The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-04-14
EBENSBURG. PA. FRIDAY. APRIL IA. IS9

me if l tried to get to the door l Law
shivering one minute hot the next INV
heart beating SO hard l was afraid the
burglar would hear it i cannot tell
how long it was before / heard Mollie's
voice at the end of the long entry, bid
ding some one good night. Even then
/ was terrified. What were two girls
in the grasp of a man presumably
armed to resist arrest?
AS Moline inferred my room, dears
the private theatricals commenced, one
actress for an audience of two. She
spoke to me, and ! moved my head un-
easily, muttering like person waking
suddenly in delirium. Her fears at
once took the alarm.
''Oh, Matte, Matte, dear she
cried, i had no idea you were so sick,
Fanny" she called, going to the door.
Fanny"
''One of the maids, who was. I
learned later, making up a bed at the
other end of the long entry, for an un-
expectedly detained guest. answered
the call.
Fanny, Miss Matte is very sick
Mollie said Can you stay here while
l call Mrs Burke?'
'All this time had been murmuring
any nonsense that came first to my
lips, but now | said in French:
"'Nait! / must speak to you before
you send for Mrs. Burke. / am not
sick
oh, marm,' cried Fanny, what
awful gibberish she do talk, to be
surer
Yes, she has fever,' said Mollie.
coming To the bedside. Get some cold
water, Fannie, and battle her head
"'Don't start or scream, | muttered,
still in French, in a low tone. keeping
my head in motion; There is a man
hiding in the closet who has designs on
the plate and wedding presents, / am
sure Can you ring the alarm bell in
Mrs Burke's room and get the man
servants here?
On! you poor, poor darling,' said
Moliie, caressing me. TO think YOU
have been lying here suffering while
we were dancing and ENJOYING our
selves. But you must have something
to take. Fanny as the maid came with
pitcher of water, 'bathe Miss Mattie's
head, while l see what medicines are in
the closet
Il said there was one actress, and |
was wrong. Mollie walked coolly TO
the closet, knowing the thief was
crouchcd down in the far corner behind
some bundles, and took from a narrow
shelf a few bottles crossing the room
To read the labels by the candle on a
table beside the bed, and, returning
again, two or three times, while /
moaned and muttered, and Fanny
pitied and soothed me.
Really, my dears." said Aunt Mar
tina, complacently, considered as a
first appearance, without study or re-
hearsal, | must say that it was very
well done. The last bottle Mollie took
back was put upon the shelf. and with
o'.- hurry, but quite naturally, she
closed the closet door and locked it.
II knew then, what l had almost
doubted, that she had understood me
There is nothing here that will do,
Fanny she said, quietly. Il must see
il Mrs. Burke has anything. Don't
leave Miss Matte until l come back
Then l heard her go lightly and
swiftly down the long entry. and my
heart throbbed almost to suffocation as
1 wondered if the wretch in the closet
would burst out upon us. And all the
time | was keeping up the delirious
moaning and muttering. Oh, how long
the time seemed! But at last heard
the sound of heavy feet, the confusion
of many voices, and, while Fanny stood
in open-mouthed wonder, spilling over
me the cup of water she held in one
hand, five sturdy men walked into my
room, headed by the upper gardener,
and all armed with pokers, sticks
other weapons. The head gardener
alone held pistol.
Cooking this, he opened the closet
door and said:
Suppose you come out! If you've
got a pistol, perhaps you'd better not
shoot, cause what you'll get for
burglary what amt actually done amt
nothin' to hangin', if you murder me.
away
Then he came out, sullen and ugly.
His first look was dt the bed. but i had
added to Fanny's amaZcment by sud
denly recovering and joining Mollie and
Mrs Burke, who had followed the men
into the room.
'''Oh!' said the rnffian; that it, is
it? Gibberish as was giving informa-
ton. If I'd a knowed there was gal
on that bed when / came in I'd a
stopped her clack. I'd a strangled her,
that's what I'd a done
And then, my dears, / finished up
my private theatricals by falling to the
floor in a fainting fit in which there
was no acting at alL"-Anna Shields,
in \. Y. Ledger.