Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-16
Jntuesting Storg.
the MYSTERIOUS BOX
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

e
Horace Flintwood sat alone in his scan
tily furnished apartment. Outside the
meagre window the storm beat clamor
ously for admittance, and the wind whist
ling and moaning down the great black
throated chimney made bright, waving
phantoms of the red flames which leapec
over the few bits Of wood upon the hand
irons.
There was but a little fre-yet that lit
tie lighted ap the handsome face Of young
Flintwood with a pale, ghostly CLEAN
And in that face, by the light. you could
read the fearful tale of utter poverty. and
near starvation There was hunger il
the wild expression of the hollow ewes
upon the broad, white forehead, where
the transparent skin failed to conceal the
delicate ye~in-tracery wrought there.
Two years before, Horace Flintwood
had left his pleasant home in a country
section Of Massachusetts, and his aged
parents, to seek his fortune in the greal
city OF the West, c.; where we find
him at the commencement of our story.
The old homestead, the blessed old place
where his childhood had passed was mort
gagged, and it was to obtain money TO save
the home of his parents. frsm stranger
hands, that young Flintwood had bid fare.
well to those he loved and joined the
great stream of western emigration. His
trade-that of a bricklayer, at first pro,
cured him ready money in fattering guam.
titles; but as people were unsatisfed with
settling SO far as c., the young me.
ehanic soon found himself deprived Of EN-.
ployment.
de would have followed the eurrest ca,
even to the shores of the Pacific, but an
attack of fever brought him to his bed,
and he at length, arose to find himself de.
prived of every dollar which be could
once call his own, On the very verge Of
starvation he thought. of begging bis way
back to his parents, but his pride reyolted.
They were poor, and looked to him for
the restoration of their dissipated fortune.
Shouldthey g him COME back to them
penniless and starving +?
% No, not even il he died ID the great city
alone, and for want of bread! ! He could
not go back to them only to increase their
cares, and be. but an additional burden
upon their scanty means. nsseh Is G.gs d
Horace Flintwood was thinking Of this
while sitting there by the waning FIRE thai
chill November night and as he thought
despair crept into bis heart. Out on the
mufied mir doomed shfill and clear, the
bell UPON Q neighhoring tower pealec
eleven 4ag9 IS Y
AS. the last ecchoing. ring closed, thers
came a short, quick rap at Horace's door
He answered the summons, and q figure
closely wrapped in q black CLOAK, strobe
into the room, and without aIWord. So
down in the chair which Horace had va
Gated. .ea1 s4assa9s Is
"A wild evening, FRIEND Horace re
marked, to break the awkward silence.
VERY Are You engagedfo fol this eve
nipgF"ST The stranger's VOICE Was quiel
and imperative. =
Engaged?" Horace. started at til,
question, a" certainly not at this time O
Hight.N1aa8 beg aojs aA - q
Are you in want of money!" The IN
knownrbsnt q glance of piercing inquiry
upon Horace from d pair Of black, fash
ing eyes. set fac back under cliff Xix,
brows.i 4 sd4 h a&IglMRg8aaFn
Sir, [ am not accustomed to answer
Questions concerning my private affairs.
Horace drew himself up proudly, ant
something like a frown passed over hi
pale brow. asl e9 &.
require o Job OF work done-don,
by agood, faithful hand-a discreet work
man, / mean, and such is your reputatio,
among those who best know you.I' y
Horace bowedoi4ss sas 9
1t is q small job, but wishit inishe,
to-night-to.nightv r repeating the word
with startling emphasis. 8 and you mus
do itl' 5 sA5'si.s5 9al IS G,8 q
Well, sir, work would be very accept
able to mel need the money bad enough
but midnight is rather aasingular time /
call In the service of q brickfayer.n
GGraptcd4bntLa sk iE neHertheless
and still farther; you must be bIindfoldel
and conveyed Ito, the place where yol
arctic labor in q close carriage, and II
turn to your lodgings in the same way
Moreover you must swear to never reves
a single thing which may occnrsIto yo
this night, to any living creature Pc
The unknown had risen 10 his feet, an
stood silently and hautily awaiting Hol
aces reply.
The young bricklayer seemed struck b
the mysterious proposition Of his strang
visitor. - 5
Could | but know that Ithereis notAin
misunderstanding" q asK
1t is enough that you have nothing
do neutrality-suspicious.. All will
we'll with 5ou; and the pay shall be you
nsadyance, If you require tn He fun
down a purse wen aflled with gold ulpo
the table. Horace's eyes glistened, 'bl