The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-28
'LANDINIC''
IA BURGLAR

L MtAtN kAA1 BwtN tAt& atp Ass4sA AL UgDh pAtAf
Hnd tho Monseiths' big stone house, ra.
dlant only d few hours agc With Ilght
and laughter. wan now griIniy dark
and silent
But excitement had vet the maid Of
honors pulse to tirobblng, and she
could not sleep. Over and over again
sta went through her part Of the state.
" ceremony 10 the slow. majestic inu.
ste of the wedding march.
Over and over again she remembered
that endless, measured walk down THE
long church aisle, with the magic scent
0f roses everywhere and The trembling
consciousness Of the best mans gaze
fixed unwaycringiy upon her.
And she recalled al the pretty things
be had said 10 her afEerward. that she
was like q dream girl come true. that
she was more beautiful than the blush.
ling bride herself. what Shameless
heresy. when tho bride was his very
own slstcrl
Wedding nights, sighed Elsie, were
much Hike Halloweens one dipped into
the future and saw sweet visions, but
only visions, after ALL Yet stu she
sat in her shimmery green maid Of
honor frock the moonlight shedding D
wondfous frost upon It. From some
distant point d clock struck twice She
rose with determination. then suddenly
became tense and rigid. Her heart was
in her mouth.
IN tho roUin just dlagonally across
the hall, which was the upstairs sitting
room, she had distinctly heard a win
dow opened. II flashed across her in-
stantly that burglars had come after
the wedding presents. Her own door,
the night being sitting warm, stood
part way open. but she was too para
lyxed With fear to run and lock II.
She listened with strained ears FOR
any further sound IA soon followed
The burglar. stumbled against some
thing. For a few minutes after that
oil was horribly still. Then, with cat
like step, Elsie heard him coming into
the hAll,
Should she soraam1- She tried q, but
could not Her voice stack IN her
throat
by the aid Of tho moonlight Elsie
could make ont dark form creeping
past her own room toward tho stairs.
Thank goodness, he was not going to
bind and gag her or hold her up at the
point Of a pistol!
But the wedding presentsl Should
she lot him steal them without trying
10 give an alarm7 Yes, she would.
The bride and groom could not be 50
very much attached 20 them. They
had not had them long enough, and II
was an awfully long way down The
bah n Mr.. M0ntcith's room.
There was no one near her except
two OF the bridesmaids, and q precious
lot of good II would do to wake them!
This reflection had the effect Of BtimH-
iating her own latent courage. No; be
should not carry OF those wedding
presents she, Elsie Laurie, would see
that be did not
she was relieved 10 Ind that she
could really move. She tiptoed 10 the
door and listened. Not d sound. 10
phe yentured stealthlly out Into the hall
and even peeked over the balustrade.
stiIl no sound and as dark as a pocket
Could she have been dreamlngf Be
fore she reused the house she would
make quite sure. Creeping down to
the landing Of the stairs, she crouched
behind the balustrade and waited, her
heart humping rapidly.
Suddenly the dining room portieres
parted, and d man holding a lighted
cigarette stepped out from behind them.
Elsie gave frightened cry of "Rob-
ertF and tainted.
When she recovered she was choking
over something very strong and burn
ing that some one was pouring down
her throat. She opened her eyes and
recognized Robert Montieth bending
over her
"Dld you catch the burglarr' she
asked him weakly.
"F'lsie, my poor child" he said, lift
ing her gently TIL her head rested
against his shoulder, ''there wasn't
any burglar, It was Just me. I'm SO
sorry"
She looked dazed, as II she could not
understand.
''You must have been awfully scared,
dear" he went on tenderIy. aPll tell
you how II happened | chased the
bride and groom, you know, to lnd out
where they were going, and when I
finally got back here / remembered /
hadn't any key. So / climbed up over
the porch and got In through the sit
ting room window. thought you
were all asleep, and ] knew II l did
that / wouldn't disturb anybody be
ended, with somewhat sheepish smile.
Elsie smiled little too. She was be-
ginning to see the humor Of the situa-
tion. by degrees she told him her side
OF the story.
You're the bravest girl In all the
world. dearest, and I'-
ibid you stub your toe against some
thing just after you got in2p she inter
rupted, with teasing irreleyance.
he admitted, rather shortly, that he
did.