Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-02-02
Miscellany.
sTAPLEFORD GRANGE.

brothc-s. all younger than myself, and
were skating on our squire hsh-pond. W,
had been skating since dinner, and it wa
not till the wintry daylight was beginnin.
10 wane that the recollection rushed acres
ice that | had entirely forgotten to 30 com
mission nv mother had given me in th'
morning. This commission was 10 walk L
the Grange. big farmhouse, and bespcak
some geese Tor dinner Oh New-1ear Day
sly mother bad sail. decidedly, a." Tho-C
geese mus; DE- ordered today, Cissy, 30
knew that .L.u.d h.ive 70 g although
the Grange wa- a nile of, although II was
ye-v cold, AMI d4rSuts, was coming on, and
although | was -,ri.iy afraid Of big black
dog which was chained up just in front Of
the Grange inck-tgar
d" Who'll - wIya me % the Grange p |
called cut. qnid iy. ss tins remembrance oc-
CURED (. me. .ittIig down and beginning 70
uustrap nv skate I've forgotten all
about the geese, and mamma said | Was to
order three t. day.
q. daren't - by myself, ] called out,
in a pathetic tone - II would be quite dark
before ! got home again
" Tell the truth. Cis, called out Charlie.
quick. gcoj-aaturcd boy Of fifteen, " and
say you re afraid Of Iip. Never mind: III
20 with you, if YOU must 20" And he
joined me on the hank. and proceeded to
take OF his skates.
Thanks TO all ing brothers, ! was pretty
good runner, and we sped across the squire's
fields, and through the narrow lane toward
the Grange, a. last as possible When we
got to the last field, which joined the farm
yard, We slackencd pace a little, and when
we got into the biz courtyard Itsell We were
walking almost slowly.
How droadfuiiy lonely il looks, CHARLIE"
said, almost with shiyev ~ the desOiate
aspect OF the place, which had b-en a grand
gentleman house forty years a-), but had
been suffered 70 lall almost intO ruins. O. /
am glad I'm not Mrs. johnson particularly
as she has no children. nor anybody to keep
hcr company when Mr. johnson is away
" Wei. don't you stop ami prose to her
for ever such Il tine, CIs, DO You hear %
returned Charlie, go.d-humjrcily
Jip did not greet Us with has usual
noisy welcome, and there was no sound Of
any sort about the place cxcop5 the gabbling
Of come turkeys in the rear of the farm
builings We went up and knocked at the
door, and when [ turned round, observed
that Jip' kennel, which stood exactly op-
pCSitc, IN a line with the front of the house.
WAS empty.
"WkoTe can Jip be?'' said 81 thought
they never let him loose ana | walked
forward few steps, and became aware that
the dogs chain and collar were lying beside
the kennel. | stood for moment OF two
wondering, while Charlie, getting inpatient
~ Mrs. Johason's n0n-spUearance, knocked
again at the door. suddenly some marks OF
blood on the Jagged pathway in front Of the
kennel arrested my attention.
b" What can At be, ChaTlie?'' | said, in a
whisper.
i don't know" Charlie returned,
thoughtinlly poor Jip come to grief, per
haps. lt's odd Mrs. johnson doesn't come
l think I'll 20 on voyage Of discovery ;
stay hcTe TIL | come back and be pushed
the door further open.
'' No, let me 90 too, / said, hastily, half
frightened. | am coward at the sight OF
blood.
" Well, don't make row then ; and we
entered together.
There was a big blazing fire in the CRATE,
which showed that on the table the tea
things were set for tea ; the kettle was hiss
ing away merrily, and some tea-cakes stood
to keep warm on a low stand before the fire. !
Everything looked snug and coy. EVIDENT
ly Mrs johnson had prepared every thing
ready for tea when the farmer should return
from the market and was now gone up
stairs to - clean herself
| had time 10 make all these observations /
over Charles shonldcr, before he gave a
sudden start, and strode with low eIcla- /
nation to a bundle Of clothes which lay at |
the further and darker side OF the kitchen, |
on the smooth stone floor. \ bundle Of /
clothes It looked Ike, with Jip lying asleep /
beside il in . very strange attitude.
shall never forget the horror Of the |
next moment. Huddied up, evidently in
the attitude in which sie had fallen, lay |
Mrs johnson, with gaping wound across
her throat, from winch the blood was still
trickling. and Jip, with a large pool OF
blood near his head lay dead beside her.
/ stood for a moment, too, paralyzed with
horror-such intense, thrilling horror, that
only any one who has experienced sHch
feeling can understand it-and then, with q
low scream, sank on the door. and put up
my hand TO try and hide the horrible
sight.
- Hush - Whispered Charlie, sterlny
taking hold OF my hands, and forcibly drag
ging me on to my feet again ''you mustn't
make a sound. Whoever has done this can't
be far off: yOu must iun home, Cissy, as
hard as ever you can. Come -
lie dragged me to the door, and then |
turned sick all over, and tuinbled down again.
/ ielt as if | could not STIR another step.
its no use, Charlie, | can't STIR said.
Leave me and 90 without me-"
''Nonsensei Try again"
tried again, but 1t was no use; my legs
positively would not move, and precious
time was being wasted.
you iooli" Charlie said, bitterly and
passionately. HOw was boy of fifteen 10
understand q woman's weakness? Then !
must leave you. It's Johnson's money they
no doubt want. They wouldn't murder if
they could help it, and johnson will be back
directly
YES, yes. Co." | said, understanding
hat he wanted to fetch help before the far
lner came. Il will hide somewhere
''ln the kennel there he said, looking
round quickly "ahd don't STIR
lie pushed me into poor murdered Jip's
kennel, and then he disappeared, and l was
lett alone IN the gathering darkness with
those two PROSTATE forms on the kitchen
4jor as my company. ana perhaps the nuI-
derers close at hand.
combated the faint feeling which Char
lie could not understand by pinching my
arms and sticking pins into them, and after
little !judicious torture OF this sort, the
sick feeling went off, and | could think
again. 81 will take off nay boots, thought
after moment. "They make such Z noise.
and l may have to move" for already
gllmmering plan had rushed across my brain
Of how ] might warn johnson. So rose a
little from my crouching position, unlaced
them, and slipped them off. | had barely
Done this when heard the sound of voices,
and the sick trembling feeling came on SO
strongly. that tho pin torture had to be
again applied. In another minute three
men came out of the back door, and could
distinctly hear every word of thsir converse
He's late, / think said one. "lf he
aoe'n't come soon, we must 20 Z; that grill