Gloucester County Democrat., 1893-03-23
MURFREE'S HEROISM.

'sIhere Is not particle of herOism
about you, Ulysses, said Mrs. Murfree
as she brushed out her back hair in front
Of the dresser glass preparatory to retir-
ing for the night mot a particle, . she
emphatically repeated what on earth
your mother was thinking about when
she named you can't imagine. / am
sure that I never saw man more un-
like his namesake. have known you to
be positively cowardly at times"
Mr.. Murfree looked up in a weary
way from the corner where he sat. .rm
sure, my DEAR" he began.
mo, you're not" snapped his better
half, giving the pincushion a whack
with the hairbrush to emphasize her
words; '.you are not sure; you are never
sure Of anything you only think Bahl
hate a man who only thinks And she
jerked the tangles out of refractory
auburn lock with additional force.
when Mrs. jerks was telling tonight
about that paragon Of husband Of hers
was simply consumed with envy. 1t
shows how much TO believe in names.
Look at you two men; look, | sayw
eyes, my dear" responded Mr.. Muir
free, pulling off his boots in resigned
way, 'srm looking
''Bah!n retorted his wife, 81 mean your
names Ulysses Murfree, 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 60 call
ing on the Simsongibbers after dark be-
cause they keep a dog"
'sWell, my dear" feebly expostulated
Mr.. Murfree, it is very large dog and
/ P'
Here Mrs. Murfree suddenly turned
around, and through lips containing sun
dry hairpins, combs and such trifing ar
ticles hissed, Don't talk to mer' in
such an impressive and disgusted man
ner that Mr.. Murfree subsided at once
and proceeded to finish pulling off his
socks
He was not disturbed again until the
moment came for retiring, when, con
/
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 cogitat-
ing plan whereby he should be able to
shoot burglar in the dark should one
chance to visit his abode that night.
II don't see how could do it," be
sighed, turning uneasily.
Are you ever going to lie still and let
a person sleep?" snapped the partner Of
his joys and sorrows as she hounced
over, dragging half Of the comfortable
with her, ID thereby causing small
chills to chase one another down her hus-
bands vertebr@.
Mr.. Murfree laid still.
He held his breath, fguratively, until
the deep, not to say sonorous. breathing
of his amiable companion told that peace
and quietude had folded their downy
wings upon the bosom of Mrs. Murfree.
Then he sighed again.
81 do hope no one will come tonight, Z
he 1nurmured sleepily. Dear me-if-
r. And here his thoughts foated
vaguely off and he realized no more.
Quiet fell on the room for a time
broken only by the musical sounds from
the alcoye, Were slept the pair, and an
occasional snap as the willow rocker,
objecting to lhe strain of the day, tried
/ to contract to its former shape.
just as the city clock was striking
Mr. Murfree awoke with start and
looked in Gazed way up into the dark
ness.
Whats the matter with mey' he NUT
tered, a sensation Of uneasiness creeping
over him. ''I think-hal What's that?'
And, broad awake now, with the cold
perspiration starting from every pore, he
became conscious of faint rustic in the
room, the cause Of which the heavy por.
there's draping the alcove prevented him
ascertaining.
Cautiously he reached under the mat
tress for his revolver, and to his horror
found that, after cleaning it on the pre-
vious day, lie had carelessly forgotten tc
replace it in its wonted spot.
"Oh, Lordl Oh, Lordr' he chartered tc
himself, trying to keep cool. mo re
volver, no nothing, and a burglar, sure as
fate Samantha was right; am COW
ard. What on earth shall / do? If
wake Samantha l will never hear the last
of it; she will nag worse than ever; be
sides, she is suret to yell, and then we viii
all be murdered And the poor mar
shook 50 that the springs creaked and
sent him into fresh fit of trembling.
Rustic, rustic, it came again, and theT
soft thump and a clink.
"He's got my pants" calculated Mr.
Murfree to himself as he cautiously sal
up in bed and tried to calm himself.
Thump.
II can't stand this any longer" sait
Mr.. Murfree in a whisper. beginning tx
\ get huffy. "Tm a fool. No wonder
Samantha said So l will certainly fine
out what is outside of those curtains
and this time Samantha shan't have
chance to brag over me. Perhaps I shall
be able to do something for once.
Keeping well away from the separa
ton between the portieres he carefully
let one foot out Of bed.
As it touched the floor the rustic
sounded again, and SO near that Mr..
Murfree nearly lost his balance will
\ fright, and found himself on his feet tie
next moment shaking with alarm les
he had provoked the marauder's atten
ton to the alcove or awakened the sleep
ing Samantha
But, no; all was quiet, and as soon Al
he plucked up a sufficient amount O
courage he peered cautiously through
the curtains
With difficulty he repressed an excla
nation Of horror
The moons rays fell across the dresser
bringing out each article on it with {
weird distinctness. and just in th'
shadow before the cheval glass was th'
STOPPING figure OF q man.
He was evidently searching the uppel
drawer, and Mr.. Murfree gasped for JOY
as he distinguished on the top Of the cab
met to the right Of the glass the missing
revolver.
sIf can only reach him" said Mr.