An Original Story.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1447, 3 August 1933, Page 3

An Original Story.

“ONLY A DREAM.’’ (By Rene Gifford, Morrinsville Convent School) It was a lovely summer’s day, and my sister Joan and I were lying lazily on the wide, daisy-strewn lawn.

“ Oh, I wish something exciting would happen,” said Joan as she plucked the dainty pink-tipped daisy heads from their tiny green stems. Almost as she spoke something exciting did happen ! A villainouslooking man appeared, crawling cautiously on all fours through the small bushes. Hidden, as we were, from him, we could watch his every

movement. As he neared the house he sprang up, glanced round quickly, and, with the agility of a cat, climbed up the thick ivy, which led to the big din-ing-room window. Soon he was in the dining-room. Mutely Joan looked at me; but I was thinking hard. “ Quick!” I said. “ Mother and father are not here, so we must act ourselves. Run around by the back way and creep into the dining-room.

Remember, quiet is the word! Slip behind an armchair and wait for me.”

Joan was only eight and looked terribly afraid. “Oh, must I, Colleen?” she cried in a small voice. “Yes!” was my answer; and at the way I said it she obeyed. Meanwhile I ran quickly around to the washhouse, and, after a moment’s search, returned with a stout coil of rope. Carefully I crept on tip-toes through the dining-room door. The man was putting heavy silver trays, expensive glass and cutlery into a rough sack. I signed to Joan, who was behind the piano with me. Then together we sprang on him, but our puny strength was as nothing against liis, and very soon he had us ti*ussed up like hens for the market. (Continued in Next Column)

When his sack was full he stood for a while, thinking. Then as though having made up his mind, he shouldered us both away and made for the door. Then I must have fainted, for I remembered nothing more.

When I awoke a cool breeze was blowing about me, and I found I was in my bed, and the breeze was from the open window. I looked across at Joan, but she was in bed and snoring loudly, so that I knew it was “ only a dream.”