Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-24
A CURIOUS EXPERIENCE.
fbnt of n Louisville belle who saw
Her Einncc Rob Her.

zone of the most curious of Kentucky
stories and one that never reached the
ears Of the newspapers" gossiped
Louisville visitor the other day, Occurred
some years ago In our city. a promising
young man had come to the city, had
done well, was Of respectable country
family and had won the love Of one Of
the finest young women in the city.
An only child and motherless, she
lived with her father in one Of the ram
bling mansions in the outskirts Of the
city. As is the custom in many southern
places, the servants lived in small
building in the rear of the large plot OF
land surrounding the house. Late one
afternoon the father told his daughter
that she had better arrange to spend tho
night with one Of her friends, as he ex-
pcctcd to leave the city on business trip
and would be gone overnight.
"Shc told him that she would not he
afraid TO stay in the house alone. She
expected to 90 out to the theatcr that
evening with her fance. When they re-
turned, she would ask him to sec that all
the windows were securely fastened, and
she would feel perfectly secure after he
| had gone.
"1Ier father somewhat reluctantly
agreed to this and started on his journey.
/ The girl and her fiancc went out together,
as they had arranged to do. 1t seemed n
peculiarly happy evening to the young
woman. They returned to the house in
due time. At her request her fance exam
ned all the windows and doors to see
that they were fastened. She babe him
good night and went up to her room. ask
ing him to extinguish the front hall light
and close the front door as he left. She
saw the light go out and heard the front
door slam.
thinking all was safe, she prepared to
retire. Just before getting into bed and
while standing in front of her mirror
combing her hair at dresser just oppo-
site the door to the room and over which
was a transom she saw reflected from
the transom the face of man. y closer
look showed that it was the man she had
just left at the door.
Being of a cool temperament and not
possessed of nerves she made no sign
of her observation, but calmly turned out
the gas and retired. She lay awake, wait
ing to see what would happen. In about
half an hour she was Mortified to see the
figure of this same individual climbing
through the transom. He got into the
room, walked to her dresser, took the
jewels from it, including gifts he himself
had made 10 her, ransacked the little
treasure boxes she had and then stealth
, lily returned through the transom. With
. eyes half closed the young woman watch
ed the whole performance silently.
Her father returned home next morn
ing and heard the story with extreme in
r dignation. She begged him not to create
any scandal about it. and as the young
woman was nearly crazed with distress
he respected her wishes. 1t was finally
. agreed that she should write to the
young man telling him that she had seen
o it ALL asking him to return her jewelry
r and requesting him never to let her see
q, bis face again.
n The father took this note to the young
man, who promptly delivered the valua
a blcs he had stolen. The young woman
friends were told that the engagement
II was off. and it was not until severa
,. years after the incident that the reason
was known 70 any one besides the thre'
persons directly concerned in this tragic
occurrence OF this young lady's life
New York Times.