Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-01-11
1.-THE NEWLYWEDS' TRAGEDY;
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


turned the corner from the station his
eyes eagerly sought the veranda Of his
four-months' old bungalow upon which
Clara, his fOur-months' old bride, just
as eagerly waited his return. It was
with vague misgiving that he saw no
sign of his pretty little wife behind
the pc 'unia filled veranda boxes one
swelteling evening when he came home
from town.
Just inside the screen door, however,
as he came nearer, he caught a glimpse
Of a checked kitchen apron and, be-
hind it, Clara.
"What's up?" he demanded anxious
ly.
"Lizzie's gonew
"Well, did you ever!"
"And l burned the steakr'
"And the mayonnaise won't get stiff
and the asparagus won't get soft and
and everythings spoiled" Clara sobbed
Historically.
Bob pulled her hot, tousled little
head to his breast. Its all right, lit
tie maid, don't you care! Well throw
the old stuff out. Let's make some
lemonade and have sandwich. What's
wrong with LizzieY"
Il don't know. Somebody sick or
dead or something. l was out and
wien l got back she was gone. Left
word with Mrs. Smith next door.
Someone telephOned for her."
And so closed the first chapter of
the Brixton tragedy.
That night, or rather at a. m. next
morning, Clara shook Bob. Bobby,
Bobby, wake up! Oh, please, Bobby,
wake up! There's somebody down.
stairs.
II think it's the bench on the back
veranda! Someone pushed it."
Bob descended the stairs and turned
on the lights in the downstairs rooms
even into the kitchen, and found
nothing! Then, hearing something
outside he opened the back door. The
bench had been pulled across the door,
way and on the bench was basket.
And in the basket was something with
d
possessed.
Bob mounted the stairs, and laid the
basket on the bed.
Here's your burglar" he said grim
ly.
Clara looked aghast. The lungs were
still working. "A bahyw she gasped.
"What in the world" Curious and
bcwildered she pulled back the cover
and behold-two of them!
Clara was lifting the twins out by
this time and examining basket and
clothes for signs of Identification. "The
dears. ~ she cooed. "And listen, Bob
by, they're hungry. Go down to the
box and get some milk. Warm 1t, not
too hot, and bring it up-and a spoon.
Aren't they darlings, Bobby?"
NO." snarled he. "And I'll be dashed
If keep those kids in this house after
the first streak of dawn"
And thus ended chapter two of Bob's
tragedy.
But the Brixtons kept the babiesl
That Is, for some time longer than the
limit set by Bob. 1t was this way:
Next day the phone rang and in an
swer to Clara's tired Hello" some-
one informed her that certain Lizzie
O'Brien had been hurt by an automo-
bile and asked to see her at st. Steph-
ems hospital.
II can't gow answered she, "but I'll
send my husband us soon as possible"
So Bob went and found Lizzie, the
cook, in bed, plastered and bandaged.
"Well, Lizzie, what's all this about?"
"pn tell you, Mr.. Brixton. But, first,
hows the babies? Are they safe?'
"Babies!" Bob jumped. What do
you know about them? Quick"'
"Well, Mr. Brixton, Molly, my your 5
est sister, married Dan O'Grady, Jis
good-for-nothing, bad cess to him!
And him and Molly couldn't get
along. The twins only seemed to make
things worse Sc Dan up and leaves
Moll and his folks tried to get the
twins and Moll found it out and sent
for me to 60 get them till things were
settled. And here l up and get run
over and Moll didn't know 1t and last
night she brought them herself and
put them on the porch under my WIN
dow, not knowing I was here. She
was afraid if she'd ring the bell you
wouldn't let them in.
"Today," Lizzie went on, "the case
is to come before the esquire and It's
to he settled who's to get the darlin's.
I thought I'd tell you so you wouldn't
worry!"
But that evening when Bob had jubi-
lantly told Clara the good news he
opened the evening paper and read:
"In the disagreement case between
Dan and Molly OGrady, in which the
latter charges desertion and both are
trying to get custody of twin boys AL
derman McManus decided that for the
time being the children should stay
where they are"
End of chapter three!
Then they couldn't get girl and
Clara got sick. Bob had to stay home
from the office two days and got no
sleep nights.
That takes us up to chapter ten.
But one long-to-be remembered day,
Lizzie came liinping in. Never was Il
sight SO beautiful to the Newlyweds'
eyes, And with Lizzie came the well
come news that Molly was to get the
"kids.'
"The next time you hear burglars,
dearie," teased Bob, "don't wake me
up. Let them take the whole house
with us in it."
Indeed, I shall, Bobby" smiled
CLARA. "But," little wistfully, "they