The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-03-23

in the corner, probably pulling over
him some of the articles on the floor.
IT dared not move. Alone, a weak |
girl, far fro m the other inmates of the |
house, was afraid he would murder
me II tried to get to the door. lay
shivering one minute, hot the next, my
heart beating so hard I was afraid the
burglar would hear it. l 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 man presumably
armed to resist arrest?
"As Mollie uttered 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, had no idea you were so sick!
Fannyp she called, going to the door.
'Fanny'
"One of the maids, who was, I
learned later, making up q 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
1 call Mrs. Burke?'
"All this time had been murmuring
any nonsense that came first to my
| lips, but now I said in French:
"'Wait! l must speak to you before
you send for Mrs. Burke. l am not
sick
"'Oh, marm,' cried Fanny, what
awful gibberish she do talk, to be
surel'
"'Yes, she has fcver,' said Mollie,
coming to the bedside. Get some cold
water, Fannie, and bathe her head
"'Dop't start or scream 1 muttered,
still in French, in 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?'
"'Oh! you poor, poor darling!' said
Mollie, 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
81 said there was one actress, and
was wrong. Mollie walked coolly to
the closet, knowing the thief was
crouched down in the far corner behind
some bundles, and took from a narrow
shelf 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 l
moaned and muttered, and Fanny
pitied and soothed me.
Really, my dears," said Aunt Mar.
tha, complacently, considered as q
first appearance, without study or re.
hearsal, ! must say that it was very
we'll done. The last bottle Mollie took
. back was put upon the shelf, and with
out hurry, but quite naturally, she
closed the closet door and locked it.
81 knew then, what had almost
doubted, that she had understood me.
"'There is nothing here that will do,
Fanny she said, quietly. 4 must see
if Mrs. Burke has anything Don't
/ leave Miss Matte until I come back
"Then I heard her go lightly and
swiftly down the long entry. and my
heart throbbed almost to suffocation as
I wondered if the wretch in the closet
would burst out upon us. And all the
| time l 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
f room, headed by the upper gardener
E and all armed with pol1ers, sticks O,
: other weapons. The head gardener
: alone held a pistol.
Cooking this, he opened the closet
r door and said:
e Suppose you come out! If you've
t got pistol, perhaps you'd better not
shoot, cause what you'll get fol-
!, burglary what amt actually done aim
r nothin' to hangin', if you murder me.
e And there's five of us, so you can't ge'
q away
! "Then he came out, sullen and ugly
e His first look was at the bed, but hat
d added to Fanny's amazement by sud
}, denly recovering and joining Mollie ant
s Mrs. Burke, who had followed the mel
Q into the room.
"Qhp said the rufian; that's 1t, Il
, It? Gibberish as was giving informa
. tion. If I'd a knowed there was a ga
g on that bed when I came in I'd
: stopped her clack. I'd a strangled her
t that's what I'd DONE
3 Sand then, my dears finished VI
: my private theatricals by falling to tn,
, floor in fainting fit in which ther,
Y was no acting at ll.''-Anna Shields
S in N. Y, Ledger.
|
= Reason for Politeness.