Year: 1870

peing Mrs. Beverley s brother threw halo
of strange interest around Mr. Esselton.
l often found myself thinking of him and
wondering what he was like-or rather. what
he would strike me as being like; for, of
course, his sister had drawn her own i'm
pressiOns of him for my benefit, and if these
impressions were correct, he must be an un-
commonly fine fellow. His photograph was
decidedly handsome and without ever hav-
ing seen him, felt pretty well acquainted
with him in advance, and waited rather i'm
patiently for October to bring Mrs. Bever-
ley back to town. | had even decided how
TO do my hair, and what dress to appear
In, ON my first presentation but could not
help wishing that something unforeseen and
romantic would occur to bring about that
hrst meeting in a way entirely different from
the usual hackneyed course.


had my wish, as time will show.


About half of the two weeks had worn
away, when very warm day and night, that
called forth experiences and COMPARISONS
from all the oldest inhabitants, came
down upon US with fury; and after gasping
through the day in some sort of fashion, |
left my couch at midnight in utter disgust at
my folly in suPposing that could sleep with
the thermometer high up among the nine
tics, and betook myself to the window.


Certain sounds that proceeded from the
next room convinced me beyond doubt that
Ben, though present in body, was absent in
mind: and with the pleasing consciousness
of being the only person in the house at all
alive to tho affairs of this mundane sphere,
turned my attention to the glorious moon
light that, as Hood enthusiastically says:


Makes earth's commotest scenes appear


All puetic. romantic and tender ~


But while engaged in vague speculations
about the moon and stars, sudden noise
brought my thoughts earthward again and
glancing towards Mrs Beverley's back prem
ises actually saw a man on the upper We
ralIdah, opening one of the bedroom win
dows!


My heart almost stood still with terror
but by fearful effort, restained myself from
screa ming-tor Ben was very hard to awak-
en-, and both our throats might be cut before
this was accomplished.


No; venturing second look, retreated
trembling from the window, and proceeded
to the task of arousing Ben as quietly as
possible


Having obligingly left his door unlocked
for my especial comfort. there was no time
lost in effecting an entrance and had my
brother been capable OF approaching the Wis
ion, he would have seen a wild creature in
white drapery calling his name in night
mare whisper of terror-iut, of course, with
out the slightest effect


Ben always slept with revolvers under his
pillow, which made me chary of touching
him-ior firearms affected me as drawn
sword did James the First but something
must be done speedily, as fancied that i'm
pudent man perhaps loading himself at that
very minute with movables.


Get up! shouted, waxing stronger,
Ben Ben Get up this moment p


''Tisn time yet. grunted my provoking
brother, now half awake, as he turned over
like the sluggard


| never had any patience with people who
almost required charge of artillery TO bring
them back to their sober senses and shak-
ing him now with right good will, | scream
ed, Thieves! Robbers ! d! Fire ! Get
np ,"


A head that would have served for Me-
dusa started from the pillow and out came
those horrible revolvers. pointing directly at
me. A frantic yell, that L tried in vain to
smother, issued from my lips; and Ben, now
quite awake, shouted at me:


Maria What in the name of heaven is
the matter? TO stop that confounded
noise -


He had quite forgotten to call me Min
ME, y as | had always insisted on being call
ed; being terribly in earnest, he had gone
back to the humdrum appellation that rous-
ed my intense disgust. [ was too much ia
ken up with the revolvers, just now, to re-
mind him of his omi ission, and between my
terror of the weapons, and his desire to use
them immediately upon somebody, We SEEM
ed scarcely likely to come to an understand
ing.


Finally, however, Ben was made to COM
prehend what | had seen; and being re-
questcd to retire while he donned few ar
tices of clothing, waited in breat HESS sus.
pense for his reappearance.


''The fellow will not be in hurry said
he, in answer to my fears that he would es-
care; che knows the family are out of town.
| shall get policeman, and secure him
quietly.


Aud bidding me be of good courage, he
closed the front door, and looked up and
down the street. / covered in the parlor
half disposed to rush after Ben, and insist
upon accompanying HIM, but, was not ex
actly in promenade custume, and it would
take so long to -'get myself up, that by
that time, the affair would be over. Then,
too, those dreadful revolvers might be used,
ard bullet would be almost sure to lodge in
my arm, or, perhaps, in some more vital
point, should [ chance to be within shooting
distance.


These considerations induced me to stay
where | was, although wanting dreadfully