Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-07-10

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M/-EJmt village OF Cody
WF fl0tk glyn.
IWk 4 /sVIIi Just outside tho
TR Il h SII( village, on the main
t7fi road 8 "a n ds-or
NN did stand ten years
" ago-an old stone
house in the middle Of large garden,
which was surrounded on all sides by
high wall, also Of stone. 1t was the
pride Of the owner, Miss Gwynne.
One night, in the early spring o.
the year, there was to be a wedding
at Ced-y-Glyn-a wedding In humble
life, but anticipated with great glee
by the invited guests, among whom
were Miss Gwynne's servants, the
coachman and his wife (who was also
cook and Viva, their daughter, en-
ployed as q maid -of-all-work.
Knowing the disappointment it
would be to them if they were denied
the pleasure of attending the wedding,
she had declined the coachman's offer
to remain with her, allowing his wife
and daughter to go, and laughingly
assured him that with her fsther's gun
Cor company she feared nothing.
Miss Gwynne retired at an early
hour, having locked up the house.
She lay for some time gazing
through the window at the twinkling
stars, lost in quiet retrospection.
1 will let Miss Gwynne tell the res,
of the story in her own way, repeating
as well as can from memory the
words as heard them from her lips
ten years ago.
I cannot tell if dozed or not, but /
was conscious of the moon shining
dimly through the clouds, and Won
dered how long I had lain there.
Reaching out for my watch, which lay
en- the table, was Mortified to feel
my wrist grasped and held by firm
hand.
To say was frightened would be
less correct than to say WAS astound-
ed, for have always been q woman OF
steady nerve, and the present occasion
called for its use.
The moon had retired behind I,
heavy curtain of clouds, and the moon
was in complete darkness, but from
the drapery at my bedside issued a
voice, and at the same time the
python-like grasp on my wrist relaxed.
81 beg to apologize. mahme," said
this voice; 81 have chosen a bungling
manner of awakening you-foreign tC
my custom. Pardon me, and do not
be alarmed. 1 merely wish to relieve
you of any superhuous silver. iewelry
or bank notes you do not absolutely
need. But as the vandalism of break
ing locks is out of my line, I will re-
quest you to arise and show me where
such things are kept"
BY the time he had finished this
speech 1 Was myself again.
Very well" said, '1'll get up ana
show you; but, as it is embarrassing
to dress in your presence, will you
step out into the hall and close the
door while 1 put on my clothing?"
There was a soft rustling of the cur
tains at the bedside, and the sound of
footsteps on the carpet, and immedi-
ately atterward the door closed.
Give minutes, madame, is all can
give you," remarked the burglar, as
he disappeared.
1t took me latter lighting the can
dle) two minutes to slip on q
warm skirt, and blue flannel
wrapper over it; then, sticking
my feet into pair Of down slippers,
I had still time to snatch roll
of bills amounting to one hundred
pounds, and pin them deity to the
lining of the canopy above my four.
post bed.
Then throwing open the door stood
on the sill facing my visitor, and threw
the glare of the lighted candle full
upon him, as he lolled in o careless,
sasy attitude against the bannisters.
had been prepared for burglar
but had looked for one attired 40.
cording to the traditions Of my ances.
tors. But here was gentIemanlN
mild-featured individual, such as ]
should have expected to find filing the
position of professor Of Latin-per.
haps of theology-in Oxford Univer-
sity.
There was no appearance of jimmy,
or tools Of any kind. Evidently here
was type uf criminal with which his.
tory was unacquainted.
"MadamI" he exclaimed. bowina
with the grace of French courtler.
''you are punctuality itself. And how
charming mo hysterics-no distress.
Ing scenes. Allow mo-" He took the
candle from my hand, and holding il
aloft preceded mo down the great
osken stairs, talking huently all the
while. but pausing at every other steI
to glance over his shoulder at me will
coquettish politenesA
II wish to assure you, he remarked,
that I an no ordinary house-breaker.
Burglary is with mo 9 profession,
though not the ono q contest chosen
feI mo by my parents. I saw, at an
eafly nge, that must either descend
to the level Of the burglar. or raiu
him to the level Of an srtist. Behold
ny dear lady. the result"
r he stood at the foot of the stairs and
looked up at me.
''sshall We proceed to the dining.
rooE?" he asked airily; "snd as ]
wish to give you no unnecessary trou-
bic, let me say that I do not dabble in
plated spoons: nothing but solid sD
ver."
I opened the old mahogany ride
board ID which Grifiths had, for years,
placed the family heirlooms at night,
and beheld my gentlemanly burglar
stow them, one after another, In n ca.
pacious felt sack, which be carried IL
kia hand.