Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29

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burglar story to tell, as we'll as our neigh
boris, and he has laughed scornfully: Poor
George How does he feel now? Just as
much afraid as l ever was, l verify be-
Heve, for he has been at all the trouble
and expense to get solid shutters for the
whole house, patent, double locks on the
doors and alarm traps all over the place.
| Then George has done what 1 would never
have thought of doing, bought a six-bar-
relied revolver, and two huge mastiffs. He
is really depressed. He, the gay, cheerful
George, VINO never before had a pain, much
less scare! But, no wonder; 1t is a
change from that Saturday night, when he
CO me home from Washington with all that
money, just drawn from the bank.
Now, l hate having money in hand. For
one thing, it always suggests so many
things to buy, anu 1 get tired to death by
| a day passed in town. But, George said,
who knows what may not happen in these
times. l don't trust any thing, or any body.
l want some money where can put my
hand on it, and / will not deposit again
until the tariff question Is settled once and
forever"
the time of all that fuss over the repeal
bill" which, he believed. would make 50
much difference about money, but have
never seen that these questions affect our
money matt rs one way or the other, and L
believe in banks. good banks, of course,
and l think a bank account most COM
fOrting thing,
Now. l know we live in an exposed,
unprotected place-that is. exposed TO
fro. I'M. ct. n l.
angle made by three roads, one being
the river turnpike, a mile and half dis
tant by way of our broad avenue of cherry
and locust trees.
This old Virginia mansion, too, is ex-
posed. especially. by its very construction,
designed for other times and customs.
wide, central hall runs through the entire
length of the main building, and the rooms
on either side have long windows, opening
on the surrounding galleries.
The farm house Is half n mile away. the
coach house little nearer. Perkins, the
farmer is slow and dull and the hands
always heavy, tired men. Our dogs ought
to be safeguards mongrel, terrier and
n COLLECTOR they certainly do bark from
dawn till twilight, al every real or imagi-
nary distant passer-by, and we also had
one grand modern Improvement in the
house-an electric plant, with lights and
bells everywh ..
This was my suggestion; indeed. may
say, earnest petition, presented daily an 1
hand. in his own generous way of the true
Virginia gentleman, granted me the indul-
gence
1T will be a good thing when the bur-
glars cone" said l. when we turned on the
lights and rang all the bells the first time
after the work of putting them in was all
done, and | was well snubbed for the re-
! mark, / remember.
Strangely enough, George had not thought
of the possibility of that occurrence when
he arranged the buttons apparently with
direct reference to the event of the bur-
glary; but l thought of 1T. Four bell but
tons are set in a line at the riSht-hand
side of my bed. One calls the farmer, one
the coachman, one rings for the servants.
with signals, from below stairs, one calls
them from above.
On the same line at my left hand, are
the four little screws that turn on the
central lights One turn lights the first
floor, another the second floor, third
lights the galleries and the fourth illumi-
mates the venue.
My husband does well to indulge me. for
/ am indeed sufferer. Dyspepsia and
are one" as the New England governor
said. and indeed may say that what with
malaria and quinine, doctors, nurses and
diet | have become Il complete nervous
wreck. For years | have required n whole
room, would have liked a whole house, to
myself at night. When | cannot Sleep, as
is so often the Ease, / sit u2 and read. or
/ wander around, move the furniture, get
something to eat and stir the fire, until
| am completely exhausted, and then l lie
still. close my eyes and listen, listen, for
hours-and sometimes to the most APP
palling Sounds.
1t was Saturday night, and We had re-
tired rather earlier than usual. for George
was weary after his day in town, and the
boys had been coon hunting with the dogs
all the night before.
George and l had our goodnight tea in
the north parlor, that is l had my usual
parting cup of tea, and George his night
cap of hot rum and water that he recon-
mends highly to poor sleepers, and we
left the boys pickering in a brotherly way
over a game of piQuet i'm the library.
Now, my room, remember Is over the
drawing room; the boys have the chamber
above the library; George the large south
room at the head Of the stairs and all
these rooms open into the central hall to-
ward the stairway.
l dismissed my maid, as usual put out
my light and composed myself to sleep.
The night was very STILL and just as
was dropping off the dogs began to bark.
George was already sleeping heavily, as
could hear. but i called loud enough to
wake him.
George, get up hear the dogs bark
ing"
YES" drawled George; Il hear them,
too. baying at the moon"
George, dear, do wake up; there is no
moon"
''The stars, then" murmured George. and
was sound asleep again. Poor fellow, how
tired his sleep did soutd.
But the dogs kept barking in low, wor-
rying tone that alarmed me, and L called
again.
dearest, the dogs are surely barking at
some one; please do get up"
oh r-r-rats," m;ittered George, family.
and l resigned myself to sleepless night,
for am more afraid of even the word rat
than of either firearms or burSlrrs.
/ must have dozed at last, however, for
remember no more till / was awakened by
a slight sound-no, by light, was it a
light or a close, unpleasant odor? Al first
l could not tell l could distinctly see The
face of my little gilded French clock on
the mantel, opposite my bed, standing out
hy itself as if Illuminated. Why was that,
| wondered in a sort Of dream. The phos-
phorized alabaster match safe hanging
near had never shown up as the clock did
now And while my eyes were still fixed
on it it faded away. Presently a blush,
misty ray glided slowly and steadily across
the front of a brass-bound chest OF draw
ers that stood next beyond the mantel,
touching tn, locks and handles of the diff
ferent drawers, and then dimly lighting
up the boxes and jewel caskets on the cab
met above
The central light or flame that fed these
RAYS was obscured by some solid, inter-
yening object, and as the blush rays pass
ed along l became conscious of a stealthy
step and perceived the odor Of smoldering
kerosene.
The burglar had come at last; yes, with
out doubt, he was there. The hooded light