Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-05-13
LANDING A BURGLAR

SAID, and the MOntelthS' big stone
house, radiant only few hours be-
fore with light and laughter, was now
grimly dark and silent.
But excitement had set the maid
of-honor's pulse to throbbing, and she
could not sleep. Over and over again
she went through her part of the
stately ceremony to the slow, majestic
music of the wedding march.
Over and over again she remem-
bered that endless, measured walk
down the long church aisle, with the
magic scent of roses everywhere and
the trembling consciousness of the
best mans gaze fixed upon her.
And she recalled all the pretty
things he had said to her afterward-
that she was like a dream girl come
true, that she was more beautiful than
the blushing bride herself. What
shameless heresy when the bride was
his very own sister.
From some distant point a clock
struck twice. She rose with deter
mination, then suddenly became tense
and rigid. Her heart was in her mouth.
In the room just diagonally across
the hall, which was the upstairs sit
ting room, she had distinctly heard
window opened. 1t flashed across her
instantly that burglars had come after
the wedding presents. Her own door,
the night being stifingly warm, stood
part way open, but she was too para
lyzed with fear to run and lock it.
She listened with strained ears for
any further sound. 1t soon followed.
The burglar stumbled against some
thing. For a few minutes after that
all was horribly still. Then, with cat
like step, Elsie heard him coming in
to the hall
Should she scream? She could not.
Her voice "stuck in her throat"
BY the aid of the moonlight Elsie
could make out dark form creeping
past her own room toward the 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 presents! Should
she let him steal them without try
ing to give an alarm? Yes, she would
The bride and groom could not be
so very much attached to them They
had not had them lon genough and
it was an awfully long way down the
hall to Mr.. Monteith's room.
Could she have been dreaming? Be-
fore she reused the house she would
make quite sure. Creeping down to
behind the balustrade and waited, her
heart humping rapidly.
Suddenly the dining room pOrtieres
parted, and a man, holding a lighted
cigarette, stepped out from behind
them.
Elsie gave a frightened cry of
Robert and tainted.
When she recovered she was chok-
ing over something very strong and
burning that some one was pouring
down her throat. She opened her
eyes and recognized Robert Monteith
bending over her.
Did you catch the burglar?" she
asked him, weakly.
elsie, my poor child!' he said, lift
ing her gently, till her head rested
against his shoulder. There wasn't any
burglar 1t was just me. I'm so sorry.
She looked dazed, as if she could
not understand.
You must have been awfully
scared, dear" he went on, tenderly.
"Pll tell you how it happened.
chased the bride and groom, you
know. to find out where they were
going and when l finally got back
here | remembered | hadn't any key.
So | climbed up over the porch and
got in through the sitting room win
dows l thought you were all asleep,
and l know if l did that l wouldn'
disturb anybody" he ended, with a
somewhat sheepish smile.
Elsie smiled a little, too. She was
beginning to see the humor of the
situation. BY degrees she told him
her side of the story.
You're the bravest girl in all the
world, dearest, and t"
did you stub your toe against
something just after you got in?' she
| interrupted, with teasing irrelevance.
He admitted shortly, that he did.
ut was awfully quiet for few min
utes afterward," she observed dryly
yes, I wasn't saying much-out
loud. But, say, Elsie"-he broke off,
resolutely, swinging her thoughts
round to more personal matters
again. what would you say If
turned into a real burglar, after all,
and tried to steal you on the spot?"
I'm not bit afraid" she answered
him, calmly, her eyes looking with
| adorable assurance straight into his.
Tonight has made me wonderfully
coura-goodness what's that?" she
whispered, trembling with fright.
A door in the upper hall had
opened softly.
Before Robert could answer she
reached up to the electric button on
the wall and switched off the light.
Immediately voice commanded,
"Who's there?"
'Tts l, father" Robert called
hoarsely, Don't shoot"
Realizing then what a thoughtless'
ly dangerous thing she had done, Elsie
as suddenly turned on the light again
and bravely faced the astonished Rob
ert Monteith, Sr.
Explain yourself, sir" ordered Rob,
ert's father, sternly.
And Robert explained.
| 'It was all your fault, anyhow, dad, -