Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-06-29
A Night Of Horror.

II was night WHOM arrived homo. There
was something SO provocative IN tie darknesS
and utter quiet in which found the premises
wrapped that determined to give "a lovely
surprise, but Nature Appealing 20 me in a
vita! point. dropped iato the dining room
with the view of refreshing myself with bit
of cold ioint by way of preliminary.
Striking light, found that my wants had
been anticipated, for there on the table lay tho
remains of q terAst-breast of chicken, cakes,
cheese and villa. net. Being sharp set, I
pitched in, glass Of old port materially as
sisting the process Of digestion.
All at once my eye caught sight Of meer-
schaum upon the mantle. Now, there Is moth
ing very alarming in meerschaum per SC,
but when the meerschaum IS the property OF a
stranger, and Is found upon ones premises
during his absence, II becomes invested with
an importance which it could derive from no
other circumstance. There was also paper
of Turkish tobacco. 1.-THE fellow has taste,
at all events" said l. and filled and smoked,
drank bumper aud cogtated.
Now Maria knows | am not in tho least bit
Jealous knows il had never entered my head
to suspect her Of an imprudencc; but this, TO
say the least of il, had a very suspicious look.
drank again. Yet protest was not at all
1 Jealous At that moment lstarted and sprang
from my seat as if az the touch OF an electric
battery for on the settee in the corner lay an
! impudent looking hat aud cane, and even a
pair of gloves To smash the hat into smith
Greens, TO tear the gloves into fragments, 20
snap the cane in flinders was the work OF a
moment took another bumper, and folding
my arms, glarcd majostically around. Not
that was Jealous o. dear, no.
was reSuming my seat and pipe, to cogl-
tate over source OF prosecution, when | re-
ceiyed another shock. Ny eye had alighted
upon note which had fallen beneath the ia
! bio IL was in feminine hand Dear
/ Charlie" il ran, m so glad you've arrived.
Sammy's away. Don't stand upon ceremony.
| Wen have such nice time Cold lunch and
all agreeable. UemO over at once"
Sammy'S my name. Periidious woman
| Il is thus"
threw il into th. Ere after trampling on e..
fortified myself with another glass, took OIL
my stockings, and started up stairs On tho
way stumbled over d strange cat in the kitch-
/ en-.
10 my ascent suppose must have made
some noise, for a strange dog set up o furious
yell In the back area. Il may bo Us well to go
prepared for contingencies, reflected, as recon-
tered the parlor with viow Of possessing my
self Of poker. Dark as il was, | secured tho
desired object, and was retreating, when fan
ciod somebody came In on ,ip-toc. Holding
my breath, lodged past him, end crept up
the stairs like thief, not that was Jealous,
but only to see what was going on. After a
pause, during which ! could count the beating
Of my heart, tried tho bed room door. IL
was not locked, aud all was dark within A
gentle snore-not rough, oxasperating. reckless
thing, but moro OF o musical moan, cane from
the bed
"Shs Is asleep" unused I, 81 tho sleep Of the
virtuous, and what | thought the step Of a
strangers toes was the tread Of the cat. Poor
dear Maria how could so wrong you q
disrobed and slipped into bed.
"Charl!e, how long you have been" said 0
feminine voice.
Gracious goodness lit was that Of 4 strang-
or A cold perspiration broke out all over mc
as reflected upon the horrors Of ny situation.
The house | purchased was one Of a pain
which had been built exactly alike, and, com
ing fatiguod and sleepy direct from the cars,
must have cutorcI my noighbor's mansion
| instead OF my own
pounced out upon tho floor.
Excuse mo dear" whispered "I think
hear burglars"
"What again think you must be mis-
taken"
ON 20 and see, said I, and huddling on
something, groped my way to tho stairs, de-
scending them with cold feeling oil tho way
down my back, and crept into the basement.
There made another appalling discoyery-the
clothes had put on were somebody else5 aud
not my ownl
Safe on the sidewalk, I glanced up at tho
house from which had ust escaped, thinking
how should manage TO return my borrowed
toggery.
And il was my house after all
Resolved on an explanation, rung the bell
boldly. heard the tip tippety-tp Of a pain
Of well known feet, aud was at once ia the
arms Of Mrs SpiVins.
"Why, don't you remember, Sammy she
said. in replying to ny intcrrogatOns."
told you brother Charles was coming from The
country with Lis new wife, TO pass a few days
with US. have given up our own bedroom
to them, and its lucky you rang, or you'd
have goae right into their room"
Well hadn't been there and got into bed
and stolen Charles clothes while he was after
burglars The note 10 Charlie was sufficiently
explained.
will never be jealous again.
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Music Poured and Pounded.