The Opelousas courier., 1894-01-27

NE@ Sooo Q AS~UI
TR did stand ten year,
l. " ago-an old 'ston,
house in the middle of large garden,
which was surrounded on all sides By
a high wall, also Of stone. It. was th,
pride Of the owner, Miss Gwynne.
Que. night, in the early. spring 0!
the year, there was to be. a wedding
at Cnd-y-Glynv-a wedding in humble
life, but anticipated with great glee
by the invited guests, among whom
were Miss Gwynne's servants, the
ooachman and his wife (who was also
cook and Viva, their daughter, en-
ployed as a maid of-all-work.
Knowing the disappointment il
would be to them if they were denied
the pleasure Of attending the wedding,
she had declined the coachmau's Offer
to repaain with her, allowing his wife
and daughter to go, and laughingly
assured him that with her fathers gun
for company she feared nothing.
Mics 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 in quiet retrospection.
will let Miss Gwynne tell the rest
OF the. story in her own way, repeating
rs well as / can from memory the
wordssas I heard them from her lips
ten years ago.
/ capnot tell if I dozed or not. but /
vas conscious Of The moon shining
dimly through the clouds, and 1 won
dered how long ! had lain there.
Reaching out for my watch, which lay
on tho table, I was Mortified to feel
my wrlst grasped and held by . firm
hand.
To sly I vas frightened would be
less correct than to say I was astound.
ed, for ! have always been q woman Of
nerve, and the present occasion
called for it's use.
The moon had retired behind .
heavy curtain of clouds, and the moon
was in Incomplete darkness, but from
the drapery at my bedside issued .
voice, snd at the same time the
python-tike grasp on my ristrelaxed.
Il beg to apologize. madame" said
voice; 81 have chosen a bungling
manner of awakening you-foreign to
my custom. Pardon me, and do not
be alarmed. / merely wish to relieve
you Of any superfuous silver, jewelry
or bank notes you do not absolutely
need. But as the vandalism Of break.
ing locks is out of my line, ! will re-
you to arise and show me where
things are kept"
By the time he had finished this
I was myself again.
Very WE'LL" I said, tI'llget up and
show yop but, as it is embarrassing
dress in your presence, will you
out into the hall and close the
door whils / put on my clothinep
There was a soft rustling Of the cur
Lains at tie bedside, and the. sound Of
footsteps on the carpet, and immedi-
ately aftea ward the door closed.
Five inutes, Madame, is all j can
give you, remarked the burglar, as
10 I4SuRpM " 6us tH[E Gf&EsE N#H%&G5E# 4&A#&#Ew&3
It toolN me latter lighting the AN.
alel two minutes to slip on q
warm skirt, and a blue flannel
wrapper v it; then, sticking
my feet into o pair Of down clippers,
had still time to snatch q roll
If bills amounting to one hundred
pounds, aud pin them deity to the
lining Of the canopy above my four
post bed.
Then throwing open the door I stood
the sillfacing my visitor, and threw
he glare Of the lighted candle full
lpon him, as he lol1ed in q careless,
'asy attitude against the bannisters,
| had been prepared for q burglar
nut / had looked for one stirred &C.
,ording to, the traditions Of my ances-
ors. But, here was 8 gentlemanly,
.nild-featured individual, such Is /
hould have expected to find filing the
,osition Of q professor Of Latin-per-
laps Of theology-in Oxford Univer-
ity.
There WIS no appearance Of 4 jimmy,
TOOLS or any kind. Evidently here
ras a type'of criminal with which his
DRY was u~I.acquainted.
Madam he exclaimed, bowing
nth the grace of q French courtier.
'you are p~llnctuality itself. And how
harmingi no hysterics-no distress
az scenes.v Allow me-" He took the
andle froan my hand, and holding ii
lott preceded me down the great
AIKEN stairs, talking fuently all the
lille. but causing ct every other step
J glance over his shoulder OF ms with
oquettish boliteness
II visit Il assure you, he remarked.
that / amino ordinary house-breaker.
nrglary " with me ) profession.
aough not the one I confess) chosen
= ns q ply parents. ! saw, 1t ~