The Norfolk weekly news., 1899-10-12

bbu w Sll uSSlt WIN u lipNf w W.T. ttV-
bart. She tore up half a dozen sheets
of paper, but finally folded one and put
II In an envelope.
"Iyc merely begged him TO come and
see me tomorrow" said she. "It was
all could do"
She rang the messenger call and then
sank into II chair. Aunt and niece sur
ycycd each other In silence. Neither
could find words to express her feel
ings.
A loud knock startled them. Marion
opened the door and In strobe tall
and dark young man whose appear
ancc suggested slightly the handsome
| villain of society drama. His manner
| was appropriate To the scene where
the villain begins to be follcd, but does
not yet despair. lie was pulling and
biting his mustaChe In quite the con
vcntional manner. Behind him came n
messenger boy carrying II big white
bundle.
"Mr. Hobart" cried Marion, amazed
and Aunt Sarah sat up very straight
in her chair and looked severe.
| Miss Adams" said the young man.
81 have entirely failed to understand
your message, and as for that of your
aunt
lie finished with n gesture of despair
as he glanced at Aunt Sarah.
ADO you think it was quite proper
SIR" said the maiden lady from Hat
field, that you should consign your
supcrfluous wardrobe to the care of n
young lndyf'
"And may | ask, madam" said Ho-
bart, "what led you to believe that it
was mine?'
Then Aunt Sarah was what she would
have called clustered" The suspicion
of an awful mistake began to dawn
upon her.
81 left my card for Miss Adams late
this afternoon" said Mr.. Hobart, with
dignity, "but as for these garments
know nothing about them. They are
not mine, and | shall ask Miss Marion
Adams to explain how they came to be
here. | should tell you, madam''-and
he turned to Aunt Sarah-"that there
is an engagement of marriage between
your niece and myself, or at least there
was"
At this last clause Marion burst into
tears.
Il really beg your pardon" STAN
mered voice from a corner of the
room.
| Every one started, and the two ladies
screamed. A bearded face appeared
above screen. Evidently it's owner
| standing u a chair m fp
make himself visible.
"Why, it's Mr.. Walling" exclaimed
Marion. "Well, l should like to know
what he's doing therew
80 should L." cried Aunt Sarah and
Mr.. Hobart in one voice.
81 can explain in one moment" said
Walling. You will pardon my remain
ing here l am somewhat imperfectly
attired."
Aunt Sarah threw up both hands
with the gesture of one who abandons
n wicked world to its fate, and Hobart
looked like the villain just before he
commits the murder in the last part Of
the first act.
you see" said Walling, my studio
Is next door. live there. This evening
after dinner came home to dress and
was astonished to find my dress suit
and many other articles missing. The
studio was upside down. In the middle
of the floor was a shcctful of my brio
q abrac and other small belongings
"Of course | saw at once that | had
been visited by burglars and that they
had been frightened away by some
sudden alarm. How they had got in or
out could not understand, and spent
some time in wrestling with that prob
lem and in discovering the extent of
my loss.
"At last, in knocking about the stu
dio l became aware that the door be-
tween it and this one was not fasten-
ed as usual"
II nailed it up myself" cried Mar
ion.
Evidently the burglars drew the
nails and picked the lock-" said Wall
ing. "They doubtless knew the habits
of the tenants and counted upon your
being out while l was a doubtful prob
lem. SO they planned to get my things
together and carry them into this room,
from which they would have more lei
sure to escape in case | interrupted
them. But the interruption came un.
expectedly from you, and they had nc
time even to collect their booty. They
probably got away by means of the
fire escape at your window.
"When found that the door between
the rooms was open, came In here
because | saw through the thieves
game and supposed, from the fact OF
the light being here that they had fed
hastily. / hoped to find some of my
property.
"Whle was looking about you two
ladies came in like whirlwind. had
not time to reach the door, so lodged
in here, where l have been trying tC
concoct an apology that should fit the
crime"
"Your apology is accepted. Mr.. Wall
ing" said Marion. 1T comes In good
time. Phil, will you accept mine and
| Amt Sarah'S?"