The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-11-10

= y ''' itu years
Y ago--an old stone
house in the middle OF large garden,
which was surrounded on all sides by
high wall, also of stone 1t was the
pride of the owner, Miss Gwynnc.
Ono night, i'll the early spring of
tho Year, there w,i to ba II wedding
nj C"d-y-Glyn--a welding in humble
life, hut anticipated with great plee
10y the invited guests, among whom
were Miss Gwynnc's servants, the
conchmnn and his wife (who was also
cook and Viva, their daughter, en-.
p'rycd as mnid-of-all- work.
knowing the disappointment Il
would be to them if they were denied
the pleasure of attending the wedding.
she had declined tho coachman's offer
to remain with her, allowing his wife
and daughter to go, and laughingly
assured him that with her fathers gun
for company she feared nothing.
Miss Gwynne retired at an early
hour, having looked up the house.
She lay for some time gazing
through the window at the twinkling
stars, lost i'll quiet retrospection.
l will let Miss Gwynne tell the resi-
OF the story in her own way, repeating
as well as L can from memory the
words as heard them from her lips
ten years ago.
L cannot tell if l dozed or not, but I
was conscious of the moon shinine
dlmly through the clouds, and won
dcred how long 1 had lain there.
Reaching out for my watch, which Law
on the table, l was Mortified to feel
my wrist grasped and held by a Arm
hand.
10 say was frightened would ha
less correct than to say was astound,
ed, for have always been woman Of
steady nerve, and the present occasion
called for its use.
The moon had retired behind
heavy curtain of clouds, and the moon
was in complete darkness, but from
the drapery mt my bedside issued a
voice, and Mt the same time the
python-likc grasp on my wrist relaxed.
Il beg to apologize, madame" said
this voice; 81 have chosen a bunplinp
manner of awakening you-foreign to
my custom. Pardon me, and do not
hc alarmed. [ merely wish to relieve
yon OF any snpcriluous silver, jewelry
or bank notes you do not absolutely
need. But rs the vandalism Of break
in, locks is out oi my line, will re-
quest You to arise and show me where
such things are kept"
BY the time he had finished this
speech | was myself again.
'Fery well," L said, "I'll get up and
show you; but, as it is embarrassing
t. dress i'll your presence, will you
s'.p OH, into the hall and close the
Coor while put on my clothiug?"
There WAS soft rustlin" of the cur
tains Mt the bedside, and the sound of
footsteps on the carpet, and immedi-
ately aftcrwarI the door closed.
Five minutes, madame, is all can
Ei' you" remarked the burglar, as
he appeared.
took me (after lighting the can
dIr) two minutes to slip on a
warm skirt, and blue flannel
wrapper over it; then, sticking
my feet into a pair of down slippers,
! had still time to snatch a roll
OF bills amounting to one hundred
pounds, and pin them deftly to the
lining of the canopy above my four
post bed.
Then throwing open the door stood
on the sill facing my visitor, and threw
the glare of the lighted candle full
upon him, as he lolled IN n careless,
easy attitude against the bannisters.
| had been prepared for burglar
but had looked for one attired ac-
cording to the traditions of my ances-
tors. But here was a gentlemanly,
mild-featured individual, such as /
should have expected to find filing the
position of professor of Latin-per-
haps Of theology-in Oxford Univer-
sity.
There was no appearance of a jimmy.
or tools of any kind. Evidently here
was type of criminal with which his
IT MADAM %ds smnseqhSssintsd; hs e4el..
with the grace of French courtier.
''you are punctuality itself. And how
charming mo hysterics-no distress.
in scenes. Allow me-" He took the
can from my hand, and holding il
aiu. preceded me down the great
oaN,n stairs, talking huently all the
while, but pausing Mt every other STEP
coq',a,t sh politeness.
| % y ish to assure you, he remarked,
Wh am no ordinary house breaker
BgI ,,Pry is with me profession
| thu .I~.I not the one Il confess) choseI