The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-05-30

What Saw from my window.
1t was strange scene and yet ther
? was nothing startling about it. coul
! not tell why my eyes were rveted to tn
spot. Probably, | said to myself, it ca
-, only be accounted for by some occult pys
: Geological reason, and | will simply watch
= and endeavor not to wonder. MY librar,
j. is situated in the third-story back.roon
efan ordinary.built house in the neighbor
hood of the Hcights,a and it is there spend
hour after hour in work and study-.some
, times, as the light fades from the sky
drawing near the window with my book
on writing, and semi-occasionally glancinp
at the backs of the houses opposite. The
house whose garden joins ours has always
been an object of interest to me, even
since | moved into the neghborhood, on
account of an old gentleman who was to
be seen in his library at almost any hour
OF the day. He seemed to be an inde-
fatigable worker, and was generally at
his post long before | was. This old
gentleman grew to be very entertaining
to me, and | came to miss him very much
when for any reason he was absent from
his library. The time above alluded to
was early in the evening in the latter
part of February. My neighbor had gone
from bookcase to bookcase, and drawer to
drawer, arranging and putting away and
at last | noticed or thought | saw him
lock the drawers of his desk and put the
key in his pocket. Soon after | heard the
ring Of their tea-bell, and watched until
the old gentleman walked slowly out of
the room. What was the reason that
even then | could not withdraw my gaze 4?
There was nothing particular inviting
about the apartment, now that its occu-
pant had gone, but still could not help
looking. The gas was burning very dim
ly, and could just make out the differ
ent articles of furniture, assisted a little
BY the light Of very pleasant CRATE fire.
AS | watched, a figure clad in white came
swiftly in at door at the right. A cold,
nervous tremor took full possession of me.
Not that | felt there was anything SUPER
natural about the vision. knew better
for | Immediately recognized the form
and dress of lady had noticed in the
garden only an hour or two before; but
| did not know that her presence in that
room at that particular time meant mis-
chief and woe unutterable. | know that
her feet made no noise as she moved
hastily about, going over exactly the same
ground which the old gentleman had
travelled only few moments previous.
Drawer after drawer she ransacked-
lifting lids, examining pigeon-holes and
finally after second spent in looking over
the contents of the old gentleman's desk
saw her grasp what appeared to me to
be small box or casket, close and lock
the drawer, and then waving her hands
aloft,with singularly triumphant gesture,
hurry from the room. That this young
woman had been guilty of theft l was
perfectly aware also, felt sure that she
was some relative of the proprietor of the
and more than all did l realize
that the fearful consequences Of this work
Iy"nlSrny- cstvrnIeu IIicnUvI o, uiie"nuusc-
hold. How did know this? Perhaps
| reasoned from cause and effect without
really being aware that such was the case.
Perhaps, having been let to see this
strange performance, | was peculiarly
acted upon as to the result. However
that mi ght be, it seemed that the troubled
future of that family was thoroughly
daguerreotyped upon my heart. After
while the old gentleman entered the
library, followed by an elderly lady |
took to be his wife then young gentle
had often noticed him before
and last of all the lady in white, with
wide scarlet sash and neck-ribbon. Soon
after a young woman, whom | had also
often seen in the garden, apparently the
geverness, as she always had littlo
curly headed boy by her side, entered,
leading the urchin for the sole purpose,
it would seem. of bidding them all good
night, The old gentleman took him in
his arms and caressed him for while, ,and
after short frolic with each one he was
led off by his govern.ss. Then the young
gentleman drew the shades and | saw no
more that night. 1t was some time be-
fore could sufficiently Danish the occur
renee to sleep, and the first thought upon
waking the next morning was the strange
scene Of the previous evening. My first
glance at my neighbours library was suf-
fcent to assure me that The theft was dis
covered. The old gentleman. with his
hands clasped behind him, paced slowly
up and down the apartment. His wife,
assisted by the young woman who had
ransacked every nook and corner the
night before, went through the farce Of
examination. The old man was evident
ly too grieved and stunned to join in the
search. During the forenoon the young
governess entered, having to all appear
ance been sent for. for the purpose of
questioning. For moment she stood it
appeared to me, in silent wonderment
then advanced quickly to the centre of
the room and confronte ed the old gentle
man. The little boy ran into the library,
and caught her by the hand. The owner
of the white robe-this morning she was
dressed in a white merino wrapper, faced
with cherry, and cherly trimmings-arose
from her chair by the library table, and
with an imperious gesture, perfectly OBJ
servable from my distance even, drew the
child away from the side of his companion.
Then the poor girl hid her face in her
handkerchief, and left the room. 1t was
plain then as the sun at midday. The
! 0oreyuess had been aroused of the theft.
What was my duty in the premises ?
When | took into consideration that |
had not heard word spoken, did not
even know what had been stolen, and had
only the pictures of the different scenes
to rely on for proof, my position was a
very peculiar one, to say the least.
It was certainly very delicate busi-
ness to call at that strange house, and
describe to the proprietor what | had