The Van Buren press., 1894-01-13

oh, hum! Oh, hum-l'm SO sleepy"
sighed pretty Mrs Norcross, lounging
back deep into the pile OF cushions
around her.
The slow. solemn tick Of the big IL
brary clock and an occasional subdued
snap from the fireplace were the only
sounds to disturb the profound still
ness.
Mrs. Norcross sat gazing dreamily at
the logs slowly falling into glowing
Goals and sshes, In her mind vague
vision OF big. brawny, heavy-booted
man being backed into her closet, and
thought she would rather object to the
crushing her gowns would receive in
the process
sBut, then, OF course following up
her train of thought rather drowsily.
The wouldn't have on big boots; they
would make noise-dear mer'-out
loud--'what was that?" and she sud-
denly sat erect
surely. she had heard a noise In the
direction of the dining-room-
All was quiet again. however. and
not being an extremely nervous young
woman, Mrs Norcross subsidized into her
cushions again, thinking she had been
mistaken.
Still an uneasy feeling possessed
her, and she remembered that she had
sent all the servants to bed. saying she
would wait till Mr. Norcross should
come in.
She picked up the despised novel and
read few lines; but it failed to claim
her attention. and again her eyes
sought the dying enberx
The drowsiness stole over her senses
and she had nearly dropped asleep
when she found herself half out Of her
chair. straining every nerve to listen
Yes, 1t is no mistake this time She
can plainly hear the catch in one of the
long dining-room windows rafting
gently.
A deadly feeling Of suspense creeps
over her, and she starts with gasping
shudder. shrinking as from physical
blow us the tall clock softly chimes
the half hour after twelve.
The window in the dining-room Is
gently raised, and ut the sound the
trembling woman suddenly becomes
self-possessed and calm.
Rising softly she turns down the
blaze in the tall lamp, and creeping
out into the hall hastens up the broad
stairs, and flies along the corridor TO
her room.
On the way, her quick brain has de-
vised course of action. The servants
are oil at the other end of the house
and she is virtually alone; for the bur-
glar would surely kill her before she
could rouse them.
She resolves that as there is no man
on hand she will herself assume mans
garb and sternness.
Entering her husbands dressing
room she hastily throws aside her trail.
ing gown, and snatching down trousers
aud smoking jacket from the pegs and
soft shirt from the dressing case, pro-
ceeds TO array herself In her liege
lords attire with a rapidity astonish-
ing, considering the strangeness Of the
apparel.
Pulling smoking-cap over the soft
masses OF her hair. she tiptoes into the
hall, and, leaning over the balusters,
hears steps in the library she had but
just left
90" she thought, II don't feel SO
very brave. II am in Jacks coat
What can the horrid creature be doing
SO long in the library? Hush! he's at
the desk. guess Ill get Jacks re-
volvsr. I've fired papa's any number
OF tines
Softly she RENTERS the dressing
room, and there gets a terrible shock
there is a man advancing towards her
can there be two OF them?
lnvoluntarily she shrinks back in
terror. and then, even in her fright,
falls to laughing, noiselessly-for the
man does likewise-in the mirror ut
the foot of the room.
Sill trembling from her sudden
fright, she creeps downstairs, gather
~,