Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-10-27
A MARINE BURGLAR.

People said was very foolish when
bought 10 acre island three miles from
the shore and built my summer house on
it, but laughed and said quiet was what
sought, and there would have it, far from
the madding's crowd ignoble strife. Being
a bachelor, with few wants, took with
me only my man Henry, who was an excel
lent housekeeper and cook.
don't think ever enjoyed myself mere
than the first four weeks | spent on the
island. In the morning | took to the
water or took walk for an hour or so;
then | wrote for three hours, and the after
moons | read and loafed, and at night |
slept Some days would row over to the
mainland, aud every day Henry went over
after the mail, unless it was stormy. Some
times had friend or two to drive with
me. but no woman was allowed to come
ashore there.
was rigid in my determination on this
point, for had not one Isabella NentnOr told
me two weeks before | bought the island
that she did not think was the kind of a
man any woman ought to marry?
She had, and for that ! had forsworn all
women.
AS say, was supremely happy all by
myself excepting of course the hurt Isa-
bella had done me, and | think that was
healing slowly, when one night the entire
scheme was overthrown.
That night was dark one, but quite
still, and | went to bed feeling fairly com
Portable, as a couple of my friends had
been with me until o'clock and were to
return early in the morning with a sail
boat for fishing trip out to deep water
About l o'clock, or perhaps later, was
l. /
sort down stairs, and before had my eyes
fully opened Henry rushed into the room,
slammed the door and locked it.
whats the natter" ! exclaimed.
For Gods sake, major" he gasped, get
up and help me. There's burglars in the
house, and I'm done for"
Then Henry went down on the floor in a
heap, and lit a lamp, as there came ter
rife banging ON the door.
The light sh>ved me Henry covered with
blood, his throat sla-hed, lying there dead
or dying as supposed.
What to do did not know for the only
arms in the house We're across the hall, and
the burglars had me shut off from that di-
rection and were rapidly demolshing my
door
They swore and pounded, entirely regard.
less of the ordinary rules of burglary, for
they knew that 50 far away from the shore
they were perfectly safe.
"Godown stairs and get that Az" heard
one Of them say, and We'll have this
ID door out OF the way in n minute
We've done mp one of 'en, and now we've
got to do up The other so there won't be
any tellin tales out of school
Then he laughed, and ! heard footsteps
down the hall and stairs.
knpNy there WAS helm for thpre
and only chance anywhere, and took
that One window of my room opened out
on a back roof and from that it was only
short distance to the ground Once out
of the house ! had one chance in IA million
of escape. In IA minute | was out of the
window. over the shed and on the ground.
had on only my pajamas and the sharp
stones cut my feet cruelty, but did not
think of that. 1t was life, and life is very
sweet to Us, even though some fair Isabella
may have slipped drop of bitter into it.
Over the rocks and stones flew, going
know not where, thinking of nothing but
escape.
What brought me to my senses some
- what was my rushing into the water, and
at first | thought of swimming out and
u trying to reach the mainland, but ! was
only poor swimmer, and knew should
DE uIOMutl VI caught anu klOCkttl vi TIE
head in the water by the burglars as
hunter might knock muskrat on the
head, and the horror of it drove me back
Then ! thought Of my boat, but before
started that way remembered that my
- friends had moved it over to the MAINLAND
~ 10 return at daylight with the sailboat
D leaving me only my rockets to signal the
ly shore in case of need, and what were sig
p Ials nOwi Only means whereby the muir
ferers might discover me
One thinks rapidly at such moments,
" fancy, and all this took place in much les.
a time than it requires to tell it, but Their,
was time enough for the burglars to learI
was not in the room and with their quick
- eyes see the window through which | had
escaped, and heard some Of them coming
along the course | had taken, and one go
ing down toward my boat landing to GU
me OIL there.
Then aimlessly again and utterly dazeC
began to circle the little island, running
on the beach. They could not see me- an(
my bare feet made no noise in the sand
and | rushed madly ahead, when all a
once | went down with a terrible crash owe
something on the beach. They were nea
Enough to hear my fall, and one of then
shouted:
Here be is, Bill We've got him D.
him for giving us so much trouble, Wen fl
him now"
thought about rs the burglar did, bu
as tried to get up | found was in boa
drawn half way up on the sand.
almost shouted with joy when | mad
this discovery. 1t was their boat, and one
in il and on the water was safe. by thi
time could hear their footsteps along tn
shore which was quite rocky and rougl
nere, except the little bit Of beach wher
;he boat lay, and they could not make suel