Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-21

there, have no sort of doubt, but she's
SO deuced cunning / couldn't catch HIM.
or get%hold of the faintestA clue to the
mystery" 1i--t7aaD rfsego s9qsiq ~
/ ical. o'so', ''oi
D" Ohl Luciusi my poor sonl what is
to be done? p Why We're Won al infat,,at-
ed warned you. L told Won She was
serpent in disguise" " ? - aIIE : :,
-StnH and nonsensel'' pnt in Miss
Letitia; "don't be silly, mother. See
here. Lucius, you. go. down town and
come home about eleven o'clock Moth
er and 1 will go around. and sbe'sS a
sharper woman that i take her for. if T
| don't find out the mystery by that time
There's a trap-door, or a sill ino nanoI '
or something. OH Won needn't tell
| yours" .a '0''o u
So Lucius went down town. and tba
ladies hurried around to. No. o34o -
Ellen, who answered the bell. besitated
on seeing them.
"Mlssus is home? but she told me.
sne was very much engaged, if any one
"He's there now" whispered T ,at;t;o
Then aloud. "No doubt. but She didn't
mean us of course +" And she nnsbed
the reluctant girl
PLEASE walk into the parlor, and I'll
tell her you'll" ventured Ellen; but
Iehtla was already halfway up the
stairs, and saying. "Ohi we never stand
on ceremony" turned the handle of
susie door. 1t was locked, and it was
some moments before Susie opened it.
Hope We don't intrude,' % was Lett
tla's sslutation, as she bounced past her
INTO the room. you seem to have
something very private going on here
glanclng keenly around her.
''Will you sit down?" asked Susie
with evident effort. -
"Why, of course. We came to spend
the Gay. Oh, don't trouble yourself =
We can lay our things in this closet'
And she tried the door.
That, too, was locked. 80
Come into the back ROOM" said Su.
sic. But Letitia stood her ground. Il
mot 1. Our things are going into
that closet, and nowhere else. 1, for one
don't understand this locking of doors
and closets, Mrs. Susan Skeneatcles,
and won't bulge an inch till know what
you have hidden there. ~
''Nor /" echoed Mrs. SkeneatcIes.
'Then you must excuse me for a
short time, said Susie, firmly, cas- 1
most certainly shall not open it, and
there are some matters that require my
attention" e.f
ooh, you shameless womanl'' pulled
Miss. Letiiia; ''you think to brazen it
out, do you? but we know all about it."
''Yes, indeed" echoed the MOTHER
''And Captain Fitz James. and how you
have hidden him here
'fArd Lucius knows too. Just see
how she stands there I wonder she
don't sink through the earthl Iwonder
she can look her innocent child in the
FACET
Captain Fitz Jamesl-knows all about
itle echoed Susie, bewildered
eyes; You needn't try to look inno-
cent. Lucius has seen with his own
eyes"
''Seeni seen what?"
''Why, Captain Fitz James, or his
uniform, and he heard you hustle him
away into that closet.''
Here Susie confounded them by sit
ting down, and going off into successive
fits of laughter.
At that moment Lucius entered. ~
Hes herei" said Letitia, excitedly.a
'.She's got him locked up in that closet,
and She won't open it, and because MAJ
and L demonstrated, slaughIng like
that.
Lucius ground cut an oath, and put
his broad shoulders against the door -
''Stop!" said Susie, still laughing 'Is
will save the wood work, Lucius, and
open the door,; And taking key from
her pocket she threw it wide OPEN 3
There, on a chair still surrounding
the pantaloons, over which il had been
thrown to try the effect, lay the gor.
geous iniquity, the flaming abomina-
ton, the dark mystery that had So
aroused the righteous indignation of
Lucius' watchful family; dressing
gown, huge pattern, scarlet lined, silk
tasseled, magnifcently buttoned.
Tomorrow is Christmas, and meant
it as surprise for Lucius; but had so
little time to work on it that L was afraid
/ couldn't finish it; and locked Char
lie out because knew he couldn't keep
the secret; and told Ellen to say was
engaged, because the time was so short.
As it is, Captain Fitz james is waiting
to have his collar finished"
And with another ringing laugh SUI
sic sat down to work on it.
Letitia and her mother found their
way out in about two minutes.
Lucius made his peace easily, for Su;
sic was forgiving little woman. But
to this day he never can help willing
down suddenly, if she chances to refer
never so indirectly to Captain Fitz
| James. :
The Extra Ticket.