Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-09-27

Time passed slowly, during which
time had ample time for refec-
tion.
Finally the conclusion forced itself
upon my conception that the wrong
man was in the coffin. This conclu-
sion was adduced from variety
reasons. First, knew nothing
the large house to which they
carried me, except what the boys had
told me that day, and as l had al
ways been accustomed to backwoods
cottages or cabins, / knew it would
be mere accident if / should ever
discover any valuables there. I dis
covered also that was not that
quality of which daring burglars are
made, and 1 sincerely wished myself
at home.
At length heard voices, then two
or three persons, whom I judged to
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 e is like-why, hellol"
he continued, "the careless fellows
failed 10 screw down the lid" AS he
finished speaking the ia was raised.
Oh, the horror Of that moment.
held my breath until it seemed that 1
should burst, while l felt that he was
looking at me intently.
The lid closed with bang, while he
repeated: This looks curious. 1t will
not hurt sure-enough corpse to have
the lid screwed down, and il this is
not one it ought to be. Hand me
screwdriver, please"
Great horrors! That would never
do! SO the next moment l dashed off
the coffin lid and leaped to the floor.
As I did so the young man gave me
a blow that came near knocking me
down; but / gained the door and was
on the veranda when l heard someone
running around the corner of the
house.
I must not meet my second antag-
onist, and yet I saw no earthly means
of avoiding him; but suddenly l be-
held well curb and determined to leap
into it. No one would think of so dar-
ing a feat and l would completely baf-
fe my pursuers.
In moment l had leaped upon it,
but as began letting myself into the
curb lost my hold and fell with
splash 40 feet into water up to 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 I
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 /
told him that 1 feared it would break.
But he ieeringly told me to let it break
he didn't care. When l was half way
up he said he believed he would turn
loose and let me back I implored
him to finish drawing me, and he final
ly complied with my request.
When he landed me on terra tirma
an old gentleman and an old lady,
whom l 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 had ever seen. just
then she had merry twinkle in her
eyes and dimple in each cheek. As
I 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 fail
ure as a. burglar. Ifyou have any folks
you had better gosto them. Now be
gone!" And | went.
1 made a wide detour around the
city, begging and looking a veritable
hobo. A week after I had left home
I returned, 'foot-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 fled for other parts, returned,
drawn hither by the loadstones of
pair of merry roguish eyes and
plump little form.
Even as pen these lines l meet the
merry twinkle of those eyes and hear
a soft, provoking voice from pair of
cherry lips; arthur, you look so
sweet. You remind me of the day
when brother drew burglar out Of
the we'll"
"Quite complimentary" reply,
somewhat sulkily, for the joke is all
going one way. "Your burglar was
rather muddy on that day and as wet
as a wharf rat but feel sure you fell
in love with him at first sight, the oc-
casion was so propitious. Sunny
South. Atlanta.
A Connecticut BIue Law.
Under the blue laws of Connecticut
men could be, and were, put into the