Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-02-09
WOODBURY., n. J, THURSDAY FEBRUARY g. 1893.

A1AS oiiieIin INV IL COIuCI Will Lut
prettiest cowartlice had ever seen. Now
I'm not as 4 general thing. particularly
partial to the company of burglars and
housebreazeTs. but what was Il man to
do thus charnlingly appealed to?
Don't be afraid. Fanny said |.
catching nj the guitar case v;iliantly,
making for the lower part of the house
with that weapon Of aggression. Come
on. Hardenbrook wen make 'em stir
round pretty lively. or we'll know the
reason why.
Hardenbrook followed, rather contrary
to my expectations; had half feared
his remaining behind to comfort the
frightened dove in the blue muslin feath-
ers,
"You look in the kitchen, Thistledown,
and I'll examine the cellar" he said, and
| promptly obeyed. ! looked under the
dresser, behind the tables, even beneath
the great brass kettle in the corner. but
there was no burglar there
''1t must have been the cat, Harden
brook" bawled |, 'for-the deuce, how
came this door shut
gave the handle Of the door an ener-
getic tur1i-it was fast lockedl
And now the truth began to dawn
dimly upon my perturbed and excited
brain-the coast was clear. and victory
belonged to Bruce Hardenbrookl
In vain shouted until my lungs were
hoarse-in vain | ratified the relentless
door; nothing but the echo rewarded my
efforts. Nor was the scene of my invol-
untary confinement particularly invit-
ing. 1t was dark. close, and intensely
hot-a circumstance easily accounted
for by the fact of white hot fire glow
ing away in the range and no particular
circulation except that of Croton bugs
across the floor. sat down an the brass
kettle and wiped the streams of perspi-
ration from my forehead--a modern St.
Bartholomew.
gnashed my teeth and upset whole
colony of frying pans in despair
| sprang up and ratified the door once
more, shouting at the top Of my lungs,
but all to no avail kicked at the walls
i beat a tattoo on the brass kettle with
the guitar case. Vain efforts might
as well have attempted to make myself
heard from the great dungeon Of the Bas-
tile. And then I remembered the proba-
Bile turn that affairs were taking up
stairs and uttered a hollow groan.
IF ever get out of this fiery furnace
alive" said to myself enetgetically,
IN let girls and matrimony alone!''
So the time crept away, every moment
seeming ike in hour. and l heard the
sharp little kitchen clock strike s, 0 and
10, with Il keen sensation of despair at
every time. Should | never escape? Was
doomed to be roasted alive?
At length the monotony of silence was
relieved by the sound of footsteps coming
down the narrow stairs. and Job Cor
don's voice exclaimed:
Mary Hannah - Kathleen ~ where
the mischief are you all? What's the
kitchen door locked for? I'll discharge
every skin of you, or-hello!-thievesl--
policer'
And honest Job fired his revolver aim
lessly into the kitchen and flung heavy
chair after it,
"Cordonl stop-hold on-it's Tor
quatus Thistledown!"
"Thistledown il my kitchen! don't
believe word of it, Police, sayI''
But it is !. and I'm nearly dead. Stop
your bawling and listen to reason"
said rather vindictively, for the slender
thread of my patience was rapidly dimin-
ishing down to nothing at all. Let me
out where there's IL breath of fresh air.
and I'll explain things"
The astounded old gentleman led me
up stairs into the gas lighted hall, mar
yelling much at the wilted appearance
that presented.
"Now, then, will you be good enough
to tell me what al this is about? come
home at 10 o'clock and find my house
open and empty. | go down into my
kitchen and find the president of the
Thistledown Petroleum company INJURED
up among the pots and pansl Am /
asleep and dreaming. or have been be-
reft of his senses"
First" interrupted, where are
Hardenbrook and Fanny?'
Where? How should | know? An
other mystery. presume"
mo mystery at all, sir" said well
known voice as Bruce Hardenbrook came
quietly up the front steps and into the
hall, with Fanny leaning on his arm, the
pomegranate cheeks a shade redder than
ever, and the bright hair glistening
Lround her face; there we both are"
''And where have you been?"
"Only to be married, sirr'
Married. cried l.
Married. echoed Mr.. Gordon.
'You told ME in your note, papa, to
accept him promptly" faltered Fanny
"But / didn't suppose you were going
10 be as prompt as all this" said the dis
tomfted papa.
remained to hear no more What De
feated general cares to linger and survey
the scenes of his rout and discontinue?
Turning deaf ear to Gordon's apologies
and entreaties-re resisting Bruce's hypo-
critical coincidence and Fanny's melting
eyes, where laughter and compassion
blended into bewitching lights-I put on
my hat and shook the dust of that man
sion off my feet at once and forever.
And that was my last courtship. .-Buf-
falo News