Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-11-06

4 Ihue ldestu eAohAgf N1'4-ic
time l had ample time for refee-
/ ton.
Finally the conclusion forced itself
upon my conception that the wrong
man was in the coffin. This conelu-
sion was adduced from a variety Of
reasons. First, ! knew nothing OF
the large house TO which they had
carried me, except what the boys had
told me that day, and as ! had al
WAYS been accustomed to baekwoods
cottages or cabins, / knew it would
/ be a mere accident If / should ever
discover any valuables there. / dis
covered also that ] was not that
quality of which daring burglars are
made, and / sincerely wished myself
at home.
At length heard voices, then two
or three persons, whom / judged 20
be members of the family, entered
the room, and one, seemingly a boy
Of about my own age, said: well,
would like TO look at that corpse
and see what it is like-why, hello!"
he continued. "the careless fellows
failed TO screw down the lid" As he
finished speaking the lid was raised.
oh. the horror of that moment |
held my breath until il seemed that |
should burst, while | felt that he was
looking at me intently.
The lid closed with a bang, while he
repeated: This looks curious. twill
not hurt a sure-enough corpse 10 have
the I'D screwed down, and if this is
not one it ought to be. Hand me
screwdriver please"
Great horrorsl That would never
do! So the next moment ] dashed OFF
the coffin lid and leaped 10 the floor.
As I did so the young man gave me
a blow that came near knocking me
down; but I gained the door and was
on the veranda when ! heard someone
running around the corner Of the
house.
I must not meet my second antag-
ouist, and yet ! saw no earthly means
of avoiding him; but suddenly / be-
held a well curb and determined TO leap
into IL. No one would think Of so dar-
ing feat and l would completely baf-
fie my pursuers.
In a moment had leaped upon it,
but as l began letting myself into the
curb / lost my hold and fell with a
splash 40 feet into water up 10 my
shoulders.
"Stay there, you fake corpse!" cried
my tormentor. "When you come out
of there you will be ready to remain
in your coffin"
do let me out" pleaded, This is
my first attempt, and can assure you
it is my last"
81 don't doubt that in the least" he
retorted, "but when we bring you out
of there we will carry you the remain
der Of the way to the graveyard our
selves, since the cowardly poltroons
who brought you here have deserted
you"
Then he left me, and although /
groaned and prayed and implored all
through the night, no one came.
The next morning my tormentor
came again, and, after imploring him
for a long while, he let the bucket
down and told me to grab hold.
The rope was small and old and l
told him that l feared it wuud break.
But he ieeringly told me to Il, ii break
he didn't care. When / was half way
up he said he believed he would turn
loose and let me back l implored
him to finish drawing me, and he final
ly complied with my request.
When he landed me on terra firma
an old gentleman and an old lady,
whom / at once perceived TO be my
young rescuer's father and mother,
were also present, and last, but not
Of least consequence, his sister, as
pretty a girl as l had ever seen. just
then she had a merry twinkle in her
eyes and a dimple in each cheek. As
] noted these symptoms of roguish
merriment l suddenly became con-
scious of my ludicrous plight and
blushed for shame.
The old man looked at me sternly
and said: "Youngster, you are a fail
ure as a burglar. Ifyou have any folks
you had better go to them. Now be
gone!" And went.
made a wide detour around the
city, begging and looking a veritable
hobo. \ week after ] had left home
l returned, 'Toot-sore. worn and
weary"
Father" said I. 81 have returned
like the prodigal son. Farm life is not
all poetry, but it beats turning burglar
| all hollow"
Years have passed since that episode
so fatal to my every aspiration to
become burglar, and although at the
command Of the irate old gentleman 1
had fed for other parts, I returned,
drawn hither by the loadstones Of
pair Of merry roguish eyes and a
plump little form
T, Even as I pen these lines I meet the
merry twinkle Of those ewes and hear
a soft provoking voice from a pair Of
cherry lips: Arthur, YOU look so
sweet. You remind me Of the day
when brother drew a burglar out Of
the we'll"