Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-06-19
What's in the Pack.

ACN~S - 0SS'
4 distance from any other, and standing a
the end Of a long avenue, and its onl,
occupants on the day in question wer
two womenServants and boy. Th'
time, perhaps hung rather heavily upol
/ these three, since the appearance 0
queer figure toiling up the avenue wa
hailed with unconcealed satisfaction.
sits old Burke, the jaeger" said one
st isn't old Burke; but he's got ;
pack anyhow. How slow he walks, anc
its getting dusk; we shan't be able t.
see the things"
The jaeger, or 6agman, or peddler
whichever name you like best, came up
to the door, wiping his forehead, and
groaning under his burden-and well be
might Surely pack of such size had
never before wearied the enduring shoul.
ders OF a bagman. He did not attempt
to ease himself oft, however, or to dis
play his wares in the customary manner,
bus he took Of his hat 10 the women po-
litely.
"Would the mistress take pity on him
and let him leave his pack in the hall or
kitchen--anywhere, so that it would be
safe? ? And he would fetch it the next
day."
Now, the master and mistress were,
as we have seen from home; so was the
man who filled the offices OF coachman,
groom, and gardener, with the help of
the boy above mentioned as a sub and
neither master, mistress, nor coachman
would return that right. The three ser
wants therefore looked at each other in
quiringly, little curious, and great
deal disappointed.
"What's in the pack ?" asked one.
"Oh, it's not a regular pack, but an
order," responded the bagman. "A lot
of coarse cloth and some gunpowder
nothing that would do to show the ladies.
But am tired to death, and have got
to 60 further. If might leave it would
be safe for TO night, I've got few shawls
and things | could bring with me to-mor-
row, when / return for it."
Again the women looked at each other.
"Shawls had he got9 What else z"
"A few triaes. May be, a gown or
two, thar would come cheap"
swell, he might leave the pack if he
liked, but he must take it away early the |
mex. day"
The peddler entered the hall, and pre-
pared to lay down his his burden; then
he espied the door Of little room which |
would have been buffers pantry if the
house bad boasted butler. Might he
put it there, because Of the gunpowder ?
And it was put there accordingly, the |
bagman closing the door after him care
fully, and warning the friendly receivers
not to take light into the room, or med
die with the pack on any account, be-
cause of the gunpowder.
The women went back to their kitchen,
and the boy fingered in the hall medi-
tatively, having watched the pedder
down the avenue. At last he went to
The door of the buffers pantry and took
a long look through the keyhole The
last rays of the setting sun streamed in
through that little window and fell upon
The pack lying in huge state on the
floor. Again the boy walked up and
down the hall and, again he looked long
and anxiously through the keyhole.
Did the pack move little as he star
ID at it? What fool he was, he tho't;
t was all fancy of course. Suddenly
lis gaze became riveted on one cor
,cr of the pack, where there seemed to
'e loopbole, and he saw as he be-
ieved, in the red light, the cleaning of
human eye.
He drew back bis own from the key.
lole; he shot ths bolt into its socket noise
essly, and then he begun walkink up
md down again. He thought about the s
of the place and the helpless /
less of its inmates; he thought about 9
hose two in the kitchen and himself, [
nd about the peddler, and what might {
appen. He walked till it was quite S
ark, and he could no longer distinguish Is
he outlines of that mysterious pack then
e went into the kitchen, where the two t
'omen were still talking of the shawls e
nd probable gown pieces. $
"Where's the old gum" asked the boy. il
"La, Joseph, what should you want n
nth that? It's up there, over the clock"
"Is it loaded ? All right" said Jo-
eph, examining. "Now then, I'll tell tt
ou what | want it for; I'm going to
lool the pack"
Il =. -