The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-29

| the vestibule door,. when the unwelcome
visitor let himself out, and with a cool
"good night ran down the steps and
away.
Mrs Norcross closed the door, drew the
heavy bolt, entered the library, pulled the
bell rope convulsively again and again, and
| then sank in most unwomanly heap on
| the floor.
| In few moments several of the serv-
ants came rushing breathlessly to the Ii
brary, and the first-Mrs. Norcross' own
maid-gasped:
MIR. Norcross, are you ill? What is it?
Oh, mercy Are you killed? Why, it isn't
Mr.. Norcross! Oh, it's burglar" And
the frightened Abigail threw herself into
the arms of the butler.
LEFTY, you stupid! It's Mrs. Nor
cross. There was burglar here, and 1 put
on Mr.. Norcross' clothes and scared him
away. He's gone now, and I'm SO fright
ened. don't see where Mr.. Norcross is.
do believe that horrid wretch has MUIR
dered him, oh-hl" And she subsidized into
a food of tears.
In the midst of this abel there came a
violent ringing of the bell, and one of the
servants admitted Mr.. Norcross, who strid-
ing into the library exclaimed angrily:
"What the devil does all this confusion
mean, and who-confronting the dishev-
eled but beautiful youth who had sprung
to his feet-are you who presume to guard
my wife's whereaboutss And where is shes
What-why-Helenl You in that rig?"
sob, Jack, Jack! thought you'd never
come. Do send them all away, and I'll tell
you all about it,"
Left to themselves, Helen related, with
many sobs, the events of the evening.
my dearest, began Mr.. Norcross, with
an odd twinkle in his eyes when she had
finished, ~ hate to spoil your story, and
you were certainly very brave, and such a
striking man as you make, too-don't
blush, my love-except that your hair has
tumbled down, you look very manly"
'sBut that terrible burglar was my cous-
In, Arthur Wellerton,"
"Jack!"
"And he is noted among the ladies as
having the most beautiful, lovabls and
kindly gray eyes"-
"Ohl'
-, Let me explain. You know he has
lately been taken into the firm. and we
were going over the books this ,veni az.
AS it grew late thought would make
night OF it and not come home, so I sent
Arthur up to the house to get file of &C.
counts and tell you of my decision.
SWELL, Arthur hadn't been gone long
when discovered I had given him the
wrong latch key and started after him, for
I knew he couldn't get in.
"He must have been gone longer than
thought, for met him on the way back.
He told me how he got in and then hest
tated.
JACK. old boy, he said, Il dom know
what to think of it all nor what to tell
you, but just as I was closing your desk a
mana deucedly handsome young fellow
appeared in the door and ordered me
out. asked for your wife, and he grandly
informed me that she was not at home.
Never saw the fellow before, but know
twas lie, old fellow, for swear heard
the swish of a woman's dress on the stairs
as stepped into the dining ROOM
You may imagine, my dear girl, my
feelings at this intelligence. Who the
deuce was this handsome young fellow who
made such startling assertions? rushed
homeland the rest you know
"Oh, Jack" cried Helen in an agony of
modification. "Jack, how can ever look
him in the face? Oh, what an idiot am!
Oh, dear, dear, dear! Jack, did he tell you
about the revolver? He did? Obj
There, there, don't cry, you little
goose. Arthur will think you are the BRAY
est little woman in the world, as do, and
he thought you were such handsome
YOUTH
sit was all that stupid novel I shouldn't
have been SO nervous if hadn't been read
ing about burglars. And, really, your
cousin, or my burglar, is the handsomest
man ever SAVIOR P'-Maragret
Rolfe in Boston Globe