Orange County observer., 1909-01-07

Women are naturally afraid of rats
Ii is an established fact that {
woman who will fly right in the face
of death by wearing tight corsets
thin-soled shoes, or otherwise violat.
ing the laws of nature and common
sense, will scream at the top of he1
lungs, if she does not go off into con.
vulsons or fit of Mysteries, at the
sight Of common sized rat.
Mrs. Harry Brown, being a woman
and withal an exceedingly pretty one,
shared the common terror-indeed.
had rather more than her share of 1t.
One night there was company at
Mr.. Harry Browns, and when the
family retired the hour was quite
late. Mr.. Brown, with mans easy
forgetfulness, soon slept the sleep of
the just; but his wife tossed restless
at his side, and longed in vain to in,i-
tate his example.
At length, however. she settled
down, and was just dropping into a
comfortable doze, when her attention
was attracted by faint sound. like
the dripping of water upon some hard
substance.
What could it be? Mrs. Browns
heart began to beat fast, but she
raised upon her dimpled elbow and
listened. Drip, drip, drip! Drip.
drip, drip! Slowly and steadily the
sound came through the stiffness.
Something was evidently wrong.
Mrs Brown grasped her liege lord
by the shoulder, and gave him a gem
tie shake
Harry, Harry! wake up! Some-
thing is the matter!"
Harry turned over, gave a rather
unmusical grunt, and subsided again.
Mrs. Brown repeated the shake.
Harry! Harry! l say! Wake nm,
wake up!'
Mr.. Brown half opened his eyes,
and yielding to Mary's pushes, sat up
in the bed
"Eh? What's up? What's to pay.
Mary?' he asked.
i don't know. Somebody getting
in the house. or something. It
sounds like water dropping"
Robbers getting in the house
wouldn't sound like water drop
ping, said Mr.. Brown. you're al
ways getting scared at nothing"
I'm not! And it is something's
Indignantly responded Mrs. Brown.
Ihere: listen-don't you hear it?"
MY EIoNn listened, and did hear
very plainly.
It's the water-pipe. There's a
leak somewhere he presently de-
clded. 1t has to be stopped. too.
90 ne tumbled out. of bed and started
in pursuit.
MIS-. Brown, not daring to be left
alone' got up, too, and followed him.
Ahd 70 protect her shoulders from the
nlght air, she caught up Mr.. Browns
ulessing-gown, which hung on a
cnalr at the bedside, and threw it
around her.
inis dressing-gown was a very
nanasome affair, which Mrs. Mary.
WIN Wlfely affection, had made and
eafelully ornamented with her own
pretty hngers. At the waist she had
se"ea long silken cord, with soft.
Aea'y tassels, and as her stature was
oAle '1lng less than that of her. tall
"usDahd, when she walked these tas-
sels dragged on the floor at her bare
feet. Ao. of'A
me leak, being diligently sought
~, .o', was at length discovered in the
;s'SN-ioom, and proceeded from moth
49, .he worse than one of the faucets of
on0 "ater-pipe being left slightly
VI course, it was only the work of
single instant to turn the faucet and
N.Y. Mu tne leak, and having done this.
H.. M H.oEn turned to renew his slum-
- 'olioWed by his devoted wife.
noF scarcely had Mrs. Brown taken
fo"4 A5is step, when she set her little
sogt pump down upon one of the
eo1' Sio1alng tassels of the dressing
sona5 -, aAd instantly tie bathroom re-
b9N sbrio1 "itn a succession OF piercing
eaa iVAs bursting upon the apna1led
h1ao, y! MI. Brown, and freezing the
'tooa IN his veins.
be c"'S; l"i5 Mary! what is the matter?n
hss s eIled' running to Mrs. Brown who
per ne s1 IN terror tc the farthest cor
'. 10. oI the bathroom.
slanao, l's rat! It's rat, Harry!
nerei a'epPed right On it! Oh. mercy-
kill it, nil It, MI. Brown! do
mo, "hare' 1., where is it! Show it to
Brow, - iiA hlm!' bravely cried Mr..
uDon y, caIchlng UP 8. stick which Law
inp j. 'n9 ' window sill, and brandish-
air "0oFe his head with a savage
fouora3 lie here! he's here! He
Oh! ]onI- me right into the corn er!
'''A' Harry! look! Here it is!a