Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-10
A Burglar S Story
[Original.]

herlted the profession from my ances-
tors; | had been doomed to it by those
who had stolen me, and | made a
mighty poor living. Fortunately | was
lucky enough to keep out of Jail.
One night-it was in November, and
cold wind blew through my rags, my
bones, my marrow and all Il was
walking along road, going nowhere,
for l had nowhere to go. 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. | was as hungry as |
was cold, and the picture | drew of
that kitchen was a wonder of comfort.
AS luck would have it, 1 found a loose
window guard and, lifting the sash,
went inside. My anticipations were
more than realized. There was a fine
bed of Goals on the hearth-no cook
stove spoiled the appearance of that
kitchen-and on the floor beside it was
basket of CLAIMS.
A pleasant light from the Goals gave
me a sight of the room, it's closets and
what was in them. Throwing half a
dozen clans on the fire, got ort what
tableware | needed and went down
into the cellar to see if / could find
anything to wash down supper with.
I found rows Of bottles marked Cur
rant Wine" Taking a bottle. | went
back to the kitchen, and by this time
the CLAIMS were about ready to eat. l
put them on de plate l had placed on
the table for them, opened them, put
on some butter, some salt and, finding
1 had forgotten the pepper, went into
the closet to get it. 1 had to hunt a
few minutes, and when | returned
there stood a girl in wrapper and slip
pers, looking about as unconcerned as
if she had expected to find me there.
81 beg pardon, MISS" 1 said. 81
found the door, mean the window
open, and, being cold and hungry,
thought you wouldn't mind my coming
in and getting snack"
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 CLAIMS on the fire and, GO
ing to the closet, brought out a lot Of
good things l 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.
I'm troubled with insomnia" she
said, "and keep something to eat ready
every night. After a supper l can go
to sleep"
The warm fire, the supper, the vine
and, above all, the cOmpanionship such
as had never enjoyed before made me
forget what 1 was, and she seemed to
forget it, too, for when l 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 a child, but would
not tell me from whom. l told the girl
that placed no confidence in his story.
II place great deal of confidence in
it," she said. you belle your clothes
and occupation. You have descended
from gentlemen especially
noted for their appearance. From the
moment l saw you-when you bowed
to me at my entrance-I recognized the
Inheritance of this feature in you. 1t
was this that enabled me to keep my
eqCanimity A woman fears men in
proportion as they are brutal; she in
stinctively recognizes Difference"
When l went away 1 had promised
her that would do all in my power to
discover the secret of my birth. In the
means employed l forgot my natural
Inheritance and yielded to my worldly
Inheritance. / got the man vino had
| given me a part of my secret alone
where he could not escape me and held
a knife at his breast till he gave me
the facts. This he did, declaring that
| he would suffer death later on at the
hands of his accomplices. Giving me
an article of underclothing with mi
tails worked on it, he told me the
names Of my parents, where they lived
and all about them.
''They are rich,' he said, 'and you
could make the short time 1 have to
live comfortable. But before you find
them l shall have disappeared"
I took the garment the man gave me
and one night went to the house Of her
who had given me her confidence.
There was the dim light of Goals in the
kitchen, and the window guard had been
left open for me. 1 entered, sat down
before the fire and waited. She came
down in a few minutes-she had heard
me-and told her my story, showing
her the garment. She took it, examined
it carefully and the expression on her
| face was that Of one who had found
| treasure. No one had ever before re
ioiced at any good fortune that had
come to me, and l could not understand
why this girl should do so.
We roasted the CLAIMS and ate our
supper together. When l left I had
promised to find my family and come