Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-11-26

~ MISS, | am so frightened about that
pack cannot rest, and am sure that |
cannot go to bed while it is 10 the house -
" You arc very ridiculous, Harriet" re-
piled Janet. II am sure the men we're
very respectable looking individuals, only
two shop men. We have just been looking
at the pack aud it did not move, though /
gave il good squeeze | am sure there Is
nothing in II to alarm you"
Harriet looked very pale, aud shook her
head very warningly.
Ten o'clock came, and my cousins and |
were thinking Of betaking ourselves to our
sleeping apartments, when we heard a door
violently shut and lock Immediately az.
terward Harriet rushed in upon Us, and
sank on the nearest chair in violent hyster-
les. She was speedily followed by the
butler looking pompous and still as ever,
but with certain expression Of unquiet
on his fat, grave face.
What is The matter, Jones2' asked
Mildred, starting to her feet. TEL US
quickly Do try to be quiet, Harriet"
80, the pack is alive" shrieked Harriet
"Ilush, Harriet" +" said Mildred, calmly /;
" let Jones tell US. heard you lock a
door. 1t was that Of the ante.room in
which this unfortunate pack is placed,
SUPPOSE"
" It was Miss" replied Jones, senten.
tiously, "and the dog is in the hall" /" be
added.
so eirgood, said Mildred, composcdly y.
" Aud how, pray, do you know that the
pack is aliyc2"
You see, Miss" replied Jones. "ever
since that pack has been left here Harriet
has been 10 distracted state of mind --
frightened out Of her senses, in fact"
d" ! saw the thing move when it was laid
in the hall" sobbcd Harriet
Go on Jones;" inierposod Janet.
Jones continued
so before We went to bed, Miss Harriet
persuaded me to come and take another
look at the package, You know | did not
at all approve Of its being left Miss" he
added.
Never mind that, said Mildred, "tell
Us what you have seem
Well, Miss, | thought it a great non
sense, but | went. We took hold Of the
bundle and turned it about little, but
could make nothing of it, Presently Har-
riet found a small holo in the wrapper.
Sne pulled the reut rather more Omen and
looked in. saw her face change. She
turned and drew me out Of the room,
pulled the door to, and locked it. That
is all know at present, ladies'" aud here
Jones bowed to US politely.
Harriet had now become quieter, so
Mildred inquired
What did you see, Harriet" The
girl shivered, and covered her f,co with her
hands.
Come, Harriet, speak," said Mildred
becoming a little pale.
"Yes, tell u.s. and instantly cried
Janet.
Hurriet took her hands from her face and
looked up.
at was an eye, Miss" she said in hor-
ror stricken tones " such an awful looking
eye, and It glared at me " she added, with
a repressed shriek
We looked at each other in mute con-
sternatiou.
WAS it living one, do you think, Har-
riet ?" | asked.
Yes, it was alive, Miss, | am sure,
she sohbed. 80, what shall we do? 1t
looked so malignant and terrible %
We looked at each other for a few mo-
meuts and then Mildred spoke.
"I can scarcely believe that you are
right, Harriet" she said 81 fancy that
your imagination must have been making a
goose Of you"
"Sull, Mildred | ventured to say,
Harriet may be right, and It would be
well TO do something at once" This may
be plan to rob the house when we are all
in bedn
"Aud murder us all, shrickcd Harriet
Janet began to cry, aud meanwhile the
butler had left the room
Where is Jone-?" inquired Mildred,
suddenly observing his absence Let US
90 and fnd bin, and see what is best to be
done"
She passed into the hall aud we followed
Jones was rumaging 10 Il large closet, the
door Of which stood open; he had lamp
in his hand. The other servants stood by
and we together waited for him to emerge
He was rather long time, so Mildred went
close to the door and whispered:
What are you doing there, Joncs?"
Jones made reply, but came out, armed
with an old rusty looking dagger and two
pieces of strong rope
You are not going to kill him ?" i'm
plored Janet.
/" Never fear, Miss" replied Jones a
little prick, however, will do no hurt.
must take care Of my mastcr's house"
We will come with you" whispered
Mildred.
Very good, Miss he answered.
" Please bring the dog to the door, and
keep him there till want him"
So off went Jones with his lamp, his dag
ger and hisropos. We aud the servants fol.
lowed closely with the dog, who seemed to
possess strong consciousness Of something
being amiss.
Jones opened the door Of the little room
quietly, and went in and placed his lamp
on u small side table which stood near.
Then at once, dagger and ropes in hand,
he walked toward the pack, which still
lay on the settle but now observed that
there we're one or two openings 10 the
wrapper.
There was deep silence among US for a
moment or two, interrupted only by the low
growing Of the dog. who became maniiestly
moro and more uneasy, aud was with great
difficulty restrained from rushing into the
room Then there came scene Of noise
aud confusion. Jones reached the pack 4,
and throwing the ropes over his arm, and
still clutching the dagger, stopped to inspect
n slit in the wrapper where Harriet had as.
serted she had seen an eye. At that mo-
ment one of the most fearful and terrible
yels | had ever heard broke from between
the folds Of the wrapper. The pack strug-
gled violently, then rolled over and fell
heavily TO the ground, while a choked
voice begged for mercy; at the same time
a knife was seen eudeayoring to effect an
opening The screams Of the servants, the
hysterical sobs of Janet, and the loud
howliugs aud winnings of the dog, who was
still restrained by Mildred from rushing
frantcaly into tho room, made a din that
never can forget.
remember that Jones alone looked very
composed and upmoved throughout. Be
fore the man in the pack had time to free
himself froni the wrapper, Jones had man