The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-02-11
i MIDNIGHT INTRUDER.

dog and revolver were Indispensable.
Mrs. Bileton was in raptures with the
cottage and its beautiful garden during
the summer, but as the nights closed
in her enthusiasm paled She not only
declared that the house was damp
hopelessiy daInp-but that villainous
characters infested the neighborIiood,
and would ON some dark night make n
raid upon the cottage and put all its
inmates to death.
In vain her husband argued against
such an idea, pointing out tLata police
man. who was met by a patrol, WAS
stationed not far away, and that he
(Afr. Bileton), in regard to strength and
courage, WAS n match for any nefarious
night prowler
But when lady takes anything into
her head there it remains until some
thing else of u moro novel nature drives
it out, and Mr.. Bileton was in despair.
II have taken tlie house for three
years, Elizabeth" lac said, land per-
haps you will tell me how to get out OF
it without being sued for breach of CON
tract"
Let it. Henry, replied Mrs Eileton,
in tone of voice suggesting that she
had settled the matter out of hand.
WHO do you think would take the
cottage OF my hands with the winter
coming onG' he demanded.
That's just where it is" Elizabeth
rejoined sharply. I'VE are compelled
to live TO n place that some people
would refuse to live in rent Free"
~. Il
his hand and groaned
Women are so inconsiderate, he
said; they think of nothing but sun
shine and new bonnets. suppose you
would have me sacrifice my season
ticket, paid in advance for a year,
which, my love. il you remember, you
insisted should do"
Sell it. returned Mrs. Bileton cheer
fully.
This was too much for Henry. He
did not stop to inform his better half
that season tickets were not transfer
able, but tlirusting his arms into his
overcoat anil his head into his hat de
parted from Arcadia to his griIny Office
in London.
If bowling went for anything, the
dog purchased by Mr.. Bileston was cal
culated not only to keep strangers at a
distance, but to compel the residents of
Wiver Heath to follow the example of
Dick Swivcller and so two miles round
to get over the way. The brute, a non
descript, with calf like head and n
tail a donkey might be proud of,
howled from early morning till dewy
eve. and then went sound asleep, con-
scious of having done his duty.
AS for the revolver, it was kept
locked in n case for fear that the chill.
dren should get at it, and although Mr..
Bileton held the secret in his innermost
heart, he had lost the key.
In the evening, when he returned
FROM the city. tired and worn out with
the mental exertions of the day, the
prospect of n two mile walk was not
cheering. Once outside the town of
Halfont there was scarcely house, but
Mr.. Bileton did not repine-he had
taken Hareiand Cottage for the sake #
his fanily's health and his own. and it
would have been weakness to grumble
The air was laden with heavy white
mist that made the people wheeze and
sneeze, and policeman to shrug his
shoulders as he greeted the lonely way
farer with:
Nasty night for you, SIR"
Henry Bileton did not need to be re-
minded of tho fact. but. clutching his
bag In one hand and his trusty Malacca
cane IN the other, he commenced his
homeward journey.
Sadly and yearningly he babe the
last lamp adieu, and then all was dark
ness and d"solation; and yet on he
went as ind"mitably as the youth ''who
bore banner with the strange device. y
until he came to. or thought Inc had
come to, the spot where he turned to
reach UarelHnd Cottage.
lie could see no light, but he was not
surprised at that, and making n little
joke to himself about getting up early
and cutting the mist for flrewood, b'
tuFned-and walked into pond.
Now, Mr.. Bileton was no swimmer,
and not being quite certain az tr the
direction he had walked in t became a
grave question to him how he should
walk out without plunging deeper into
the slough of chilly water, clinging
weeds and yielding mud.
The situation was at once ridiculous
and alarming, but ut last no reached
the bank, missed his footing and fell
sprawling in the mud
Whatever will Elizabeth say when
she sees the state am in3'' lie gasped,
as he picked up his bag and stick.
NATURALLY enough she will declare
that have been drinking, and if the
children run to meet me, as they usual
ly do, they will take me for q DOGGY and
shrek like mad. Hang country life,
/ wish from the bottom of my heart
that 1 had never left Paradise Villa,
Tufnell park. oh, for the distant roar
of London and a passing hansom!"
1t occurred. as of course it would.
to the unfortunate gentleman's mind
that he had taken the wrong turning,
and all wet and miry rs he was tried
the next. which happened to be the
correct one.
As he knocked at the door there
came pattering of feet along the hall,
interspersed with gleeful cries of dad
dy's come lionei"
Keep tho children back" Henry al
most shrieked; I've walked into n
COMPOUNDED pond, and am not fit
sDectacle for them to set ewes unon !"