Stand By The Union | Page 4

the front door of the mansion, the key he wanted was
in his chamber, and he had been careful to shut the door when he left
the house.
He could not get in, and he walked around the building to find a
window which had not been closed. His mother had a reasonable dread
of robbers, and she always looked out for the windows before she
retired. He did not wish to arouse the family by ringing the great gong
bell, but it was too cold to spend the rest of the night out-doors in his
half-clothed condition, for he was as liable to take a severe cold as any
less brilliant individual, and he might have to spend a month in his
chamber, instead of reporting to the flag-officer of the Eastern Gulf

squadron, in command of the Bronx.
He rang the bell, and the sound from it reverberated through the entire
mansion. It was some time before a servant came to open the door; but
the man who let him in was astonished to see him partially dressed, and
wondered if he had not been walking in his sleep. In the lower hall, he
was satisfied that the whole house was astir, for the gong which had
sounded was the "emergency bell," used only when the ordinary one at
the front door was not likely to be heard.
"Walsh!" called Mrs. Passford from the head of the stairs.
"Yes, ma'am," replied the man who had admitted Christy, and who was
still wondering what fit, freak, or fancy had beset the young officer.
"Who is it? What is the matter?" demanded the lady of the mansion, in
tones which indicated anxiety if not alarm.
"It is Mr. Christy, ma'am; nothing is the matter," replied Walsh; but
then he appeared to think that he had replied without proper
consideration, and he revised his speech. "I don't know that anything's
the matter, ma'am," and still he gazed at the young gentleman, as
though he deemed it possible that he had suddenly gone crazy.
"Nothing is the matter, mother," called Christy. "I am all right."
"But why are you out at this time of night, my son? It is nearly two
o'clock in the morning," said Mrs. Passford, as she descended the stairs.
"You are not half dressed, Christy."
"But I am all right, mother, and there is not the least reason to worry
about anything, for the ship is not going to the bottom just yet," replied
Christy, indulging in a forced laugh to assist in quieting his mother's
fears.
"But why are you out doors at this time of night?" Mrs. Passford
insisted. "You will catch a cold that will lay you up, if you go out in
that condition."

"I should not have rung that bell if I had not been afraid of taking cold,"
added the son.
"But, Christy, something has happened; and you must tell me about it,
or I shall not sleep another wink to-night," persisted the lady,
concluding that her son was trying to conceal something from her, as
indeed he was, for he feared it would alarm her if he told her some one
had come into the house.
"There is nothing to be frightened about, mother; and I will tell you all
about it," added Christy, as he took his overcoat from the stand and put
it on. "I waked an hour ago, or more, with the idea that some one had
opened the door of my room," and he related the circumstances to his
mother, including his search in the grounds and the road.
"Do you think any one came into the house?" asked Mrs. Passford,
though with but little of the woman's terror that such a statement might
have caused.
"That is my decided opinion. A noise at my chamber door woke me; I
found the front door ajar, though I know I closed it when I came in last
night, and I saw something moving down the avenue, which could only
have been a man. Of course, I conclude that it was a burglar; but none
of us have been killed or harmed."
Christy went to his room and completed his toilet. The house was warm,
and he was soon comfortable enough after the out-door chill. By this
time Miss Florry Passford had put in an appearance in the upper hall,
with Bertha Pembroke. The alarm was again briefly explained, and the
invalid gentleman was assured that nothing alarming had occurred.
Then the young lieutenant and his mother proceeded to ascertain what
the burglar had accomplished in the house.
On the lower floor nothing appeared to have been disturbed. In the
parlor a gold watch, adorned with diamonds, had been left on the table
by Florry, who had forgotten it; but it