The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-24
We sat and looked blankly at each

w ell, declare! stiu VIC uocloI
wife.
"Inexpressibly dreary place ~ NUT
tered Cousin Dyas. "Just as lief be in
State. prison. There's something UNI
canny here; | feel it in my bones. A
goodish room-that is, has been; but
such broken plastering; and, good
Heavens there's a bat !"
Now if there is one thing more than
another that | abominate-thatf fills me
with shuddering hate and disgust-it is
bat. | could sooner handle a serpent.
| covered as the black web-footed thing
was driven out Of the window, and
Consin Dyas secured the once splendid
but now ragged curtains so as to pre-
clude the entrance of bug or bird, or
conglomerate of both.
We had taken off our hats and out
side drapery, and sat there staring at
the round table, with its wine and fruit
stained cover, when the door opened,
and tall deliberately dressed gentle
man entered. With graceful bow he
moved toward the doctor.
81 am Lieutenant Pitkin, at your
service, Sir, guest at present with our
mutual friend, Shutlas. Pleasant place,
but somewhat out of repairs at this
time. Hope you are not fatigued, la
dies, with your long journey. Rather
niece, canal,boating; fine scenery. We
shall endeavor to make your visit
agreeable. All here is Pepperpot," as
gigantic negro entered, bringing q
silver cruet-stand. "Pepper, don't for.
get the claret."
The negro glarad at him as if he could
have taken his head off. Ny heart
sank. What kind of den had we
come to?
"Shultas is SICK" said the doctor.
"Ague," responded Pitkin, with a
smile. "Always ague. Here or any
where, no matter what location, always
ague it has taken perpetual lodgings
in his bones-doses with quinine, NOR
phine, and all drugs known to pharma.
cy; but this cussed climate-pardon,
ladies shakes mans heart out of
him. | wish he could avail himself of
my remedy play. Music hath charms,
you know. The violin is my speciality
it keeps off the lue-devils-pardon
again, ladies but the ague is the very
-Lucifer ~ and he smiled, showing
teeth as white as milk.
A centipede crawled slowly along the
ceiling. My flesh began to creep. Cou-
sin Dyas got up and walked back and
forth uneasily.
"Governor II be here on the 10TH"
ratified the lieutenant, evidently disap-
pointed that we did not call for his
violin. "Shultas tried to get you word
everything fixed up by that time.
Plantation deuced fine place; grows all
sorts Of things. Acquainted with his
Excellency ?"
Yes, know Lord Wodehouse WE'LL"
returned the doctor.
"Ah !" The lieutenant ratified his
watch.chain. Conversation tagged.
" 5 Dry there's no lady here he said,
after a few moments. "Of course YOU
know OF Shultas's misfortune? She is
down cellar" with a significant motion
of the fOrehnger.
" What! not buried yet ?' queried
the doctor.
Pitkin shook his head, and pulled
down his soiled lemon-colored waist
coat.
" | assure you it's melancholy-an un-
buried corpse in the house. | tell him
mistaken sense Of loyalty makes him
too fas.idious. Keeping dead wife for
six months! It's altogether preposter-
Gus, you know. ! believe / have pre-
vailed upon him, however, to bury her;
and why not tomorrow ?" lie spread
out his thin left hand, on one Of the
fingers Of which sparkled a large ola
mond solitaire.
If my blood had chilled before, it
curdled now. Cousin Dyas had stopped
his walk abruptly, and stood like a
statue, his great eyes fastened on Pit.
kin's face. The doctor looked vexed
so did his wife, who was on the point of
speaking, when in came Pepperpot, fol-
lowed by a retinue Of blacks of all
shades and sizes, their eyes rolling, their
wool in a state of characterization, as if
each particular kink protested against
this midnight invasion.
"Why don't you change the cloth,
you rascal ?" demanded Pitl1in, as the
servants placed the dishes.
Wash no hadn't come home. Sab"
replied the head giant, with his deadly
frown.
ooh, that comes of having no woman
here" muttered Pitlin.
" Doc, what kind of den is this,
anyhow" queried Cousin Dyas, as Pit
kin got up to order the black fellows.
" Never mind now," muttered DIR.
Parmalee. Shultas is good fellow,
but lax in discipline-sick, you see.
I'm sorry | didn't get his letter." At
that moment Shultas came in.
" Now, ladies, / shall have the honor
OF escorting you up stairs"
The doctors wife and followed him.
The grand staircase had once been
beautiful; now it was defaced with
whitewash.
beg you will not mind any noises
you may hear" said the host, pausing
at the door those rooms on the OPP
posite side of the hall are filled with
BATS
A cry of horror escaped me. Mrs.
Parmalee covered it by careless
laugh.
/" know what Java is of DID, she
said; and we were left alone.