Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-11-09


but in vain while directly after strange
ghostly shadow passed the window, which
shade | made out to be that of my respec-
ted mother-in-law, with mantle over
Her head. l5H a'H .a
"Why, she's going down into the kitch-
en-" ! muttered and leaving my seat, l
opened the door just in time to cacth my
wife in the passage.
"Oh, see" l exclaimed, softly; 60
ing to attack the enemy front and rear
Elaborate tactics, l must say!"
"You need not trouble yourself, sir,
unless you please" was the reply. u
day say mamma and can discomft the
enemy, as you term him, without yoar
help" & .at
"But are you sure there is any one be-
low 2" l said.
80 dear no. sir only that there is a
cat there with strong love for fried soles. "
"There, come along 8" said, for there
was no help for it; and if there is any
thing | dislike it, it is meddling with the
servants, and their belongings. .#
But we had not half descended the
kitchen stairs, before we heard loud voices
in alteration.
THAT I'm sure trere amt mum, if it's
the last words | had to utter, mum, there
amt; and if missus was here
"Your mistress is here, Elizabeth, said
my wife, now entering the kitcteH, with
the writer following feeling very small,
and taking in the coup 'dea of Mrs
Scribe's mamma standing at the area door,
and Betsy keeping guard over that lead.
ing into the lack kitchen. .....
''Take the candle and look in the coal
cellar, George" said my mother-in-law
'I'm certain l heard some mans voice
down stairs"
at must have been next door, sir" said
Betsy, appealing to me.
"Walls are thin" l suggested, feeling
disposed to draw off the forces and to give
the unfortunate enemy, if one there were,
an opportunity to retreat.
"'Strue as goodness, mum, there's nc
one here" said Betsy,
''Oh, you bad abandoned hussy!" ex.
claimed Mrs. Scribe's mamma, shaking
her head at the maiden. "Why don't you
look in the coal cellar, George p
l felt disposed to swear at the coal eel.
lar; but Mrs. Scribe just then whispering
"Must | go?"
went to make the pleasant discovery
that there was not above a sack left Of
the last Two tons but Mars was not there
neither vas he in the dust-bin and com.
ing back out of the area, found our deai
mamma peering in the kitchen cupboard
and apparently about next to open the
drawers of the dresser.
All this time poor Betsy, with the pal
est of pale faces, was keeping guard ovel
the back Kitchen door, which my wife nov
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" sale
Mrs. Scribc's mamma.
There; why moi take the girls wo-d?'
said |, wishing, with my customary pusll
lanimity, to make a compromise. sis there
any one---a soldier in that back kitchen
Elizabeth ?"
But instead of ansy ering tho girl bur
, led her face in her apron, and began t.
sob bitterly, when leading her aside, tn
ladies opened the door, and motiohcd m
to go first.
What could / do put obey? So takinI
: up the candle | had tie moment befor
: set down, l stepped boldly in, feeling sur
that the murder must now be out. Blu
no; the one latge cupboard stood wid
open, and there was no one behind tn
door; the place was perfectly empty.
: "Look under the table, George" ez
claimed Mrs. Scribe's mamma.
"Don't talk nonsense !" exclaimed
"Why cat could not hide itself unde
that table. Now hope you are satisfied
and banging down the candlestick, | strod
back to our little dining-room, soon afte
!. hearing the ladies go up stairs.
. Poor Betsy looked very pale and trout
Q led when she came to announce tea bu
| was not surprised, and spoke kindly
the girl, believing that this time she ho
been unjustly accused and then went ar
! partook of my comfortless cup.
" Tho-t tea was removed, and an ho'
, passed, and then Mrs. Scrbe's MANN
: fatisued with her journey from Hasting
retired to her bcdroom-what in mo
I, houses would have been the back drawin
= :. room-whle descended to my little d.
behind the dining-room, to try to finish
s. article commenced that morning, Nj
" Scribe following shortly, to sit by tiy &