New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-03-01
fFrom Dickens Household wor,
K e M 3 Mt N q Il r s..


Five years ago was telegraph clerk at Newstone
night duty. alternately. Christmas.eve had come
roond Of all nights ia the year. and there found
myself cooped up as usual. 10 the little olce two
Hsokk staring Instruments Ia front q me, haring
81ziiqht overhead, and wellbeAped CRATE by my
Sidc not forgetting three volume novel to assist
- Ia Willing away the long dark, hours.
The night messages at Newstone were never very
nonerons. There were rarely any private people
<ev referred mostly 10 the business OF the railway
4eeuzpany That evening | felt very low spirited. It
~rooo against the grain to work on Christmas-eve,
v1en everybody else seemed TO be keeping holiday,
80 <ajoying themselves Cary and bad been en-
xzned about two years and, for any prospect OF
GaSxxisge, we might be engaged for twenty years
zoneer. Mr.. Lancaster, Cary's father, trades
1np IN good way Of business and naturally refused
- ~ bis daughter marry fellow who was getting
only seventy pounds ayear He several times ad
xised Cary 70 give up bat, as she would not do
Shat, be contented himself with forbidding me the
heuss; trusting to time and dstaDce-for they lived
ssYcraI miles from Newstonc- to aid his cause
knew that Mr.. Lancaster always invited number
~ yoang people ohis house on Christmas eve, and
n pjc$ured them there dancing; Cary fitting about
g her white muslin dress with the very ribbon round
~ waist that had given her only month before.
Woatd any thought Of my miserable self ever cross
Apr mind, MS she moved among the gay company
Eexhzfs my detested rival, Binks, the draper, might
b even dancing with her, and pressing her waist
WITH his arm at that very moment. Thought not
a dear, stsrlit night, with keen breeze that
whs<ied shril and dry through the telegraph wires
xb6vr my head, and brought to my ears the faint
ssulds. made sofs ana sweet BY distance. Of The
Christmas waits Lanterns, fitting like hre-hames
xuzeaH the wagons In the station yard hoarsc, I'M
out shouts Of men, and wild shrieks from distracted
HsxDmotiVes that seemed tearing madly up aud down,
zereIy TO keep themselves in glow on such bitter
zikhs and not because they had anything particular
tsdo So into the Office again, with numbed fingers,
xzad Of such haven.
Tue long dark hours sped slowly; each hour chink-
ed out By the vaorous little clock IN the corner Mid
nieht came aud went o'clock two O'Clock three
oclsck. had grown tired Of the charming heroine,
and had again become weakly respondent on the
subject 0f Binks, when | was roused by the quick
tinkie Of the electric bell private message
. Mr. Korf, irQnvie, to Mr.. Darke, 80 High street.
Nexstont
4. Lemonangers starts by the mail tonight. All
screra. Take care OF the black DWARF
n was accustomed TO queer messages but this was
the oldest he'd seen. spelled it over twice to see
tisnt had got II down correctly then copied il out
one Of the printed forms argued it entered at
thu foot the tins had received it-three, forty.dVe
and placed il in aenyelope. fs5sst IN
Nnniher 80 High street was the residence OF Mr.
Ereeni the tailor, and WAS only five minutes walk
from the station, Mr.. Bfeem generally bad apart
ulents 70 let and Mr.. Darke was probably lodger
Having locked the office door proceeded at rapid
3rot towards Mr. Breem's | concluded that Mr..
Dafke was Snowman, and that somebody was send
ing him dwarf-perhaps giant also but certainly
dharf 60 put Ia his caravan. There was light ia
the sscond floor Of No. 49,. Was Mr.. Darke waiting,
-expecfant OF message II looked like it
gave loud knock and stepped back TO note the
e1tcA The light in the second floor was not moved,
bat the window was opened, head popped out, and
a gruf voice demanded:
z Who's there n t4
= Does Mr.. Darke live here ~
= Why do you want to know 7"
I've got telegfaphic snessage for him"
- Ugh All right. Wait moment.
very gruf voice. certainly. Next moment the
s1ooc was opened as far as the chain would admit
and great muscular hand was thrust out
q Hand II here said Mr.. Darke.
Accordingly placed the MOLE in his hand.
4aircas
- No answer" and the easement was slammed down.
with the exception OF his voice. had no more idea
ak NJ DaEke when left No. 50, than had when
~eH& had merely seen the outline Of his head
V<hen be looked out 81 the window. Whether be was
= yo0ag man or an old man (; fair man OF q dark
man, was equally at loss TO know
lrenyilIc Is thrty-fve miles from Newstone. The
unsTl<rain the distance In rather under hour
and reaches the latter place at halfpast i've As the
clock pointed to halfpast five, set of for stroll up
tho platform, determined that II any dwarf or giant
~ other strange monster, arrived by the traiu II
snnah not depart unseen BY me. half expected TO
dud III. Darke. waiting for the train but he not
90 10 seen True 70 its time the train crawled slowly
8nfo the station and. In another moment, the plat
farn was flooded with those strangeyattired ndiyid
u1ls, whose business or pleasure induces them 10
tEaxd by night No dwarf, nor giaut, nor other
4<<1nge monster. Only one passenger for Newstone;
II tse others booked through, as was evident from
their frantic struggles to nnd their seats the moment
Che bell cIashed out Us warning note. And this one
passenger! A slim gentleman, stylshy dressed.
Young, without whiskers, but with long fair NOUS
tache, which he was fond Of str0king with his exqui-
siteiy goved thumb and finger He alighted jaunfllg
t<om hrstcass carriage smiled amlably on the por
Ger, who touched his cap, took up his small black
Eortmanteau gave one hurried, anxious glance
round, broke into smile again, staggered slowly
down the platform, aud, pashing through the heavy
foiding doors, emerged into the street Some swell
friends, said to myself Bat where can he be going
% at this time Of the ofningf None Of the inns will
Dc open for above an hour
Without waiting 10 consider whether 10 was any
Ausiness OF mine, pushed through the folding doors
sser the traveller He was walking slowly across the
little square In front Of the station looking from side
% side as II not knowing which road to take Sud
denly dark figure glided out from behind some pro
lection and advanced towards him. could hear til,
narmur Of lew words Then the stranger took thu
pagtmanteau from the travellers hand and they wen
on together at rapid pace into the town. All this
saw BY the light Of the station lamps. When the tw
4zufes got beyond their influence, and passed ont o
wisN in the denser darkness beyond, impelled by
vague feeling Of curiosity, drew my coat close
rf1nd me- and set Off after them at stealthy pace
taziag the darker side OF the square as vent ha
U1A VAT 70 lvliuH net pGentu luto niSu elIccts
stopped opposite number thirtynine A moment
more. and they were both inside the house. and th
door was shut another moment, and saw the ligh
shiHiAg from Mr., Darke's room in the second foo
fr0at
Having no expectation Of seeing anything more,
tIrned back TO the office. and there bending over
jogial Ore, fell gradually into doze in which Mi
uarke, the traveller Cary blaek dwarf, and Binks
4be draper, were all mingled in fantastic drama
Ngxolsng endlessly in my weary brain. What hal
tie telegraphic message 10 do with the handsom
t<zxeierl Eleeply kept asking myself at interval
II few minutes bat without troubling myself /
md an answef. Suddenly, a new Hight burst upo
ne. l started up, thoroughly awake, and teafin
eFea the dispatch-book, read over again the FIN
part OF the message .Lemonhngers starts by til
mail tonights Well, what has that 10, do with III
Aandsome frayeier7 Why, this Don't the trayels
xcar . pair Of ughtftLiDg, lelnon-colored gloves
and wasn't the outside seam Of the FIRST finger Of II
zx<htband glove burst open2 This had noticed
NJ sEroked bis uoustachr But, even surprising Il
l<xxeiet 70 be the Lemoaingen Of the messag
ek4t about the black iwarfl There was no bas
.dwasf. He was aloue- Aloneg Yes but had
nd with him 4 small black portmantean, Of eSls
nc seemed 70 take particular care refusing 70 let Il
<er 90 much as take il ont Of the carriage for hin
A sAeory ingenious bat improbable. remarked
nlyzelf IS put out the gas and drew up the bin
- admit the struggling day.