Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-09-26
THIS New Wcmsn's Culture Caused
Her TO Mourn.

Her 10 Mourn.
"Look here" said the girl in the
crash suit, in the hearing Of re-
porter for the Chicago Times-Herald,
81 want to know what is the matter
at your house? | bear
"Don't," said the girl 10 the linen
gown. at makes me feel sick. I've
given up athletics forever, given my
gymnasium suit TO beggar, and
now I'm busy reducing the size of
my waist and learning to scream it
anybody says mouse.
"Good gracious, what on earth is
the matter Are you losing your
mind or are you engaged to poet?'
Neither, dear. But I've decided
that feminine bravery is not appre-
ciated in this world. You know that
i wrote you about my brother Tom
had asked me to come to town and
keep house for him for a week 2"
eyes but you didn't tell me why
you had suddenly become such a
sweet sister that you would leave
Delayen just when it was gayest in
order to soothe your brothers lone
liness.n
"Didn't /? Well, Tom wrote me
that his friend, Fred limit was on
his way to the Pacific slope, and in
tended to stop over with him for
few days, also that the house looked
like residence in one of those bur-
led cities we read of. | temporized
until he offered me that lovely ruby
pin of his, then I agreed to come"
81 should think SO, especially as
you have been dying to meet Fred
limit ever since his rich uncle died,
and"
"M'hm-but Tom didn't know
that. Tom writes an awful hand,
but / made out that Mr.. limit would
arrive on Thursday, so came to
town on Tuesday, to set the house
in order, going straight out there
without stopping at Toms office"
"0h, well, he expected you"
81 had said when I'd come, but /
had latch key, so it was all right.
Iwish you could have seen the house;
it was worse than [ ever dreamed.
The woman had not yet come to
clean, but / hunted up an old wrap
per, tied my hair in towel and
started to get things ready for her.
AS / passed Toms room the door
was ajar and l glanced in. There
stood man in front of the bureau,
evidently just about to rifle its con-
tents"
"My goodness, what did"
~ turned cold all over, for l
thought of the ruby pin, and l knew
Tom was just mean enough not to
buy me a new one if that was stol-
en-"
"And did you scream p
"No. just stepped into the next
room and got Jim's revolver. Then
/ marched into Toms room, and be-
fore the burglar knew l was there 1
had him covered. Then I ordered
him to throw up his hands"
"Goodness me, did he"
''He did. He had taken off his
coat, evidently meaning 10 dress in
Toms clothes and take everything
he could get his hands on
"And what did he"
"He said coolly: my good wo-
man, you are quite mistaken. l am
not burglar I"
"He thought you we're the woman
who bad come in to clean, and he
would pretend TO be a member of
the family, I've often read"
$50 have /. I was all ready for
him, and with that revolver pointed
at his head I made him march out
of that room, down the stairs, and
out of The front door, protesting at
every step"
evidently hardened profession
al; he"
ayes. Then 1 didn't know how
many more there might be in the
house, SO l sat on the bottom step
of the stairs, waiting for Tom. He
rushed in in about half an hour"
sand wasn't he proud of your
bravery"
she was not. The fact is that it
was not burglar, but Fred limit
himself l had mistaken the day of
his arrival. Tom had left him home
to rest bit, while he went down to
the office, and l had driven him hat
less and coatless out of the house at
the point of a revolver p
--~m=Zzzz=~-
Jonah Whale-"The other day
caught the biggest man ever saw