The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-04-02
ct that moment would have welcomed

III ASSOAFCu W SeD OuU OF DeQ anC
procure light to dissolve my fancies
Fwhen sound fell upon my strained
0sense OF hearing, at first astonishing me
Yater filling me with alarm and finally
fntlrely removing from me any desire
70 get out of bed, for the present. at
east. This sound was the rhythmical
breathing of a man, who was evidently
sunk In the profoundest slumber. To
1sten to the sound of snoring is not
peasant at any time, but to hear the
whole scale run up and down the gamut
" sound from under ones bed is ap-
paiilng. AS soon as had located the
sound it robbed me of the last remnant
u courage, while my late ghostly
iapcl gave way at once to fears.
you'd have indeed heard voices out
sioe my dream? Was there plot to
,op my brother, who, as postmaster,
haf about this date considerable cash
on hand from the money order business,
Niiddleton being a factory town, and
numbers of non-residents working
ehere IN the busy season and sending
nome their earnings to family and
friends? What was 1 to do? How was I
70 act under the circumstances? I
ca never describe the agony of terror
- Tch endured as lay there, listening.
nafd1y daring to breathe myself. to
thoSe unmusical sounds.
When the first faint peep of dav came
creeping through the shutter Stats I
began to form my plan of reaching the
door; AS the bed was against the wall I
mad, OF course, only one side to choose
from IN getting out. But thought if
could work my way toward the foot
+! should have at least gain of few
feet nearer the inside door in nv favor.
Slowly and painfully worked nv wav
through the bulgiDg feathers, rejoicing
that no modern bedstead upheld me, for
not the fainest creak did the frame
upon which rested emit AS nursned
my plan of retreat. 1 had almost
reached the foot of the bed when the
sounds beneath me suddenly stopped.
In mortal terror now of the conse-
quences L became desperate, and gave
one headlong plunge forward toward
'ne door, at the same time uttering a
piercing Shrek. Then 1 tainted.
"hen came to myself my head was
very wet and l was stiff all over.
heard voices, two of which I recognized
as those of Nat and Kate. There was
also third voice, which soon mad. o,,+
to be the doctors. 1 was not very mar
tlal 10 medical men, perhaps, because
mad seen so many of them. I heard Nat
say:
1t was great wonder that he did
not attack her before. L suppose he
must have stolen in when 1 went there
TO get my things in the evening"
1T was mercy that you came, Nat"
said Kate.
The doctor added:
She is coming to. You must keen
her quiet and try gradually to find ont
what led up to the attack. I will call
: :" ~ ~ -, opened my eyes to find myself
UPON couch in the sitting-room and
Mats serious face bending over mine.
did you catch him?" l asked.
Catch who, Fan, dear?" inquired
Nat, with puzzled expression.
why, the burglar, to be sure" II
There was no burglar to CATCH"
"Well, that is calm, to say the least"
remarked, sarcastically, rising to
sitting position and putting both hands
to my drenched head. after the ter
rible night that have put in, why did
You let the wretch escape?"
ut was not burglar, Fan"
"If he was not burglar, pray what
was he, and why was he secreted under
the bed? l only wonder that he did
not kill me outright, though l am sure
I could not have suffered more if he
had. First frightening the life nearly
out of me by his snoring and then
actually bouncing upon me at the last
when L tried to call assistance. And
after all this you calmly tell me there
was no burglar! You will tell me next
savagely.
Neither was there any man, Fanny,
DEAR" said my brother, with a dawn
ing smile. Your burglar was bur-
glar-catcher-my good mastiff, Watch"
What" l exclaimed, "have endured
all the terror of the past dreadful night
because of an old dog?"
Certainly, because of dog, MY dear
Fan, though not by any manner Of
means an old one. Watch is possibly
two years old at the utmost. am aw-
fully sorry, Fan, that you, with your
poor health, should have been disturbed
Others have complained of his ability
in the snoring line. I, myself, never
hear him. But am SO thankful that
he did not injure you that 1 have no
room for grief over your discomfort,
for, remember, you were a stranger to
him. He was standing over you in a
very threatening attitude when Kate
found you. Fortunately, came in just
then, as l was restless and could not
sleep. But 1 learned something, my
dear sister, of which was before doubt
full, and that is that there is one woman
who does not examine under her bed
before retiring" This last was said
with laugh, in which Kate joined as
soon as she saw me sitting up.
mo, but you better believe that
will after this" 1 made answer, as l
fel back on the couch.