitchingly
pretty for words in pink muslin, and smiled
| at Herbert across the roses on the table until
the hero was half distracted. She was as
bright as she was lovely, and chatted away
in Philadelphia brogue so gayly that they
were in breeze of laughter all the evening.
And when they got back into the dancing
room she sat down at the jingling old piano
and sang kathleen Mavourneen' and ''Auld
Robin Gray in her clear, sweet voice. while
the young men listened delightedly, and Aunt
Ashurst, over in her dim corner, wiped away
4 surreptitious tear.
Did anything come of it? Well, all know
is that class nay Herbert Rigby captured
the last handful of flowers from the tree, and
that he Immediately presented them to a
beautiful girl in big hat, who was sitting
with Mrs. Ashurst.
"Who is that!' said some of the fellows.
She's just stunning"
"Why," cried Tom Ellis, ''haven't you
heard? That's Rigby's fance. The engage
ment is announced today.'-M. E. W. in
Boston Herald