Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-10-24
farther. Will you kindly allow us to leave

| farthor. VIII you kindly allow us 10 leave
it here till morning?"
Mildred looked at the butler inqu ringly
before she answered. The old servant
shook his head with doubtful and suspi-
cious air, whereupon the man who bad just
spoken observed hastily:
1--WE do not seek for lodging for our
selves, madam we shall make our way to
pack that we wish 10 leave. 1t is very
heavy, and we will call for II in good time
tomorrow. We throw ourselves upon
your compassion
"Let the poor men leave their large pack
age, Mildred" said Janet, my younger
cousin, land have II put into the ante room
until tomorrow"
Mildred assented, and, in disregard of
the irowns ar d ominous looks of the but
Ter, ordered the pack to be carried into lit
lie room near the entrance.
This was done; and glad and thank full
was TO see the door bolted and barred be-
hind the formidable strangers. 1t seemed
to me dangerous risk, in our thinly pee
pied household, TO admit two strangers at
that tim o OF the evening. ] had noticed,
TOO, that they glanced about the hall in a
surreptitious manner, and especially eyed
the dog, which stood with us in the hall,
and had at first begun to bark, but had
been quickly silenced by low command
from Mildred. 1 saw that the maid-ser-
want, who still stood by, shared my uncom-
Portable feelings, and she assisted very
readily, after the departure of the men, in
barring the door, and seeing to the safety
OF the window -tastenings.
Later in the evening met her on the
stairs, and she stopped me.
81 do not like the look OF that bundle at
all, Miss" she said "it looks to me alive,
and twice l have fanced saw it move
once when it was lying on the floor, and
again now, for have been in TO look at
it,"
smiled, and telling Harriet mot TO be
whimsical" passed on, and rejoining my
cousins, told them what Harriet had said
TO me, and proposed going to take look at
the mysterious package.
Taking lamp with us, we proceeded to
the little apartment wherein 1t was placed.
1t lay ON wooden settle which stood on
one side of the room. 1t was enveloped in
Q. brown wrapper, was very long, and
fhicker at the middle than sK1he two ex-
tromities Somehow I diYnot like the
looks dsft at al)1 but my lyars were of such
vague nat@e hhat 19d not like 10 ex-
press them/ Ks we crYse d ike hall on our
ey(rn to De sittlhsEeom 5ee encoY Yafer9l
dffrriet who yss %overits>abok with a
vdy-6ncasyand Mysterious expression on
her face.
,,,,T,ss r%hs' is 'n(m@f'r' Harriet ?" asked
80! Miss, am so frightened about that
pack l cannot rest, and am sure that l
cannot 60 10 bed while il is in the house."
"You are very ridiculous, Harriet" re-
piled Janet. 81 am sure the men were
very respectable looking individuals, only
two shopmen. We have just been looking
at the pack, and it did not move, though I
gave it good squeeze. l am sure there is
nothing in it to alarm you.''
Harriet looked very pale, and shook her
head very warningly.
Ten o'clock came, and my cousins and l
were thinking of hetaking ourselves to our
sleeping apartments, when we heard door
in the hall violently shut and locked. I'M
mediately afterwards Harriet rushed in
upon us and sank on the nearest chair in
violent Mysteries. She was speedily fol-
lowed by the butler, looking pompous and
still as ever, but with a certain expression
of unquiet on his fat, grave face.
"What is the matter, Jones ?" asked Nil
dred starting TO her feet. "Tell us quick
II. Do try 10 be quiet, Harriet"
40, the pack is alivew shrieked Harriet.
"Hush, Harriet" said Mildred calmly
''let Jones tell us. 1 heard you lock a
door. 1t was that of the ante-room in
which this unfortunate pack is placed, sup
poser"
at was, Miss" replied Jones, senten-
tiously; "and the dog is in the hail." he
added.
$50 far good" said Mildred, composedy.
"And how, pray, do you know the pack is
alive?"
"You see, Miss" replied Jones, Sever
since that pack has been left here, Harriet
has been in distracted state of mind
frightened out Of her senses, in fact"
81 saw the thing move when it was laid
| in the hall - sobbed Harriet.
go on, JONES'" interposed Janet.
Jones continued:
$50 before we went to bed, Miss, Harri-
ct 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.
mind hot ~ caiI Mil1ral ttan
us what you have seen.
"Well, Miss, thought it great nonsense,
| but went. We took hold of the bundle,
and turned it about little, but could make
nothing of it. Presently Harriet found O
small hole in the wrapper. She pulled the
rent rather more open, 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 1 know at pres
ent, ladies'" and here Jones bowed to us
politely.
Harriet had now become quietor, so Mil
dred inquired
"What did you see, Harriet" The girl
shivered and covered her face with hei
hands.
"Come, Harriet, speak," said Mildred
becoming little pale.
"Yes, tell us, and instantly - cried ia.
net.
Harriet 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 mev' she added, with
a repressed shrek.
We looked at each other in mute conster-
nation.
"Was 1t living one, do you think, Har
| riet?" / asked,