Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-11-13

11le HeAe u19s Hucu- coming down his own
stalrs-they were rather steep and narrow.
for sc lived III one of the old houses Of y ork-
! my uncle slipped, fell, and broke his leg. 1
thought he would have gone mad when the
doctor told him he must not attempt to move
or mind any business for weeks to come. and
y tried TO pacify him BY offering to conduct
/ the funeral with the help of Steele and Some
man Nothing could please the old nan l
never saw hum SO Tar out of temper before
He swore at his bad luck, threw the pillows
J at his housekceper. ordered me to bring him
up the Key Of the Workshop, and kept 1t last
clutched IN his hand. set up with him
that night. In couple of hours he crew
calm and sensible, but could not sleep, tho
the house was all quiet, and the house keeper
snoring in the corner. Then he began to
( groan, rs If there was something worse than
broken leg on his mind, and . Tom saws
he, havn't been always Kind to youY'
70 doubt of it. uncle, said l.
''.N ell, Tom. l want you to do me great
serYlce-a particular service Tom, and I'll
never forget It to YOU You know Mr. Els
worthy funeral comes oft to,norroUrat three.
and they re very high people,
: Never fear uncle, Ill take care of 1t as
4 well as If you We're there YOURSELF
I knew You would, Toni knew YOU
would. could trust you with the hearsino
of an earl's coffin; and for managne mutes
don know your equal But there's some-
thing more to be done. Come over beside
me, Iom that old woman don't hear Well at
the best, and she's sleeping now, and no mis-
take. VIII you promise me and his voice
sunk to a whisper -'' that whatever YOU hear
or see, you III make no remark to any one hys
\ ing, and be cautious as you can about the
body There is no foul play for L BEGAN Ia,
look frightened but may be this leo'sa
/ Judgment for taking ON such business. How
someTer,' | IA to have three hundred rounds
for It; and you'll get the half, Tom. the full
half II you'll conduct it properly, and give
me your solemn promise. know YOU, ID never
break that
Uncle, said l. g I'll promise aud keen
IT too; butt lyou must tell me what sit iis.,,
Wy ell Tom and he drew a long breath
ITS a living man you're going to put IN that
Colin; in thew workshop IS Z have made It HIGH
and full Of air holes he'll lie quite comfort.
able Nobody knows aboitt it but Steele aud
StoneInan and yourself; they'll 90 with you
Mud yous trust no one else. Don look so
SstupI man can you und derstand Mr. Els.
wort thy .dldnst die at all, aud never had brain
fever; but he wants to get OFF from marrying,
Miss SSestbay, or some thing of tnat sort
hey re taking a queer way about it, must
say but these geateel people have ways of
tlelr own 1t was the cousin that prepared
my mind for it IN the back parlor; that s syos
mans up to anything Isstoodl out seainst
having a hand init, till heard that the sex. 4
ton OF beverly Church was poor relation
ofstheirs The key of the coffin IS to be given /
to him, ut. will be locked, nat atscrewed down.
syons see; andSYhen ali'slov at the yaultLst
twill be dark night by that time. for don't Il
move til three. aud, these December days are Il
shortThell II come aud help MIR Elsworthy I
out, and Snug gle him of TO Il aull WIT his son.
the carrier. There's ships enoug Il there to +
latake him where under a feigned name.
Gould he get of the marriage no leasiierf?,'
SAID /, for the thought of taking living man /
IN a hearse. and hearing the services read over i
him made my blood run cold. You see was (
young hen
here sonnet thing more than the marriage /
IN it, though they didn't tellme OddthinasS Il
will happen in my business, and this is one j
OF the queerest But you'l Il manage II gg,om,
and get my blessing besides your hal of the
three hundred pounds; and don't be afraid of
anything coming wrong to him, for Il never
saw any man look solike a corpse,
promised my uncle to do Che business and
keepthe secret. a hundred aud fifty pounds
was no Joke to a young man beginning tile
world in the Undertaking line and the old
man was so pleased with what ne called my
sense and understanding, that before falling
asleep, close upon day break : he talked of ta1
4
might expect from the Harrowgate family
for the dowager countess was near fourscore
and two of the young ladies were threatened
With decine Next day, early in the after
i noon Steele, Stoueman aud we're at work.
The family seemed duly mournitil I suppose
ON account of the servants Mr.. Elswortl,v
looked wonderfully well IN his siiroud and IF I
lone had not looked close into tie coffin. they
never would have seen the air-holes. Well /.
we set out, mourning coaches hearse and all
through the yellow fog of December day.
4 There was nothing but sad faces at all the
! windows as we passed; ] heard them dining
/ Steele and Stoneman for the feeling hearts |
they showed but when we got ont ongthe 4
! Beverly road the cousin gave us a sign, and |
away. we went at a rattling pace; a funeral |
tipeyer got over the ground at such a rate be-
i fore Yet it was getting dark when we I
reached the Old Minister, and the curate J
grumbled at having to do duty SO late He |
i got over the service nearly as quick as wo /
got over thesmiles.. The coffin was lowered /
into The family vault lit was more than half
filed with Mr. Elsworthy's foreiathers, but |
: there was good vide CRATE. in the vault, and |
no want Of air. II was all right The clerk !
and she clergy sman started off 70 their homes, /
the mourning coaches went 10 the Crown Tnn,
where the ladies' were to wait TIL the sexton I
came toilet them knolg be was safe ont--the /
cousin would not 20 honle Without that news +
and slippea him the Key at the church
uoors as ne cursed g us all bout the nlys-
terions dispen nsatipns OF Providence
Ny heart was light going home s. were
Steeles and Sfonenlans None IF us liked +
the Job but We sgeFeall % he pal forit aud
must say the old man came down l.sn ds6lne-
1r-- 4 ~