The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04


When Dot went home from school at
noon the next day she found Cousin Tir-
zah IN a rocking chair on the porch. And
her face showed most plainly that she was
seriously agitated
Dot sat down on the top step and folded
her hands and waited.
DOT" said Cousin Trzah, did you
hear any rumpus here last night?"
''Yesm, / did. IL was awake; l didn't
sleep much last night" said Dot, family.
"Hml Do you know how many people
have been here this morning.
mo" said Dot.
well" said Cousin Tirzah. "all the
neighbors have been here and the minis
ter and DR.. Parks. The house has been
pretty nearly fun
HAS n?" Dot murmured.
Il shouldn't have known what to make
Of it," said Cousin Tirzah. "but Hiram
Sheldon came first of all, and he. had
story to tell me, Dot"
'Did her" was all Dot could say
did he! He told me" said Cousin Tlr-
zah That Durfee Jackson and another
man tried to break into this house last
night and that he, with some others,
were here watching for them. and caught
them. and that they are in the lookup now.
And ne said If it had not been for you,
Dot, he would have known nothing about
It,"
mo; he wouldn't have" said Dot.
"Wellp' said Cousin Tlrzah looking
hard al Dots averted face, the one cheek
she could see was as red as peony.
"WeH, what were you doing near Mr..
Emery's hay barn last night? You, Dot
said Cousin Tirzah, IN a gasp Of total per-
plexity
Cousin Tlrzah" said Dot, courageously
meeting her eyes II was going to the
straw ride. / didn't go 20 bed. II just
thought I'd go on the straw ride; and |
got out of the back window, and | ran,
went cross lots, because IL was late, and
going across Mr.. Emerys pasture | heard
those men In the barn, and / got scared
and stopped, and ] was so close l heard
what they said. That's how II happened
that's all"
"Aup' said Cousin Tlrzah. She folded
her arms and rocked her foot. Dot believ-
ed that she was waiting to find words
strong enough to express her stern, her
crushing displeasure.
cousin Tirzah" she said, II was awful
wicked, 1 know / was"
WELL" said Cousin Tirzah, Il had 800
IN the house last night. l was going to
take il TO the bank yesterday. but some
thing hindered me. If Durfee jackson
had got that money II wouldn't have been
any Joke, would ~ I'm afraid, Dot, you
couldn't have had that new red dress this
winter that I've promised you" said Cou-
sin Tirzah. And Dot looked at her. Some
how her tone was not just exactly what
she had braced herself TO meet.
cousin Tirzah," she cried, II don't be-
lieve you understand / was dreadfuily
bad. Why, ! was going to run away and
go on the straw ride, when you told me
/ couldn't"
yes" said cousin Tirzah. looking at the
aster bed; 80 you said"
L.. ia
could get in when ! came home, and II l
hadn't found il out about Durfee jack
son, and If he had come"
"IIe could have got In without any trou-
ble" said cousin Tirzah. ITS good
thing Il turned out the way II did, Dot"
But, cousin Tirzah," said Dot; she
could hardly believe her ears nor her
eyes. Cousin Tirzah was almost smiling
DOT" said cousin Tirzah NOW answer
| me- You wanted 10 go on that straw ride
terribly bad. didn't your"
awful bad" said Dot.
II have never known you to deceive me,
Dot" said cousin Tirzah, thoughtfully.
| Never before. You must have been about
crazy to go, or you would never have done
it. Dot, rather think / ought 10 have let
you 60"
40, cousin Tlrzahr' said Dot.
Eyes, 1 do. 1 shouldn't wonder IL I'd
got too many old fogy notions about girls
it's been sort of brought home 10 me.
shouldn't wonder-Dot," said Cousin Tir-
/ zah. abruptly, 'how would you like to
have a party yourself? Next week, say?"
20 Cousin Tirzahr said Dot again.
How would you like a candy pull?
When 1 was a girl we thought there wasn't
/ anything to beat a candy pull. You can
invite Harlow Seaman and Della Ridglew
and all the rest just as many as you want
| What do you say?"
Dot said nothing at ALL Her lips quiv-
| cred and her eyes brimmed over with sim
Pile joy. She went and threw her arms
| around cousin Tirzahs neck and Rugged
her tight and gave her a sounding kiss.