The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-11-30
A Burglar $ Story
IOriginal.1

|
when was scarcely more than a baby
was stolen by an Italian organ grinder )
and when I was twenty had been B
graduated for burglar. hadn't in
herited the profession from my ances- l
tors; had been doomed to it by those (
who had stolen me, and made a
mighty poor living. Fortunately I was
lucky enough to keep out of jail.
One nigbt-it was in November, and
a cold wind blew through my rags, my
bones, my marrow and ALL was
walking along a road, going nowhere,
for had nowhere to 60. came to a
small house standing by itself and no
ticed faint glow in the kitchen, in
dicating that some one had left an
open fire there. l was as hungry as
was cold, and the picture drew OF
that kitchen was wonder of comfort.
AS luck would have it, 1 found loose
window guard and, lifting the sash.
went inside. My anticipatiOns We're
more than realized. There was fine
bed of Goals on the hearth-no cook
stove spoiled the appearance of that
kitchen-and on the floor beside it was
a basket Of clans.
A pleasant light from the Goals gave
me sight of the room, its closets and
what was in them. Throwing half
dozen clans on the fire. got out what
tableware I needed and went down
into the cellar to see If l could find
anything to wash down a supper with
I found rows of bottles marked Cur
rant Wine.' Taking bottle, went
back to the kitchen, and by this time
the clans were about ready to eat.
put them. on the plate had placed on
the table for them, opened them, put
on some butter, some salt and, finding
I had forgotten the pepper, went into
the closet to get it. l had to hunt
few minutes, and when l returned
| there stood girl in wrapper and slip
| pers, looking about as unconcerned as
| if she had expected to find me there.
| Il beg pardon, miss" | said. Il
found the door, mean the window
open, and, being cold and hungry,
thought you wouldn't mind my coming
| IN ana getting Shack.
I never saw such nerve in my life.
/ She told me to make myself at home
and not mind her coming in at all. She
threw more clans on the fire and, 60
ing to the closet, brought out lot Of
good things I hadn't found. She beg
ged me to go right on with my supper,
and she would join me as soon as more
CLAIMS were cooked.
"Tm troubled with insomnia" she
said, "and keep something to cat ready
every night. After supper ] can go
to Sleep"
The warm fire, the supper, the wine
and, above all, the companionsliip such
as had never enjoyed before made ME
forget what was, and she seemed to
forget 1t, too, for when | pictured my
! self standing without wistfully draw
ing mental pictures of her kitchen she
almost cried. This induced me to men-
ton that an italian had told me had
) been stolen when child, but would
not tell me from whom. told the glr
/ that placed no confidence in his story
81 place great deal of confidence IL
it," she said you belle your clothes
and occupation. You have descenaes
' from gentlemen especially
, noted for their appearance. Frem tlit
moment | saw you-when you bowe;
e to me ut my entrance-I recognized thu
}. Inheritance Of this feature in you.
d was this that enabled me to keep III!
t eouanimlty. A woman fears men II
proportion as they are brutal; she ID
s stinctively recognizes Difference"
e When l went away l had promised
: her that 1 would do all In my power +
discover the secret Of my birth. In tn
u means employed l forgot my natura
s Inheritance and yielded to my worldl.
Inheritance. I got the man who ha'
e given me part of my secret alon
where he could not escape me and he'll
d knife at his breast till he gave m
the facts. This he did, declaring tha
s he would suffer death later on at tn
e hands of his aecomplices. Giving m
e an article of undertaking with In
r. tials worked on it, he told me III
u names Of my parents, where they live
. and all about them.
le 'sThey are rich," he said, "and 70
could make the short time | have
it live comfortable. But before you fin
~ them shall have disappeared
took the garment the man gave m
er and one night went to the house OF he
who had given me her confidenc
D. There was the dim light Of Goals in th
kitchen, and the window guard had bee
I'd left open for me- entered. sat dow
n before the fire and waited. She can
down In few minutes-she had hear
1g me-and told her my story, shown
her the garment She took 1t, examine
It carefully, and the expression on III
face was that of one who had found
"a treasure. No one had ever before r
on joiced at any good fortune that hs
come to me, and could not understar
,r- why this girl should do So
to We roasted the clans and ate o.
rot supper together. When l left / b;
in promised to find my family and con
- back to let her know the result.
IN OF my restoration to my father al
,er mother say nothing because | cou
rIv not upSCflDc lIlut w liltIl " a. uii Va ~
;ed ing and therefore indescribable.
IN But being restored to refined inf
ass ences could not undo all that had be
done to ruin my life. l was twen1
Mic two years old and could neither re
nor write. My parents proposed
,ok hire tutors for me, but l declined.
i, had tutor of my own in view
ron least a tutor for a beginning. For
r. last time went to her house at the
4 customed hour, crept in at the windo
yes and when she came down she promis
mo to be my governess. l have ever Sill
hin, been her willing slave.
WILLARD G. IRVING