Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-04-10
My Burglary
It Had Farreaching
Results

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II Results
II By ELINOR MARSH !
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am of an artistic temperament
From my earliest girlhood had loved
beautiful scenes. I took to drawing
/ pictures early and In time became q
water color sketcher. In summer time
I drove around In a vehicle called q
rockaway, drawn by an old horse that
had been In my family a long while
and in whom had every confidence.
At night I would sometimes stop al
a hotel, sometimes at a farmhouse, and
occasionally would place my blankets
on grassy ground and spend the night
In bivouac.
One evening when I was some miles
from a town, which ! expected to
reach before dark, Bob went lame,
Looking about for shelter-for could
not get on with lame horse-I espied
q short distance ahead Of me, perched
on a ledge, a cottage. It was as artistic
q piece Of architecture as ! ever saw,
with its grounds and vines growing
over Il. Indeed, the tout ensemble
constituted a thing Of beauty. II ]
could only be permitted to spend the
night there I would be delighted.
managed to get Bob to the gateway
Of the place and up short winding
road leading to the house. was dis
appointed In not seeing any one about,
and as I drew near 1t occurred to me
that the place was unoccupied. The
blinds were not closed and there was
nothing to indicate that the house was
empty. What was 1t that told me that
the place was deserted7
Leaving Bob standing in the road.
way, went to the house and raped
on the front door with q brass knocker.
It did not seem to me, If there had
been any one within, that those knocks
would have sounded 80 hollow. I listen
ed, but there was no indication Of any
one stirring. Going around to the rear
I failed to see any indication Of nv.
ing being. There were no chickens, no
dog, not even lonely cat Only q
few flowers In beds near the house that
judged grew without being cultivated.
There was woodshed and some wood
In 1t, but plenty Of room for Bob In
case should have to leave him there.
Looking In at a window, saw q
library with fine broad fireplace and
among the furniture a large lounge.
The sash was locked, and went to
other windows, but found them locked
also. A trellis led to an upper window.
It looked easy to climb, and I went up
1t and found the sash unlocked. ! went
into q bedroom and down a staircase.
The front door was locked and no key,
but opened a side door by turning
the latch.
I could understand the fascination Of
burglary so interested was in appro-
priating the premises to my use for the
night. There was q zest In temporarily
owning this place, so beautiful and yet
80 desolate, which was enhanced by
my having to break into it and learn
what there was suited to my necessi-
ties.
The next thing was to unharness
Bob and give him his supper. Then I
went into the house with my lunch box,
In which always kept something and
in which now fortunately had enough
to satisfy my appetite. There were
cupboards In which eatables might be
stored, but they were locked. After
eating lighted a lamp in the library
and looked over the books. It was evi-
dent that whoever had filed these
shelves was well educated and intel
ngent person. I have never before
come upon a library In which every
book had value. And what surprised
me most was that some Of the books
were up to date. I read till quite late,
then, throwing myself on the lounge,
put out the lamp and went to sleep.
On awakening In the morning I was
astonished to detect the odor Of coffee
What did it mean? Was the house,
after all, occupied1 Had the occupants
returned late? I arose and went into
the dining room. The table was set for
breakfast, but for only one person.
Hurrying on, entered the kitchen. On
the range kettle was simmering, and
there was q coffee pot that emitted the
odor. A toast rack stood on the range,
filed, and a couple Of eggs were ready
for boiling.
started to find whoever had come
in, to apologize for my burglary, and,
not finding any one on the ground
floor, went cautiously upstairs. The
bedroom doors were open as I had left
tnem the night before, but no one was
In any Of them. The house was as free
from any person except myself az 1t
was when broke into It.
I went downstairs again, looked
about me and listened. There was no
sound save the simmering kettle in the
kitchen.
Was I in my right mind7 Was I
asleep and dreaming? Was I enactng
a play for a movie show?
But the odor Of the coffee, the re-
membrance Of the toast and the eggs,
to say nothing Of a dish Of radishes
and some tempting butter on the break
fast table, overpowered wonder, and,
going into the kitchen, ] boiled the
eggs, and, removing them and the
toast to the breakfast table, I sat down
to eat. Ny grace was:
"Tairy godmother, I thank thee"
Never did a breakfast taste 30 deli
dous. There was no great variety, but
there was all I wanted. After had
eaten I removed the dishes to the
Kitchen, poured water from the kettle
ard proceeded to wash them.
"Tairy godmother," I said aloud, "do
me one more favor. Tell me to whom
! am indebted for my lodging and, e..
pecially for the delicious breakfast ]
have eaten"
~The obligation Is all on the other
side," said q voice behind me.
Turning quickly, I saw a man stand
ing outside the kitchen, hIs arms rest.
ing on the window sill.
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