The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-01-01

| used TO meet her walking all over the
house uron these crrands, and | noticed
10 her great credit, that though she must
have weighed nearly twelve stone, she
made no noise
She so won upon me, indeed, for / am
not at all man TO bc familiar with my
interiors, and should certainly not take
pleasure in exhibiting my plate to a
maid of all work or crossing sweeper,
as some people have been so good TO affirm.
| say | was SO pleased with Mrs Maqueo.
chy's quiet and respectful manners, that,
/ finding her upon one occasion in the
! dining room admiring my two new shield
shaped salvcrs upon the side board, | took
pains TO explain TO her the design of the
engraving, and especially the embossed
cipher; with which her intelligent mind
was highly pleased. In short, she was a
perfect treasure, and if we had wanted a
housekecpcr, or ary confidential servant
OF that sort, | should certainly have re-
tanned Mrs Mnqueecly in that position,
after her duties as sck-nur,c were
concluded; and in that idea my wife en-
tirely concurred. Mrs. Maqueechy was
neither young nor good looking, but n
more thoroughly respectable looking per-
son. in her condition of life, it was not
easy TO find. Although | had every con-
iilenrc in B)wlcs-l)owlcs has had the
charge of my plate for these ten years
yet there seemed somehow to be double
warranty for the safeguard of my proper
iy, while Mrs. Muquccchy was under my
roof. She was not II suspicious person,
far from it but she once remarked TO me,
N Il meaning way, that the charge OF SO
much valuable plate was II great rcspon-
Sibillty, and, would hc even II temptation
to some people, and saw she kept her
eye on Bowles. As the event proved,
alas Mrs Maquccchy had only too
good reason to do 50.
Last Wednesday, we happened to have
rather a large dinner party; had been
dining out II good deal at various clubs
lately, and of course it was necessary TO
invite my entertainer in return. 1t is not
that | will ask anybody to come and
admire my plate. but certainly some st
the men were not in,mlte friends of niue,
but only aCquaintanccs. However,
suppose the fact Of persons belonging 10
such clubs as | frequent is a sufficient
guaranty for Their social position. They
were quito good enough. in my opinion,
TO meet Mrs. Lucifcr Matchnm at all
events, and they met her The dirner
had gone off uncommonly well. The
shield shaped salvcrs had been very much
admired and 80 had NV new turcen. The
ladies' had retired to the drawing room,
and had just passed the vine leaf clarct-
jug to Colonel Twankay (on which the
old hunks dld not pass the slightest re-
mark. by the by.) when Bowlcs stopped
down and whispered in my car that n
person wished to see me in the Hall, upon
very important business.
Ask him whrt it i.,' said /. 1T is
impossible that can leave my guests
did ask h,m, sir, and hc refuses to
state replied }owlcs, confidently, 1t
is my opinion he's a bcgging-cttcr impos-
siblc but he says he must see you in pr,
SON
was upon the point of spying, Tell
him to leave the house. when something
or other in Bowlcs manner struck me 50
decidedly that | resolved not to do So
Why should he say man, about whom
he could know nothing, was II begging
letter impostcr! Perhaps placed rather
I'm much cnpf ,1cnco in ,,,, l,u+lar us Nr,
Maquccchy had limited that very morning.
Actuated by vague prcsen,mcnt Of dis
trust and danger, | rose fiom the table,
made hasty apology to my friends, anil
went with Bowlcs into the hall. a
shabby gcnecl sort Of Il person, answering,
indeed, very tolcrably to my mans de-
scripiion of him, was stanling by the
umbrella-siall.
What is it you want with me sir 2
said in Il magisieral tone.
One minutes private conversation with
you,' lie replied he. with glance at the
butler.
'Iou may leave us, Bowkrs.' said I !;
and he withdrew accordingly, although,
am bound TO say very unwilingly The
thought flashed across me like lightning,
Bowlcs has something to fear from this
mans disclosure and the next words of
my visitor corfrmed me in this suspicion.
am member of the detective police
force, said he, Sand come to warn YOU
that there is something wrong IN your
house
Nothing to do will my plate, hope ,
SAIL | with considerable anxiety.
Very much TO do with IT, sir, return
ed he grimly. There is thief harbored
here; and by this time tomorrow you
Nill not have silver spoon in your pos
session, unless find him out. must see
every soul YOU have got under your roof
A theft said |; impossible! |
never have even strange waiter. That
butler has lived with me ten years, and
my two footmon even longer. will
answer for their honesty,
Let me see 'em, Sir; that's all /
want was tho d'c va -c,i".
III i,n; .j,Al, :. III |. nppc.iinciy ;
- do not say it is Bowles; > but, nj.
Though it agitated me beyond measure to
to think that | should have to trust a new
hntlpr with all INV nou, ,I,,a I 40,