The Forrest City times., 1893-09-15
BURGLARS IN A TRAP.
How They Were Caught by an
 Intended Victim.

People said I was very foolish when l bought ten-acre island three miles from the shore and built my summer house on it, but I laughed and said quiet was what l sought, and there l would have it, far from the madding crowds ignoble strife. Being bache- Tor, with few wants, l took with me only my man Henry, who was an ex- cellent housekeeper and cook. don't think I ever enjoyed myself more than the first four weeks l spent on the island. In the morning took to the water, or took 0 walk for an hour or so; then I wrote for three hours, and the afternoons l read and loafed, and at night slept. Some days l would row over to the mainland. and every day Henry went over after the mail, unless it was stormy. Sometimes I had friend or two to drive with me, but no woman was allowed to come ashore there.
 I was rigid in my determination on this point, for had not one Isabella Ventnor told me two weeks before l bought the island that she did not think l was the kind of man that any wom- an ought to marry?
 She had, and for that had forsworn all women.
 | As say, l was supremely happy all by myself excepting, of course, the hurt Isabella had done me. and l think that was healing slowly, when one night the entire scheme was over thrown.
 That night was dark one, but quite still. and I went to bed feeling fairly comfortable. as couple of my friends had been with me until seven o'clock and were to return early in the morning with a sailboat for a fishing trip out to deep water About one o'clock, or per haps later. I was awakened by hearing a disturbance of some sort downstairs, and before had my eyes fully opened Henry rushed into the room, slammed the door and locked it.
 "What's the matter?" exclaimed. | "For Gods sake, major, he gasped, .ret up and help me. There's burglars in the house, and I'm done for
 Then Henry went down on the floor in heap and I lit lamp as there came a terrific hammering on the door
 The light showed me Henry cov- cred with blood. his throat slashed, lying there dead or dying, as l sup posed.
 What to do I did not know, for the lonlv arms in the house were across the haA m Aff from that direction and were rapidly demolishing my door.
 They swore and pounded, entirely re- cardless of the ordinary rules of bur glary. for they knew that so far away from the shore they were perfectly safe.
 "Go downstairs and get that ax, l heard one of them say, and we'll have this blame door out of the way in q minute. We've done mp one of 'em, and now we've got to do Ip the other; so there won't be any teilin' tales out of school
 Then he laughed. and I heard foot steps down the hall and stairs. 1 knew there was no help for me there and only a chance anywhere, and I 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 l had one chance in million of escape. In a minute was out of the window, over the shed and on the ground. l had or only my pajamas, and the sharp stones cut my feet cruelty. but l did not think of that. It was life. and life is very sweet to us. even though some fair lsa' bella may have slipped drop of bitte' into it.
 Over the rocks and stones l flew, go ling I knew not where, thinking oi nothing but escape.
 What brought me to my senses some what was my rushing into the water and at first I thought of swimming