The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-13
THE LONG PACK.

Auntie, tell me a story" | said, as
sat with my maiden relative in huge
tapestried apartment in a rambling,
old-fashioned house in the country,
"What kind of story do you want,
Harry?" she asked. "Grave or gay,
true or untrue, pleasant or sad? For
my life has been long, and my expert
ences many" she added as she gazed
dreamily and thoughtfully into the fire
that blazed on the hearth before us.
60, something narrowing and thrill
ing, fearful and shocking, and, above
all, true-there's dear auntie !" lex
claimed, as / drew closer to her side,
and gazed shudderingly around the
large gloomy room.
A little pause ensued, while auntie
gazed meditatively into the fire, and I
watched her face in eager hope of the
exciting tale that was coming.
was about sixteen (Aunt Betsey be-
gan at lasD, when was invited to go
and stay with some relatives in Sussex,
whom had never seen. My life in
this old house-where [ was born and
have lived al my days-was somewhat
monotonous. was n lievly girl then,
and, wild with delight at the prospect
of a change of scene, looked anxious
ly for my parents permission to accept
the invitation.
After some deliberation, the desired
permission was given SO, early one
morning, accompanied by my father, [
set out in high spirits for my destina-
tion, arriving there in the pleasant
twilight of an autumn evening.
Our friends gave us cordial recep-
ton. Squire and Mrs. Oldham were
staid, good tempered, rather elderly
people, and their two daughters-girls
of eighteen and twenty-as merry and
as wild as could desire. Their names
were Mildred and Janet.
The house, standing on its own
grounds, and surrounded by lofty trees,
was old and spacious, with many long
corridors and passages, and plenty of
rooms OF all sizes and descriptions. /
can recall so well the great entrance
hall. 1t was of immense size and
gloomy, and from it ascended wide
staircase, which led to an open gallery
above. Many merry evenings L had
spent in that old hall.
During my stay with my Sussex
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham went to
spend a few days at a gentleman IS
house a few miles distant from their
own, and it was while they were absent
that the alarming occurrence am about
to relate to you took place.
The household consisted of the but
Ter and four maid-servants. The coach
man, who lived in a cottage on the
grounds about a quarter of a mile dis
tant, was now absent with his master
and mistress. The butler was pomp'
Gus, stately, middle-aged man, given
somewhat to patronizing, though always
respectful in his manners to us young
people /; he evidently considered the
safety of the house as his peculiar
charge, and was very particular in the
extiDguishing of fires and in looking
after the safety of the fastenings Of
doors and windows.
We had heard of one or two robberie'
being committed in the neighborhood
but we did not feel nervous, and my
cousins placed great dependence on 1
huge black dog which always slept a
night in the hall.
One EVENING" believe it was the
third after Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham's de
parture-my cousins and I were sitting
chatting merrily round the fire in |
large room which opened from the hal