The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-08-19
The Family eifcIe.
THE DOUBLE MURDER;
on. THE HEIR AT LAW.


fAHA ~ "iAhf " = 'N'h"N FfHHA'AaNs
When ! resided in street at the
west end Of the town, which thirty years
/ ago was rather famous for its physi-
clans, there was one house, and that,
too, Immediately facing that which
occupied, which was constant source
Of conjecture to my family and servants.
As regarded myself, / saw very lit
tie Of it, aud thought less, for my aiten-
! ton was a great deal too much engaged
by my profession, and the many strange
and exciting scenes that grew out of its
practice, 10 speculate about my neigh
bors bat certainly No. 10, opposite,
under any other circumstances, would
have engaged my curiosity.
IL was large house, having a width
of three windows, and like my own, no
doubt, containing sufliciency of rooms
for tolerable London establishment !;
bat never did accommodation seem 10
be SO utterly thrown away as upon my
neighbors, for not only were the par
lor windows always closed up by shut
tcrs, but the drawing groom was in a like
condition, and so on all the way up the
house, 20 that We could only come TO
the conclusion that the occupicr of the
premises lived at the back Of the house.
But who was the occupicr?
This was question often asked. but
never answered. We went so far as to
ask the tax gaihcrcr, but he could give
no information.
II don't know his namc.n he said /;
iii is an old man. and when | called and
asked for his name he said, Whats
that to you :" aud asked me what was
10 pay, and upon my naming the sum,
be laid it on IN old chair in The hall.
and told me to take it, and 90 away"
In appearance, this mysterious per-
souage we had all seen him--wns
rather short and stout. But when he
went abroad it was sufficiently late in
the evening TO prevent Us from having
clear view of him; aud hc was in-
variably wrapped up in such an ample
great coat, that nothing could be caught
sight Of but his heel. and his hat, with
an ocean Of broad cloth between them.
This went on for nearly year, and
tie gossips Of the neighborhood got al
most mnddcned at the fact that they
knew no fact, Of No. 10. People used
To look at the house for half an hour Mt
a time. Ballads were made about il,
and sung under its windows. Reports
were raised Of ghosts on the parapot
and at the attic windows. and great
crowds were collected 10 look ut them.
But the little old man remained per-
fecily unmoyed by all these demonsira-
tions Of public interest, and he never
took The slightest notice. Nay, when
one night vigorous cry of fire" was
raised in The street, and head was out
at every window Of every other housc,
there was no such thing ni No. 10.
An there was cold, calm, and indf.
icrent.
At length most notable phcnom-
enon, in the shape Of woman, presen-
Z ted itself ct No. 10. 4 woman, appa-
renily about thirty years Of age, was
observed to go in and come out now
and then. She had the sla,ternly, i'll
favored appearance Of a servant who
had been 70 long out Of place that she
had given up all idea Of getting one by
attention 10 her personal appearance.
Now, thought every body, We shall
I find il out but week passed away,
+ and nothing came Cf il, uuiil one even
I ing. when wa, sitting alone in my
study, my scr,an, rushed inio the room,
+ ckclaininE
~Oh .ir, sir, you can fad il all out
now 20
pumped 90 and 20, behind chair,
( for really thoughl my usually quiet
enough domestic was mad.
"Whai do you mean Z" ! said.
DOh' No. lO-No. 10. ,ir Shr has
come Here, No 10 IN The ball. ,ir r.
NO 10 IN ihe bali, Why, boa lid
IL ge, there
-Oh. ..r, ~ no, ~ a., the uo-
man. sir fi-om No. 10. and she wants 10
see ynu. ar
aSbow her in-show her a."
A woman, araycd n very tawdry
drcay.I Guery. was ushcrrd into my
,o-,u,. and 1 CERTAINLY Tccoguisrd hrr a.
n. female whom lad occasionally
CHANGED 20 sre r1rue oh u No. go, bui
she did noi Al al Improve aPon q closer
acquaintance.
! eaud she was q coarse, vain. vol
gar woman aud there srrr unmisiak'
ate -sideicrs aioui her counienancs
q q d,sfosiiion a. ipduise freely in al'
rol.oiie compoands of not ihe yer, mild
80 rhnfaetef
~Sir." she saii niih tsss n ihs
head and a s~ing of all h~r apparel
~h.ck. ~ doub. she ll.osgbi fery hn'
ssd surpassing ~yoa are wanted a. No
To-"
.By shom = sid
Mr. Smyihrs-"
~OA ? NJ Smsfhcs h,rs a No. 10