Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-09-21

myself that no one could venture
upStairs without being heard.
| vas suddenly startled from
scnnd sleep by loud noise. / lis
tened . moment. Bang, rattle.
bang I vent my pans. a. thev
thumped down the steps.
Burglars 2 screamed.
Leaping ont Of bed and throwing
on dressing-gown, l hurried into
the hall. Jimmy Blake met me ct
the door.
Don't be alarmed. Miss Nellie
be said, Il think il must be q cat
among the tinware in the kitchen
Just then there came Q howl from
the foot Of the stairs.
Och, murder ! It's kilt am
intirely The howlY saints protect
me T.
There, on the lower step, sat
Bridget, with the tin pans strewn
around her.
why, Bridget 7 | exclaimed.
trying not to laugh. How did you
get there? Why are you not in
your bed p
Och. Miss Nellie, had just gone
ont for . walk with Michael Nc
Carly. and thought to come in
quiet like; and al these pans came
tumbling down. and there was wa
ter inside the winder, and it's all
wet am y she moaned.
Quoted her as best / could, and
sent her to bed; then Jimmy Blake
and ] laughed merrily.
Miss Nellie, you are quite gen.
ius for inventing burglar alarms
he said, as We picked up the bat
tered pans. 'You ought to take
out a patent
was provoked; what right had
he to make such q remarks
Il suppose you viii inform Fred
of this as soon az he returns, said
tartlY, dreading the teasing would
have to endure IN that case.
He regarded me silently a mo-
ment, his eyes twinkling with fun.
Il am sorry you have no better
opinion of me, Miss Nellie. Ishall
not even mention the subject to
him. he answered, and my mind
was easy on that point.
Two mornings after Jimmy Blake
and we're fastening some rose
bushes to the trellis. I, 10 sun
bonnet, gingham apron and leath-
er gloves, had mounted the steps.
and Blake-whom / had found very
useful, despite his white hands
was holding them in place, and
handing me the twine.
The gate opened, and Brother
Fred came up the walk.
Hello, Nellie ! No one carried
you OF, | see 7 he exclaimed, com.
ing toward me and snatching me
of the steps in his arms. TOO bad
the storm broke all your posies r
and he gave me q bro:herly salute.
BY Jove Barton, where did you
come from /? Awfully glad to see
you, old fellow + he said, placing
me on the ground and seizing the
hired mans hand.
Il arrived two days ago, Fred,
Jimmy Blake answered, glancing
helplesslY toward me.
'Ah |! and this little chick made
you don my old clothes and help
her with her roses, ! see. Well for
you that you obeyed, for she is an
awful tyrant 7 Fred said, laugh
ing.
why. this is Mr.. Shirley's man,
Jimmy Blake / stammered.
Hush, Fred L Blake said, as m,
brother was about to speak. For
give me, Miss Nellie; / am your
brothers old college chum, Walter
Burton. You mistook me for the
new hired man, and, for joke,
did not underceive you,' he said
apologetically. these clothes
took out Of your closet. Fred,' he
continued, turning to my brother.
This is rich, Nell,' exclaimed
Fred, with roar of laughter.
But Nell was gone, and the tv
men were left alone.
lt was quite a while before Wal
ter Burton saw me again, and then
/ refused to forgive him; but he
pleaded so humbly for pardon that
at length ! yielded. and We became
friends again.
Perhaps it is foolish OF me, but