The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-18
Aunt Serena $ Supper Party

where there are only two defense
ISIS women IL you must steal tea
spoons why don't you go to some
place where you won't brighten q
dear old lady to death p
| He stood perfectly stili looking
down at me. There was something
In his expression that ] could not
fathom. SO you thought 1 came to
steal the teaspoons?"
NODDED. What else could I
Think" asked. and pointed to the
drawer 1t stood wide open. and the
spoons lay revealed in shining row.
IT seems dreadful said. that
a. young man OF your appearance
should be brought to this"
1T u.s." he agreed. but am going
to ask favor OF you. I am very
hungry. i will leave teaspoons And
everything else IL you will find sorne-
thing for me to eat
His impertinence took my breath
away, but a second thought told. me
,nat It would not be well to make
him angry. There In chocolate cake
IN The pantry l said. and bread in
the bread box You will and cold
nam and butter in the refrigerator"
! helped him get the things and set
len On tne table. He ate with the
manners of gentleman, xlancinr AZ
me now and then with an expression
could not understand. When ha had
slced the ham he passed the dish TO
me. ~ ~
4 refused haughtily. but weakened
1t nus oner or chocolate cake. have
always loved sweeta
As took II, howeyer falt 49,.
lne time had come to tell him what r
thought OF him, and 1 did Il In nis,n
terms. AZ p'Aan
NY dear lady" he said. whom r
nad finished. and 1t seemed 10 ,ra
.nat MS eyes twinkled, shall ! tell
sou VINO Drought me to this sad end
when ! was q small boy." n. rnr
tinued. Il was contenfed - So ,n.
with innocent things, to dig IN nv
saroeh. to ny my kite. TO white
poats out OF bits Of wood ana 70 .au
tnem on the pond. But one day thar
came from the city a little xtr, wItr,
DARK eyes and hair. She was NOT a
pretty little girl. but there was prom
Use IN her Of beautiful womanhood..
re glanced at me and went on. "A
promise which has been / think mi.
hlled. After she came / found thai
mad known nothing Of the romance
or ME She spurned my simple plays
ana taught me new ones. Tho rama
sne liked more than any other wa.
what We called the Pirate vame'
me little ships We sailed on the pona
Were pursued by sinister craft with
rag made from black paper. and
wnicn sported skull and cross
bones How we scuttled those shin.
and made tho dolls which formed tine
small crew walk the plank! Then We
era bped the booty and sailed away
with our gains to shore"
sat up suddenly and looked NJ
him. why. l used to play tho.e
games Arc you--are you Bruce
Burns
He nodded. but before he could saw
aho.her word We heard voice from
above Bruce. dear" II murmured,
can you find anything to eat?"
fitted to. the foot Of the stair
way. Aunt Serena" / asked severely.
did you know he was coming over p"
Ny dear" she asked. in astonish.
ment. "are you down there"
Yes. thought 1t was q burglar"
II should have explained" she
said. that Bruce keeps up his littie
boy habit OF coming over here 70
eat. ! always put something where
he can find 1t. for his mother does
not believe in midnight suppers. He
does so much around the place that
this Is the only way In which I can
repay him."
Il help keep away the burglars"
Bruce said. but there was a wicked
S'Hito III HtS eye. ana now ana xnen
/ am taken for one"
Naturally" my voice was lev.
and now that have discovered the
name of the intruder. will say rood
night"
made mr. retreat in dignified
manner, but when I was once moro
in bed I thought OF the charm OF
his smile.
1t was a year later that married
Bruce Burns. For a wedding present
he gave me chest OF silver. On the
chest was carved skull and cross
bones. Beneath tbs lock was q silver
plate and on 1t was engraved, "To Q
Dear Pirate and Her Burglar"
Aunt Serena gave mo her diamond
pin. sit will make one thing less to
worry about" she protested
But she 10 no longer afraid OF
burglars. for Bruce and I live with
her. or rather she lives with M. in
house protected by electric alarms
and safety devices from all intruders.