The National tribune., 1893-11-30

"Mr. Norcross, are you ill? What is it? O,
mercy are you killed2 Why, it isn't Mr..
Norcross. o, it is a burglar! and the fright
ened abagail threw herself into the arms of
the butler.
Lefty, you stupid! It's Mrs. Norcross.
There was burglar here. and | put on Mr..
Norcross's clothes and scared him away. He's
gone now. and I'm SO frightened. don't see
where Mr.. Norcross is; l do believe that horrid
wretch has murdered him, oh-h!" and she SUBJ
sided in food of tears.
In the midst of this babel there came vio-
lent ringing of the bell, and one of the servants
admitted Mr. Norcross, who, stridipg into the
library, exclaimed angrily:
"What the devil does all this confusion
mean? and who the disheveled
but beautiful youth. who had sprung to his
feet-"are you, who presume to guard my
wife's whereabouts? And where is she? What
why, Helen You-in that rig?"
"Oh. Jack Jack thought you'd never
come. Do send them all away, aud I'll tell
you all about it,"
Left to themselves, Helen related, with many
sobs, the events of the evening.
My dearest" began Mr.. Norcross with an
odd twinkle in his eyes, when she had finished
q" / hate to spoil your story and you were eef-
tainly very brave; and such striking as
you make too--don't blush. nay love-except
that your hair has tumbIed down, yon look
very manly.
"But-that terrible burglar was ny cousin,
Arthur Wellerton!" !"
Jack {"
"And he is noted among the ladies as having
the most beautiful, lovable, and kindly gray
eyes"-
"Ohi"
eyes; let me explain. You know he has
lately been taken into the firm, and we were
going over the books this evening As it grew
late, thought / would make night of it and
not come home. So sent Arthur up to the
house to get file of accounts and tell you of
my decision.
well, Arthur hadn't been gone long when
/ discovered had given him the wrong latch
key, aud started after him. for knew be
couldn't get in.
He must have been gone longer than
thought, for met him the way back. He
told me how he got in, and then hesitated.
Jack, old boy he said, Il don't know
what to think of il all, nor what to tell you;
but just as | was closing your desk, man,
a deucedy handsome young fellow. appeared
in the door and ordered me out. | asked for
your wife, and he grandy informed me that she
was not at home. Never saw the fellow before,
but know it was lie. old fellow. for | swear
/ heard the swish of woman's dress on the
stairs as | stepped into the dining-room.'
You may imagine, my dear girl, my feel
ings at this intelligence. Who the deuce was
this handsome young fellow, who made such
startling assertions? / rushed home-and the
rest you know"
"Ob, Jack!" cried Helen, in an agony of
modification; "Jack, how can / ever look him
in the face? Oh. what an idiot | am Oh
dear, dear. dear! Jack, did he tell you about
the revolver? He did? Oh!"-
There there! don't cry, you little goose !.
Arthur will think you are the bravest little
woman in the world-as do--and he thought
you were such a handsome youth"
:" 1t was all that stupid novel. / shouldn't
have been so nervous if hadn't been reading
about burglars. And. really, your cousin-Or
my burglar-is the handsomest man [ ever
saw-f0r blonde !"-BoSt0n Globe