Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-04


had considerable talent for design. He
worked a good deal at home IN little
atelier on the second floor; and you would
hear him, as he Clipped away, humming
sometimes, and sometimes carOiling, when
you came to the hall door In quiet Albany
street.
Looking upon Letitia as already en-
gagged. had no intention of falling in love
with her; but l couldn't help becoming
very fond Of her, meeting her as l did
constantly in intimate society, for she was
50 good and lovabIe. Chubb was much at
tached TO her, fancied; but don't know
whether ne was quite such good boy as
his aunt imagined, and 1 used TO doubt
sometimes whether the career open TO him
pleased him altogether.
Being not swells at all, but quite unpre-
tentious folk, we would sometimes go to
the Dit of the Princess. Mrs. Chubb
would pilot her nephew through, and l
would have TO take care OF Lefty IN the
crowd, and sometimes, under pressure OF
circumstances, would find my arm around
her waist, or take her plump hand in mine
Delicious pleasures! forbidden, but how
sweet!
1t happened, however, that some lite
rary friend Of Chubb offered him box
for particular night at the Olympic; and
it was then and there determined that we
would all go. Chubb was TO come to my
Office at half past 8, and aunt Chubb and
Letitia were TO call for us there.
had had very busy day at Lincolns
Inn, and / had not noticed the flight Of
time, when l heard a cab stop outside; it
was o'clock. was vexed with Chubb
that he hadn't kept his appointment; for /
had relied upon his coming in time for me
TO dress before the ladies arrived. Now l
had TO run out in my office coat, and ask
Mrs. Chubb To wait till l could struggle
into my evening suit.
"Don't be more than ten minutes, Ed
ward" she said, "Or we shall have to pay
extra for waiting. Chubb must follow us,
the careless boy"
There was nothing remarkable in his
not keeping his appointment. | don't think
he had ever kept one in his life. l con-
tented myself with leaving message
with Mrs Tomkins, the housekeeper, that
he was to dress as quickly as possible, and
follow us. / charged her specially to
have jug Of hot water ready on the hob,
that he mightn't have any excuse for sit
ting down in his shirt-sleeves and smok- |
ing pipe, which he would be only too
glad to do on the slightest hitch in his
/ remember the entertainment at the |
Olympic well 1t was the last time ever
saw RI act. The shadow of death was
upon the poor fellow then, but he fired up |
once or twice with something of his old |
spirit 1t was grotesque drama they |
played, but it saddened me, too; there |
was something weird and ghostly about |
the fun.
Act succeeded act, but still no Chubb |
Jackson. Ever and again | turned my |
head, thinking heard him enter the box. !
BY uneasiness seized my companions also
they, too, began to look over their shout |
lers each minute. It was hot midsum-
ner night, but the theatre felt chilly. |
Aunt and Letitia drew their shawls round
hem. fancied, too, that the audience on
he other side began to notice our uneasi-
ness lorgnettes were leveled at our box
All of sudden the boxdoor was
thrown violently open, hung suspended for
, moment--the instant during which a
person might pass inland then closed
heavily. I jumped up and ran into the
Not soul was there. Letitia
had given a little scream; she looked
leadly pale, and almost fainting. Aunt
Chubb was perplexed and distract. The
play was coming to an end. took them
,ut of the theater and put them into cab
Il would be relief to get back to Albany
street, and to find Chubb in his little
,nuggery, smoking pipe and chipping
away at his blocks; relief to give him q
good scolding for putting us out SO.
But when we got back to Albany street
The house was dark and desolate. The
servants had gone to bed, according to Or
ders The supper tray was in the dining
room, in readiness for our rejection; few
dozen oysters, brown loaf a half cut
ham. But there was no trace Of Chubb's
no opened shells, no empty bot
ties of Guinness. Where could he be?
It was necessary that should go out to
look after the missing Chubb. embraced
my mission very reluctantly; for | was
tired and hungry, and thought that Chubb
was indulging in some freak. His aunt
would not hear of the possibility Of such
thing her boy had never been out so
late as this without her knowledge, and
she felt convinced some evil had come to
him. She besought me TO lose not mo-
ment in putting the police in motion, in
advertising, in offering reward Of a hun
dred pounds for any information.
Had ne any money with him, aunt?'
had grown so intimate with the family
that Mrs Chubb had ado,ted me as her
nephew.
40, dear. yes and great deal. 1paid
him his half ears allowance, fifty pounds,
this very morning. in Bank Of England
notes; and he stuffed them into his breast
coat-pocket in his careless way, and ~
"Have you got the numbers?"
90, yes l put them down; they're in
my desk. See here"
"Nothing but the numbers no date! no
distinguishing letters! Dear me, aunt,
how unbusiness-like you arel"
90, is it necessary, Edward l didn't
know"
"This list will do we'll enough for stop
ping the notes; but if they were lost you'd
never get anything out of the bank for
them. But now the point is to find Chubb.
Good bye, aunt; I'll send the young chap
home to you fast enough, never fear"
please God, trust you will"
Lefty was in the hall as l went out.
She came to me pale and trembling.
90 Edward, do you think there is any
thing wrong with Chubb?"
"No, nothing wrong, l trust, Lefty.
Don't worry about him; he's sure to be
all right"