The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-07-23
A MIDNIGHT \
$3.50 SURPRISE. !
BY Elvira Floyd rroenecke.

AiOPSAt "SAA7A S6 uAHtSu ouRSACNeAOAAs
have way of reversing results which is
humiliating and depressing When AL
gernon bought new tan-colored coat
under the impression that 1t would
please his sweetheart and give him a
smart, fashionable air he found that tan
was unbecoming, that his sweetheart
preferred gray and that the latest hue
for spring coats was striking shade Of
plum.
Clarisse, too, had the same well-de-
veloped propensity; for on presenting
"a young lawyer (of tender heart and
intellectual tendencies) with book by
Mr.. Hall Caine she found that he had
read all that gifted mans works and
was eager to learn something Of the
brighter light zangwill.
Poor Aunt Polly fell Ill with grippe.
She suffered long and recovered slowly.
It left legacy In the shape Of nasty
cough that refused to be quieted. One
fine day sh- took courage and went to
call upon some dear friends. The old
ladies were in. They were delighted
to see her, but were very much dis
tressed about her cold. During the
shifting conversation, which covered
the broad field that lay between ora
torios and home soapmaking, they rec
ommendsd titimberless cures. Towards
Ave o'clock Aunt Polly rose 70 30. There
was flashing eye signal between the
kind old hostess and importunate "Oh,
don't go's!" from both.
Aunt Polly sank gracefully in her
chair as one of the ladies disappeared.
Throughout the period of waiting
most pleasant thoughts were borne in
her mind. How kind they werel How
delightful to again visit old friendsl
What would the coming rejection be?
Probably tea; maybe coffee. No! More
likely cocoa; and possibly elderberry
wine or bouiiion. She fihaliy arranged
tho probabilities between elderberry
wine and cocoa, while apparently deep
ly engaged in conversation with her
entertainer.
A slight hustle at the door. click
of spoon. She turned her head to see
the apparitior bf female figure ad-
vancing, which held in one hand a largo
bottle of cod liver oil, in the other the
hugest silver tablespoon ever made
Aspoonful was poured out slowly and
handed to the unfortunate guest. She
gulped down the dreadful dose and
hastily made her escape. Aunt Polly is
a Christian, and nothing transpired
that was disastrous to friendship or
good breeding. But, oh, how she did
think
We were all bit chary Of supersti-
tions, because Of our peculiar expert:
ences. There Is that one Of black cat
bringing good luck; but when Eloise
scratched her dainty hand on wearing d
black-cat pin for the first time, and
when Cousin Bellies story was sent fly
ing back as unavailable by the editor
Of the Black Cat magazine, we were not
| eager to welcome the tremendous
black-coated, yellow-eyed pussy, that
Gerald assured us would make happi-
ness for all the family.
Still she was lady, and had some pre-
tensions to beauty, so we adopted her,
and baptized her Devil" She certain
ly acted as II about to change condi-
tons, for nothing serious occurred,
and beyond a propensity for lying on
| the most comfortable bed she could find,
or dipping her dainty paw in an ink bot
tle-imitating the writer-she was most
exemplary.
Sometimes 1t annoyed us that we had
not good terrier in DEVILS place: She
could kill rats, of course, but could give
no alarm in case thieves entered the
house. We tried adding bright little
black-and-tan terrier to our family.
This would not do at all. Devil must
reign supreme, and the dog was BAN
| ished.
| Burglaries began to be frequent in the
neighborhood. The pater and mater
were going abroad, and we home guard
were on our mettle. We were taught
and retaught pistol practice until we
were sure OF our man. did he dare offer
his body as target.
The gunsmith had never sold so many
pistols, nor such quantities of ammuni-
ton, since he had taken his shop. He
was queer little man with bent back
and deep-set eye. His grimy hands,
| greasy knee-caps and odor of
gunpowder were his trademarks.
He looked as harmless as "a
pearl-handled revolver; but tho
way his prices rose to meet this de-
mand, and the fables he concocted
about his antique stock, showed his
capability for improving opportunities.
Still with paternal solicitude the
household head was 10th to leave us
without further precautions for our
safety.
| A burglar alarm was added to the
household attachments. 1t was Of an
electric construction; and there were
numerous dynamos and endless cleo
trio wires flying around the house for
n week or more.
Finally all was complete. Each bed
had formidable row of wires and bat
tcries; while within easy touch of the
hand was small crank that set bells
ringing in furious clamor.
We were alone at last. Each morn
ing Charles Augustus, the colored gen.
tleman who arranges our destinies and
receives our guests, set the alarms, to
which all the bells responded merrily.
Each night Algernon and examined
our weapons and laid plans to meet the
marauder.
After several nights of broken slum.
Der, when each heard noises and met in
corridor. pistol laden and in light attire,
we concluded that it was absurd to
| p,co% Trouble f,yO-thirds ~ tho UNIV
So we settled down TO peaceful sleep
and long nights of rest.
Sssseeeeeseeee~~~9