The Mena weekly star., 1898-02-02

l vailing, was doing" the towns of the
 Mississippi. To both of these persons
 time went wearily enough, until q great clock in church on Rich Mans
 hill beat sonorously the hour of two; then sweet Susan gripped her handbag with trembling fingers and felt her heart mount in her throat with ex- pectation, while Burglar Ben sallied forth from an abandoned barn, and presently came softly to the Simmons mansion, his heart also alive with ex- pectation.
 Finding the conventional ladder. and dimly discerning an open window in the second story, Burglar Ben was not long in deciding on plan of ac- tion. Elevating the ladder to the win dow he carefully ascended, and present. ed his head and shoulders before the opening, when suddenly pair of soft arms were clasped about his neck. a warm kiss was pressed upon his cheek. and the words: Darling! my own darling!" were gurgled in his ear. Burglar Ben was a young man pos sessed of exceptional nerve and pres ence of mind, but he came near tum- bling from the ladder with the shock of this delicious greeting. A wild we'll of consternation rose into his throat. but he managed to gulp it down. After gasping, much like a drowning man. for lew moments, he began whisper ing the fondest words imaginable into the ear so temptingly near his lips. fol- | q ,.i, passionate squeeze of the vague form before him.
 "Oh, Tom, why did you eat onions. just when we are to elope and be mar ried, tool" was the whispering protest that met his caresses.
 IT eat them to throw the old folks off the scent" whispered Burglar Ben, paradoxically.
 "Oh, you sweet thing! Why-why, Tom, you have a mustache! I feel it or-on my lip every time we--we-'
 "Yes, put on false one so as to dis guise myself if anyone would meet us," gurgled Ben.
 "Oh, my! how cute you must looki We'll, here is my handbag, my darlingl We must hurry! I am all a-trembIe," gasped Susan.
 "So am l." cooed the burglar, which was no lie, for being privileged unex- pectedly to elope with an unknown woman was an exciting transaction. What all have you in this satchel, sweetheart?" he asked, in a loud whis- per; tits alfred heavyi"
 "Yes, 1 put in everything I could II can't tell you what all," buzzed Su- sans whisper in the darkness, as she climbed out upon the ladder. II made a separate package of my silverware- the spoons and knives and forks and butter-dish and creamer--for if father is mad and won't take us back we'll have that much to commence with, any way.''
 You are a darling! you are lulul" exclaimed the burglar, in a transport of joy.
 "S-h-h-h! don't speak out loud!" gasped Susan. 'How funny your voice sounds, Toml"
 "Yes. I've got it disguised, too." whis- pered Burglar Ben. We've got to be awful careful, sweetheart, you know Say, you didn't forget your pocketbook, darling?"
 ''No, that's in the bottom of the bag"
 I'm glad of that for I didn't get rear as mnch money out of the govern or as I thought I should. How much have you got?"
 They were now on the ground in the darkness among the shrubbery. "Six- ty-six dollars" whispered sweet Susan.
 You are a peachl' gurgled Burglar Ben, enthusiastically. "Bettter let me carry it for you, dearest; we might pos sibly lose the valise, you know!"
 "Yes. of course you can take it, Tom. and use it if you need it, too, but if we open the handbag here in the dark we'll surely lose some of my things out. Wait till we get on the train, dar- ling" whispered Susan.
 "All-all right" reluctantly assent ed the obliging burglar, "but let me carry the silverware, so you can hold your dress clear of the damp grass. 1 I'm afraid you are going to get your one, and if you should catch cold and -and die--oh, how could I ever en- dure to live after that!"
 There was grief expressed in the | gentle burglars husky voice. and Su- san leaned her cheek against his shoul- | der and little sob of commiseration | shook her loyal bosom. And, oh if | should die and you should wed another, darling, it would-it would break my | r