Year: 1868

TELL you a story? Indeed, couldn't
think OF one to save my life-unless it
were to relate to you little adventure
which betell me a year or SO after Frank
and Iwere married. "My Robber Adven-
iure," he calls it, and guess the name
VIII do as well as any. Not much of a
story, though, after all, but it may do to
smile over now, notwithstanding l assure
you | felt like anything on earth but smil-
ing at the time


When we were married, you remember,
we lived in the country. Franks farm
was about three miles from town, and it
was a quarter of mile over to Inlow's,
our nearest neighbor. City born and bred,
yet passionate lover of Nature, to me it
was a new life. Never, to my eyes, were
such bloom and beauty seen-never such
sunshine, such foliage, such flowers-never
such dear nest of coy home. And
looking back, even now, know it was a
lovely little spot--the bean ideal of O quiet
country home.


Housekeeping was as new an experience
as the country / had about the knowl-
edge of a tolerably intelligent baby-and
no more If you could only have eaten
our first supper and tasted my initial bis
cults Frank did his best to eat them,
and declared-deceitful fellow THAT they
were nice; but | know you might have
knocked an OK down with one of them
they were so heavy And MS to the coffee |!
well, I've learned since then to make
good coffee, and don't think Frank could
be made to swallow, now, a cup of such
stuff as that was. I've learned to cook
other things, too, and can do famously
now-though Frank declares he believes
yet that make the biscuits in my lap, be-
cause l always get my apron so floury.
But | DON'T and | make good ones, too.
And let me say here, for the encourage.
ment of just such green hands as / was,
that L have not found the task of learning
housekeeping, taken altogether, anything
like as comfortable as expected


Well; after we had been married little
more than year, sister Fan came out to
stay while with us. She was to come at
nine o'clock on the night train OF course
Frank went down in the wagon to meet
her. | had half a notion to 60 with him,
and did not quite like the idea of staying
alone so late-for it would be past ten be-
tore he got home. | was not at all afraid,
only it would be so lonesome. However,
reflected that it would be better for me to
stay at home and have the house lighted
and cheerful and supper in readiness for
her reception. So l went out to the gate
and watched Frank drive off in perfect
satisfaction.


Then L went into the house, lit the
lamps and tied on clean kitchen apron.
Now" said Il to myself, II II get every
thing ready for supper, and then ] IL
string and tune up my guitar before Fan
comes"


had become quite cook in this wear.
and prepared the daintiest little supper
imaginable, proud to show my culinary
accomplishments to Fan | hustled
around, busy with this, that and the
other, until everything was in readiness
table all arranged, tea measured and tea
kettle humming away merrily in the little
kitchen, Then | took lamp and went
in to put few finishing touches TO Fans
room and get my guitar strings


Our house was small, having only four
rooms-parlor, sitting-room, bedroom,
and kitchen, and two porches The par
lor was the room | intended for Fan. 1t
contained our best furniture-among 9TH
er things, our incest bedstead, a hand
some dressing bureau, and a rosewood
wardrobe, which had been wedding pres
cnts. Not the style of fashionable
parlor, I know-but we were Young be-
ginners, and did as we could.


Well, as | was saying l went in to put
on the finishing touches. There wasn't
thing needed doing, but it was pleasure
to overlook the arrangements, you know,
and | meant to leave the lamp in the
room to make it bright and cheerful. /
put the light down on the bureau, hum
ming snatch of a tune, and opened the
drawer to get my guitar strings


Standing before the bureau, my back
was to the wardrobe, of which there was
full view in the dressing glass. As |
opened the drawer l happened to glance
up, caught this view of the wardrobe in
the glass, and-oh, horror "a view OF
something else, which stopped nv song,
turned my heart to stone, and froze every
drop of blood in my veins.


AT the end of the wardrobe, between i,
and the wall, saw mans form. 1t wa,
perfectly plain to sea black coat and a
black hat, the arm bent slightly inwarls
the position rather crouching one, the
head close down on the shoulders. The
shadow Of the wardrobe, and of the dool
communicating with the sitting-room