Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-01-04
TIE HANGING GUEST.
4 NussrAN STORY.

a river, at some distance from the higl
road,stands wooden country house, witt
a green antiquated roof Here usually
throughout the summer and sometimes
too in autumn, resides Gaurila Michailo'
witch P, retired captain, and at pre-
sent district-iustice, very worthy man
as are all distinguishes in the vs.
department.
Early one Sunday morning, in the
month of August ----, his worship Gau-
riIa Michailovitch, with his honored la
dy, Par8kovya Yegorovan, set off for
the city, in britzska, to transact sundry
urgent matters of business-viz., to 90 to
church. to drink with his reverence
the prototype, to eat and be convivial
with the district attorney, to hear the
town news from the commandments la
DIV, to read the St, Petersburg papers at
the district treasurer's, and to play bos-
ton at the governors. Scarcely had the
master and mistress driven from their
door, when all the servants followed their
example, and quilted the house. The
butler went to see his cousin in the viii
lage, the cook betook himself to the pub
lic-house to drink brandy; the cOokmaid
% the river to catch craw-fsh; Procher
and Daria went nutting in the wood
Vaska and Matasha strayed to the heath,
TO gather cranberries, &c; Duns alone
remained in the house. Duna, the pearl
of the va department, a sprightiy
virtuous damsel by her calling, house
maid by her natural good qualities, the
favorite of her mistress the goddess for
whose sake the governors valet-who
like herself, had been brought up in the
great world in the Nevska Perspective
neglected the polishing of his masters
boots, to the great scandal and indigna-
ton of the whole provincial administra-
tion. None but he could appreciate her
feelings; none but she could duly esti-
mate the grace of his department. They
mutually adored each other. as only
hearts can adore that have taken fire by
Kasan Bridge in st. Petersburg, and
they were as happy as none can be but
in the country.
Girls shut up in a house by themselves
are always afraid of thieves. Duna,
therefore carefully fastened the outer
doors, aud, to avoid thinking Of thieves,
she went 10 look at herself in the glass
while she waited for the valet, whom
she had given to understand that her
master and mistress were to spend the
whole day in the town. In the pleasant
est possible mood, Duna arranged her
curls, set her neckeychief in order, tight
ened her girdle and hummea tune,
when suddenly there was a gentle tap at
the door. That is he = and, like an ar
row, she flew and opened it to let him in.
All it is not he.'
Il am your man. replied deep husky
voice, as there cautiously entered through
the open door big-built fellow, in tat
tered frieze cloak and faded cap, with
swarthy face, much in want of the bar
ber's office, terribly foxy mustaches, and
a dusky red nose, and a scarlet forehead,
blue lips, and blood-thirsty eyes; the
very type of the chairman of a city pot
house, or one of those diabolical figures
that are only TO be seen in Salvatore
Rosa's paintings.
The astonished Duna recoiled some
steps, and repeated with a sigh from the
bottom of her heart, 1t is not he p
Meanwhile the stranger had stepped in,
and with the utmost GOODNESS closed the
door again and locked it, and put the
key in his pocket.
What do you want? Who are you?
cried Duna. why do you put the key Z
IN your pocket?'
Don't be alarmed, my little dear he .
said, smiling am come to pay you a !
visit The time must have hung heavily
on your hands, all alone here
Not at all. But what do you mean
by pocketing the key
Instead of answering, he went up to
her, and patted her on the cheek. She
sprang from him.
why do you lock the door? Give
me the key, or will cry out
That will do you no good. l know :
very we'll there is no one in the house.
a pretty thing, indeed Come in, :,
without With your leave or By your :.
leave and lock the door, as if you were
in your own house >,
Il always lock the door, when have :,
the luck to be alone with so pretty girl
as you, my angel and once more he !"
patted her cheek with his coarse, dirty d
hand. The angry Duna retreated into pl
! corner. tpi