The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-08-30
IN THE
OLD HOME
An Unpleasant predloament

undressed and threw myself on
the bed, too tired even TO light the gas,
but glad TO be home again after my
absence abroad. Why no one had met
me at the station in answer TO the
telegram / had sent from New York, |
could not explain. | was much disap-
pointed, but eagerly FASTENED TO the
house. There | found everything In
darkness aud, thinking the folks had
probably not received the message tell
ing of my unexpected leave of absence
and had gone TO the theater, | went up
to my room and was soon fast asleep.
Next morning | was aroused by
tapping on my door. Drowsily l an
swered something about being sleepy
and rolled over again. How much
longer l slept do not know. but again
] was awakened by more insistent
knock. Remembering Bob's intense
delight in the past In atrociously tor
menting me whenever he thought L
wanted to stay in bed, l answered as
grouchily as of old:
Quit that pounding, won't you, and
let me alonei'
why, papa, you cross old bear,
you!" ] heard a silvery voice eXclaim.
I'm coming right in to pull you out
If you aren't up before l count three.
Come, now-one!"
Thunderstruck at the sound of a
voice so different from what had eX-
pected, | sat bolt upright, not quite
certain l was not dreaming. AS | did
so my eyes fell upon the furnishings
of the room, and, by the sunlight
streaming in, could see they were not
those of the den l had left year be-
fore. Everything was changed In
stantly | realized that some one must
now be in possession of our old home,
though for what reason or how long |
had no time to conjecture. 1t was
startling enough to know that was in
somebody else's bed and might have
some difficulty in explaining my pres
ence there. Moreover, if that
Two"
Horror of horrors The full mean
ing of my unfortunate position began
to dawn upon me- If | were to utter
so much as a single word my voice
would doubtless betray me, while, if l
attempted to bar the door Fhe cold
sweat oozed out on my face and limbs.
"Three!" triumphantly; I'm COM
ing"
With aH involuntary movement |
clutched the bed covers and drew them
over my head, as if the hiding of my
face would end the matter. Just then
the knob turned the door creaked.
heard the rattle of a skirt With a
bound | reached the door before it had
opened very far and set my weight
against it.
why, papa, what is the matter?
Let me in at once. There-you can't
stop me now" An arm and foot of
feminine proportions squeezed through
the aperture before | could prevent
them. To push harder was only TO in
jure the innocent possessor, yet close
that door l must,
I'm going to get in, see If | don't"
and tangled mass of golden hair
pushed partly into the opening, while
the extended hand CROPPED ominously
to and fro, seeking TO find and push me
away. Finally the fingers touched lay
wrist and closed tightly around it.
could not shake them Off
please let me in, papa. You never
acted so be" The sentence remained
unfinished and broke off in a fright
ened gasp
Suddenly thought of the mirror l
had caught a glimpse of at the side
of the room, and looked up TO see a
pair of terror-stricken eyes gazing wild
ly into my own. For full half-minute
we stood there, then the hold upon my
hand relaxed, the arm and curls slowly
withdrew, and / heard her sink to the
floor.
A moment later | was in the hall.
dashing water upon an upturned face.
from which every trace Of color had
fed, forgetful of the fact that l was a
stranger and only partly clad.
But the rest of the story, and what
came Of it, is much too long to narrate
here. Suffice 1t to say, that my moth
er had sold the homestead and started
on trip to Europe, seeking TO sur
prise me by an unannounced visit. An
estimable family had been the pur-
chasers, and the father, by some
strange coincidence, had been de-
tanned in the city that evening and
neglected to notify his wife of his alb
sence. His daughter
But that is another story.
Teeth as Souvenirs.