The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-01-06

VIII mum! ONs NUM- IN SO Sleepy
Nsighed pretty Mrs. o Norcross, lounging
;ck deep into the pile of cushions
1hnd her.
/rhe slow, solemn tick of the big IL
fArary clock and an occasional subdued
lnap from the fireplace were the only
Jsounds to disturb the profound still
ness.
& Mrs. Norcross sat gazing dreamily at
2the logs slowly falling into glowing
kcoals and sshes, in her mind vague
sion of big, brawny, heavy booted
YIN being backed into her closet, and
Thought she would rather object to the
%rushing her gowns would receive in
Hhe process
"B-t, then, Of course" following up
,r train of thought rather drowsily,
Ahe wouldn't have on big boots; they
x,ld make a noise--dear mel"-out
asl-"what was that?" and she sud-
- aky sat erect
Surely. she had heard noise in the
direction of the dining-room.
M All was quiet again, however, and
being an extremely nervous young
ahan, Mrs. Norcross subsidized into her
..~snions again, thinking she had been
mistaken.
Still an uneasy feeling possessed
lher, and she remembered that she had
5sent all the servants to bed, saying she
iwould wait till Mr.. Norcross should
1,ome in.
She picked up the despised novel and
sEead q few lines; but it failed to claim
Sher attention, and again her eyes
fsought the dying embers.
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, it 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 as 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 all 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
and smoking jacket from the pegs and
a soft shirt from the dressing case, pro-
ceeds to array herself in her liege
lords attire with 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
30" she thought, II don't feel SO
very brave, If l am in Jacks coat.
yinat can the horrid creature be doing
I'D long in the library? Hush! he's at
tlpe desk. guess I'll get Jacks re-
vpivsr I've fired papa's any number
ok times"
!, softly she reenters the dressing
room, and there gets terrible shock
Z There is a man advancing towards her
!. * 4 ian there De two of them?
nvoluntarily she shrinks back In
]. .wws,apd then, even in her fright,
o laughing, noiselessly-for the
does likewise-in the mirror al
kfs foot OF the room.
Aill trembling from her sudden
ut, she creeps downstairs, gather.
AZ iA n MN