The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-12
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

wake listening for some time when
Blanche suddenly sat up beside me and
aid:
"Agnss, Oh, gracious, Agnes, think
hear noiser'
Nonsense" said. "it's nothing. Go to,
sleep, Blanche You're always hearingI
"oh, but, Agnes" began Blanche again
very shakily and couldn't 20 on, because
Just then Kitty Fox came rushing wildly
In from the next room and almost killed
herself by falling over the trunk.
Girls" she whispered hoarsely as she
picked herself up in the darkest end of the
room, there are burglars in the housed u
hear them"
II told you So" said Blanche, with grim
triumph, as we both sprang out on the floor
And there we stood irresolute. three SILVER
ing images of despair.
That's the worst OF these seaside cot
tages-hateful thingsp' groaned Blanche.
well, then, what in the name of common
sense made mamma and the boys miss the
train our very first night down herei" j
said quite viciously. They'll be sorry
when they come in the morning and find us
murdered,"l added gloomily
After all, maybe we didn't hear any.
forced attempt at cheerfulness, but as II to-
mock at her rising spirits there came again
the ominous muffled sounds, striking terror
to our fainting hearts Thump, thump,
thumpl
"Oh, Agnes!" cried Blanche Historically.
don't go, don't leave usr'
"lf you will kindly let go my plait
Blanche" ! said sternly, ~ won't desert
you. I'm only going over TO the window
left the poor thing collapsed entirely on
tho edge OF the bed, and crossing the room
softly looked down into the side yard. Hor
ror OF horrors there was n bright light
streaming from the dining room windows
My frightened exclamation brought the
other two flying over. "Heavensi how many
Of them are therei"-this from Kitty.
"Will you go up and waken Ann Doyle
Agnes'" asked Blanche.
We'll, no. Blanche" replied emphatic
ally. II don't yearn to be killed on the
stairs. Ifyou or Kitty want to run the risk
and 20 up to the third story in the dark
why, go ahead"
Il guess Ann Doyle can take care of her
sell" said Kitty, with conviction.
Agnes, where's the candlef"
"Left it on the mantel" answered with
unnatural calmness. So she went over to
find it and couldn't. and Blanche and ]
helped, and between us we succeeded in
knocking over the alarm clock, a pitcher Of
water and glass, but no candle material
lied
This was truly disheartening. rs there
any blessed thing to defend ourselves with
when they get up this fari" asked level
headed Kitty.
Not a mortal thing but the curling
" i WI haft he al.
Kit You're the strongest"
"You take the jamaica ginger, Agnes
and throw it In some of their eyes" sug
gested Blanche incoherently. She actually
did.
DO It yourself, Blanche" / answered
scathingly, and then began tugging might
and main at the bed to drag il in front OF
the door With a tremendous effort we
managed to dump the trunk in on the mat
tress and piled all the chairs and promiscu
GUS furniture on top of that again, aud then
there was nothing to do but plump down
on the floor and await our awful fate In the
sickening silence.
In the meantime the unified pounding
still continued Presently Blanche stirred
Agnes, | feel that ! must scream" she
said presently.
Don't dare" commanded fiercely
Let us all put our heads out front and
shrek" suggested Kitty. So we fumbled
our way over and raised one of the windows
very gently. 1t was inky black outside,
and with the exception Of the habitation
joining ours there was not a cottage within
half a square in any direction, and the
waves were booming on the shore at deaf.
ening rate.
No use screaming against that everlast.
Inn, tK,l
whistle couldn't be heard with that com,
notion"
Blanche began to deliberately whimper
at this. Big babyl Really Blanche some.
times acts more as If she were than Is.
Agnes, don't you remember seeing DIR.
Coopers sign up next door as we came in
yesterdRyP suddenly whispered Kitty.
He must be man, you know" she added
logically, so let's all thump on the wall
II he sleeps in there, he'll hear us and CONF
to the rescue unless he's n coward
Thank heayenl that's grand idea, Kit
ty," ! cried almost joyfully, and with that
we each found slipper or something ant
began hammering in unison at about tn,
spot where one would suppose the doctor,
headboard to be.
IL seemed as though we had knocked fo
hours before we heard an answering voice
and when we did hear it we were SO star
tied that we dropped brush and irons aut
everything simultaneously. "Hellop' CAM
through the partition in sleepy masculin
tones Whats up anyhow'p
put my lips close to the wall and re
| piled; For PHYS sake, helpus. There ar
burglars In the house" There was mui
fed sound Of energetic motion, and agaii
the doctor spoke; Hold on, cheer up" Ii
| t.Nfo ~.
room, and I'll just wake them up at tn
station. You'll have a couple of polieeme
in less than five minutes"
"Oh, thank Godp exclaimed Blanch
tragically, and we all sank down on tn
couch aud huddled up elose. All this Will
the noises below had never ceased. THE
must be smashing all the down stairs fur
niture," said poor Blanche dolefully, an
Kitty aud sighed in dismal acquiescenct
Presently there came q tap at the wall, an
disengaginR myself violently from Blanch
and Kitty ran over and answered the sis
nal. Cant get any answer from the st,
ton" called the doctor through plaster an
paper will go in gladly myself, If 20
want help"
"Oh, please come-and hurry, hurry
hastened to answer.
| viii you let me in the front doorYn WI
his next sally, which, by the way, almo
drove Blanche into spasms at the mere IA
ticipation of such wnequaled daring on oil
part
"Oh, goodness, no. I'd be deathly afraid
called back. Can't you come in the vii
dow over the porch'n
All right, be with you in an instant
he shouted.
Bring your pistol-oh and a candl
please" l begged, and then fed for n
dressing gown, while Blanche excited
put on her sailor hat and the silk quilt, ar
Kitty began tearing down her curl paper
Almost at once there came a peck at Il
window, and mans tall figure doomed l
against the glass. raised the window, ar
he climbed in.
Where are theyi" was his first bushes
like question. Down in the dining room
we all volunteered at once, and as the dc
tor struck a match and lit the candle
| balh Htftu and n1anoha -