Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-31

When / had washed my hands
Gretchen conducted me into the next
room, where Lori had now laid the
supper. It was small chamber, with
an alcove or closet, at one end, a
great earthenware stove, and num-
Der of gaudy prints around the walls.
In the midst was the table, where
three covers were laid. It was deck
ed with bunch of China-asters in a
jar, and was substantially furnished.
was glad to see, with a pie, a dish of
raw ham, loaf of black bread and
some grapes. AS for drinkables,
there was small jug of Bayarian
beer, and there was a bottle of water.
Lori hustled to and fro; Gretchen
lighted another candle, and set them
both on the stove, behind the table,,
AS she did so, my eye was attracted
to the floor, on which the light stream
ed. 1t was uncarpeted and a number
of black beetles were running across
it, alarmed by the illumination, no
doubt. Now, have always had an
irrational repugnance to this insect,
and am afraid my face showed it.
"We cannot get rid of the nasty
creatures" said Gretchen, "They
come out in myriads from crevices
near the stove; but the light always
frightens them away"
We sat down. was hungry, and
fell to with right good will. Lori
kept me company. She sat opposite
me; and whenever / raised my eyes,
saw the movement of her massive jaws
defined against the candles behind
her. Gretchen sat on my right hand j;
thus the light fell sideways on her face
while that of her sister was in shadow j;
and the table being small, Gretchen's
hand and mine came frequently in
contact. S She ate very little; she
crumbled and played with a piece of
bread, and seldom allowed those
strange piercing eyes of hers to leave
my face. As supper went on, Lori
talked and laughed a good deal !;
Gretchen said nothing. She seemed
to grow more and more absorbed in
her own thoughts; and once when her
hand touched mine, | observed that
it shook. She filled up a tumbler of
water and drank it. Lori pushed the
beer towards me.
"Fill up for yourself"
| drained the jug into my glass. l
raised it to my lips and began to
drink. Suddenly Gretchen uttered a
sharp cry, and started up. In doing
so, she nearly upset the table; and
her elbow somehow came in contact
with the glass in my hand. Its con-
tents were split upon the floor.
Zach the beetle-the horrid thing p
she cried. at has gone down my
back, | believer She rushed from
the room as white as a sheet.
"Fool !" muttered Lori, setting her
jaws tight. aWhat waste of good
liquor! And there is no more in the
house! | will send her, for her pains,
to go fetch another schoppen.
"Not on my account, pray. like
water quite as well. Nay, your Bay
erische bier sometimes disagrees
with me"
She looked up sharply into my
face.
"Why what manner of man are you
that drink water p she demanded.
al seldom afford myself anything
else," replied.
The beer had streamed from the ia
BILE to the floor, where it had formed
itself into a long diagonal channel
towards the stove. 1t was still drip
ping, which drew my attention, | sup
pose, to the boards. The beer had
encountered one or two black beetles
in its course. l had heard Of THEN
fondness for fermented liquors; il
had taken effect very quickly in thi;
case. l saw them struggle, feebly anG
more feebly, to crawl away from tn,
intoxicating flood. Lori's quick eye
discerned what | was looking at.
"The nasty creatures! They sool
make themselves tipsy," she said, a.
she ran and fetched broom. Thel
she swept them up into plate, an(
carefully wiped the floor.
Gretchen now returned to the room
and helped her sister clear away tn,
supper. AS she moved about |, m,
hunger being appeased, noted with
quickening perception what supple
, grandly formed creature this Gretche
was. The fancy came into my hea
4 that the White Cat, when transform
e ed, must have resembled her; fair an
+ lissom, with delicate pink nostrils an
strange bright eyes. In the elder sis
a ter | thought the cat grew akin to tn
!. tigress; h e r sharp narrow teetl
s heavy jaw, and stealthy, cruel eye
/ filled me more and more with an indie
:. nable repulsion. was glad when sh
e said -
M will 60 see after your bed, youn
l man, Gretchen will keep you compan
It meanwhile.
l was sitting in the moonlight, nes
e the window. Gretchen stood besid
g me. reFar.5 ..s-s1ae .eH H.s fe
"You are unlike all men hay
known" she said, after she had locke
/, at me in her strange way for son
: minutes. aAre all Englishmen liz
e you p 'J1e
e "Happily for them, / suppose vel
4 few" Ge zs
But Englishmen are faithful" 81
n said, eagerly. "They never deceiv
a. never betray. have read about or
le Englishman in book. Gould ye