The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-16

IL -O 70, IScIllisS, very small, anu IdkiuS IL
the coup d9it of Mrs. Scribe's mamma stand
ing at the area door, and Betsy keeping guard
over That leading into the back kitchen.
- Take the candle and look in the coal cellar,
Georoe," said my mother inlaw. "Im GER
tam heard some mans voice down stairs"
1T must have been next door, sir" said Bet
sy, appealing to me.
walls are thin!' l suggested. feeling dis
posed to draw off the forces and 10 give the
unfortunate enemy, if one there were, an OPP
portunity to retreat.
'Strue as goodness, mum. there's no one
here" said Betsy.
"oh, you bad abandoned hussy" exclaimed
Mrs. Scribe's mamma, shaking her head at
the maiden. why, don't you look in the
coal cellar, George?"
felt disposed to swear at the coal cellar;
but Mrs. Scribe just then whispering Must
so?" l went, to make the pleasant aiscoEely
that there was not above a sack lett OF Tue last
two tons: but Mars was not there, neither
was he in the dust BIN and coming back out
of the area. found our dear mamma peering
in the kitchen cupboard, and apparently about
next to open the draw ers OF the dresser
All this time, poor Betsy, with the paest of
pale faces, was keeping guard over the back
kitchen door, which my wife now approached.
(Which, surely, mum, you're not going to
bemean yourself by going in that dirty place,
mum ?" said the girl.
"Dirty, indeed, I've no doubt" said Mrs.
Scribe's mamma.
There; why not take the girls word ?"
said /, wishing, with my customary pusillan-
unity, to make compromise. SIS there any
one-a soldier in that back kitchen, Eliza
ceth?'
But instead of answering, the girl buried
her face in her apron, and began to sob bit
terly, when, leading her aside, the ladies OPEN
ed the door. and molioned me to go first
What could l do but obey? So taking up
the candle had the moment before set down.
stepped boldly in, feeling sure that the MUIR
der must now be out. But no: the one large
cupboard stood wide open, and there was no
one behind the door; the place was perfectly
empty.
Look under the table, George exclaimed
Mrs. Scrites mama.
"Don't talk nonsense!' L exclaimed. "Why,
a cat could not hide itself under that table.
Now, hope you are satisfied: and banging
down the candestick, strobe back TO our
little dining room, soon alter hearing the la
dieg 60 up stairs.
Poor Betsy looked very pale and troubled
when she came to announce tea; but was
not surprised, and spoke kindly to the girl,
believing that this time she had been unjustly
accused; and then went and partook of my
comortess cup.
The TIA was removed, and an hour passed,
and then Mrs. Scribe's mamma, fatisued with
her journey from Hastings. retired to her
bed-foom-what in most houses would have
been the back drawlng-room-whileI descen-
ded TO my little den behind the dining room,
TO try to finish an article commenced that
morning, Mrs. Scribe following shortly, to sit
by my fire and "tatt," that being her custom
when am disposed to work after tea
| we were both in very severe moods, she
upon her low bergere stool, at my table land
| for time nothing was heard bit the clicking
of Mrs. SIS tatting shuttle, and the scratching
| of my pen. #.r al. va
But there was no article-fnishing that
| night, with so many clouds in the horizon for
raising my eyes, l could see a couple of tears
stealing down on either side of the prettiest
little nose in the world; my pen dropped the
tatting fell all OF horrible tangle; and then
some one was on her knees at my feet and I
was just going to press my lips on her white
forehead within their reach, when there was
noise!
Yes, there was a noise-a strange, hair
stirring groan, apparently at our shoulders /;
and then the sound of footsteps on the stairs,
in the passage, and then loud flop as of
some one falling on the oilcloth, followed by
hysterical sobs and cries.
We leaped up and opened the door, to find
poor Betsy apparently in a fit-now sobbing,
now crying, now shrieking, and pouring forth
"Ohs" innumerable, but quite incapable of
answering questions.
Then came the ringing of Mrs. Scribe's
mammals bell, and, as it was ofcourse not an
swered, the opening of her door, and her
voice descending TO know what all the groan
ing meant that she could hear. -t
And now, not only from Betsy, but as from
the wall, came groan after groan-loud, heart
wrung, half-stifled groans, similar to that
which had first startled us, and which had
laid to the credit OF Betsy.
"On," exclaimed dear mamma, sit is some
poor creature dying next door, and the cries
have frightened this poor girl.-Run, George,
and see If you can be OF any avail.''
Then came more groans, ard several dis
tinct knocks at the wall
There, there; pray go, DEAR" said my wife !;
some one must be in great peril"
Directly alter there was a loud peal at the
front-door bell, and on going, l found nv
neigh6or Jones evidently for help
What is the matter?"
4 What is the matter?" E-
Both in breath. ..
I Some one must be dying at your house."
said Jones. -
mo, no; at your house." said.
But we can hear the groans in your libra
ry."
$50 can we in ours !" exclaimed. "Come
here" And leading the way into the back
room, there we could here the stifed eroans
again.
"IPs in your house," said.
mo, no; it's in the chimney.n exclaimed
Mt. Jones. "Good heavens! there'll be some
one smotheredw
Yes, yes, yes; chimney, chimney" Shrek
ed Elizabeth and then she went off again in
to strong, genuine Mysteries.
is any one there?" l cried, going close
to the wall.
"Oh-h-b-" came back dismal eroan in re-
ply and now light burst upon my brain.
Here, Jones-ths way" 1 cried; and
snatching up little lamp, was going down
stairs, when the shreking of the ladies in
protest at being lett in the dark arrested me.
want a light?" said gruff voice; and,
starting, looked round to encounter police,
man, who, attracted by Betsy's screams. had
come in by the open door.
"Here-this way, my man." cried. "There
is some one stuck in the chimney"
In the what?" he exclaimed incredulously.
"Oh-h-h !" came from the wall again.
Its tother side; that's what it is" said the
1T isn't, Itell you," cried Jones. "There,
man; listen"
.oh-h-h |" came now, and strange rustling
noise as OF some one struggling.
I'm blest it there ain'tw exclaimed the
constable.
"Here-this way; l know" I said; and,
Leading the way, we soon stood in the back
kitchen, where, by the help OF the policeman's
BULBS eye, l could just make out pair of boot
soles up The chimney, and something glsten-
ing, which made out TO be spurs.
We shouted up the chimney; but no an
swer came, and there was only an occasional
Kicking OF the boots-ieebly kicking las ii their
occupier was in sore strait.
Lets get up stairs again." said the police
man. "He's stuck tight, that's what he ISL
and, obedent to the voice of law, we followed
to the back room, where, after tapping at the
wall two or three times, and elcitine faint
eroan that sounded something like 'Helpw
the constable started otf-rather leisure ly. I
thought-but soon returned with crowbar
and hammer-armed bricklayer, and another
policeman,
There was no stopping to tear up our Brus-
sells carpet, for, attacking the wall, brick NOR
tar, plaster and torn paper soon formed a
dusty heap; and after guiding himself by lis |
ledlng once or twice, in an incredibly short |
space OF time there was hole made through |
INTO the chimney communicating with the |
pack kitchen, and through that hole came a |
aint sigh.
Come, hold up, old chap, whoever Won
ire, i" said one of the policemen; and then to |
ne, Got drop of brandy, SIR"
soon fetched the spirit, and then in the
lght OF the Mortified women, the hole was
efficiently enlarged to lay bare a gbastly,
oot-blackened lace, with protuding eyebalis
M grnnlng teeth; but as the air seemed to
each the mans lungs more purely. a chance
ook place, aided by some brandy administer
n spoon by one of the policemen.
1t was all plain enough now, and was not
ouch surprised, when, the hole bping sniff |