The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-02-25
MURFREE'S HEROISM.

MURFREE'S HER0ISM.
"There Is not q particle Of heroism
about you. Ulysses, said Mrs Murfree
as she brushed ont her back hair in front
Of the dresser glass preparatory to retir-
Ing for the night. Not a particle" o." she
emphatitally repeated. What on earth
your mother was thinking about when
she named you cant imagine. | AM
sure that | never saw man more I'M
like his namesake have known you IN
be positively cowardly at times"
Mr.. Murfres looked up in weary
way from the corner where he sat. I'm
sure, my dear" he began.
mo, you're not" snapped his better
half. giving the pincushion whack
with the hairbrush to emphasize her
words; you are not sure you are never
sure Of snything-you only think. Bahl
l hate man who only thinks And she
! jerked the tsngles out Of a refractory
auburn lock with additional force.
"When Mrs. jerks WIS telling tonight
| about that paragon Of n husband Of hers
l was simply consumed with envy. 1t
/ shows how much to believe in names.
Look at you two men; look, sayl'
"Yes, my dear responded Mr.. Muir
free, pulling of his boots in resigned
/ way, I'm looking"
"Bahr' retorted his wife. II mean your
pames-Ulysses 1iurfree, Peter jerks
just think Of the difference, and yet Pc
ter jerks knocked burglar down stairS
this week with one fist; one, assure
you; and you-you are afraid to go call
ing on the Simsongibbers after dark be-
cause they keep dog"
"well, my dear feebly expostulated
Mr.. Hurfree. "it is very large dog and
p
Here Mrs. Murfree suddenly turned
around, and through lips containing sun
dry hairpins. combs and such trifinR ar
tclOs Missed, Don't talk to mel" in
such an impressive and aisgusted man
ner that Mr.. Aurfree subsidized at once
and proceeded to finish pulling off his
socks
He WAS not disturbed again until the
moment came for retiring when, con-
trary to their usual custom, Mrs. Muir
free turned the gas entirely out, leaving
the room in darkness save where a streak
Of moonlight fell through the window,
open for ventilation.
Now, If there was anything that Mr..
Murfree hated it WAS to have the bed
room gas turned off at night, but know
ing the defiant state OF mind which
prompted his wife to extinguish it, and
fearing to provoke another outburst he
climbed sadly into bed, and lay cogitst-
ing plan whereby he should he able to
shoot burglar in the dark should one
chance to visit his abode that night.
Il don't see how l could do it, he
sighed, turning uueasily.
Are You ever going to lie still and let
person Sleep snapped the partner Of
his joys and sorrows as she hounced
over, dragging half Of the comfortable
with her, and thereby causing small
chills to chase one another down her hus-
bands vertebra.
Mr.. Murfree laid still.
He held his breath, figuratively, unit
~.
Of his AmiRble companion told that peac'
and quistude had folded their downJ
wings upon ths bosom of Mrs. Murfree
Then he sighed again.
81 do hope no one will come tonight,
he murmured sleepily. Dear me-if-
p And here his thoughts hoate(
vaguely of and he realized no more.
Quiet fell on the room for = time
broken only by the musical sounds from
the alcoye. where slept ths pair. and Al
occasional suau As the willow rocker
obiectina To the strain Of the day, tr4e,
10 contract to its former shape.
inst as the city clock was striking
Mr.. Murfres woke with start an,
. looked in dazed way up into the dark
ness.
|, whats the matter with reY' he NUT
tered, a sensation of uneasiness creeping
over him. Il think-ha! What's thatg
And. broad awake now. with the col
perspiration starting from every pore. h
became con, ions of A faint rustic in IN
, room tbe cause of which the heavy Dol
: tierea draining the alcovs prevented hin
! nsoertaininq
Cautiously he reached under the mai
, treas for his revolver. and 10 his horro
found that. after cleaning it on the pr,
yious day, he had carelessly forgotten {
8 rsnlace il I'm its wonted 1pot.
r tOh. Lord Oh. Lordw he chartered [
, himself irving TO keen cool. ..No r,
volv.r no ne sbinq and A burglar. sure a
1sta Samantha was right. / am a COW
Ard. What on earth shall | dor II
v,aka Samantha I will never hear the la,
- a. Il. sha will mac Vvor.s than ever. h.
sides. she is sure to veil, and then we wi
ali ba murdered - And the moor ius
abook 40 that the springs creaked an
q sent him into a fresh fit of trembling.
Rustls yustle IL came again. and the
J. !. a soft tbump and ciink.
y oHe,s got INV pants." calculated n
uurfraa 70 bimself as he cautiously s,
. mn in bad and tried 10 calm himself,
Thum,,
81 can't stand this any longer" sal
q Mr.. Murfree in a whisper, beginning
4. get huffv. "Hm fool. No wOnd
: Samantha said 50. / will certainly fin
=, out what is outside Of those curtain
=. and this time Samantha shant have
" chance TO brag over me. Perhaps shs
= be able to do something for once"
az Keeping well away from the separ
d. ton between the portieres he careful
a. let one foot out Of bed.
As it touched the floor the rust
- sounded again. and so near that NJ
Hurfree nearly lost his balance wi
fright. and found himself ON his feet L
neTt moment shaking with alarm le