The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-04-28
Shall | bring you anything sir p he

said.
| answered No, aud he left me, having
put my candle on my bureau
The hour had come, AS shut the
door heavy sigh escaped me. Alas
that life had become so woful thing to
me that should want to be rid Of it.
In the dim light of my one candle |
paced the floor, and thought bitterly OF
the girl | loved so dearly
1t was iu the days Of curtained beds.
The bed in this room was hung with dark
chintz so were the windows. Over the
bureau was ooking-glass. with the pro-
trait Of lady in puffed sleeves and high
comb at the top by way Of ornament.
There were four stiff chairs, and brass
shovel and tongs stood beside the crate.
| iancied myself lying dead on the bed
amidst all these belongings and felt sor.
ry for myself. Then | took my pistols
from my portmanteau, and leaving the
door unlocked for why ehould put the
landlord to the trouble of breaking it
open2 | lay down upon tho bed, drew
the curtains took pistol in each hand,
and, as true as | speak to you, | had
the muzzlc of each to temple, when
some one opened the door, and-'There
now, Jessie said voice, Il told you
you didn't lock it.
i did, said another voice and sent tho
key to the Office by the chambermaid.
| laid the pistols down and peeped
through the curtains, There were two
ladies in the room. One an old lady in
brown front of false curls u; the other
my cruel lady love, Jessie Gray. For q
moment fanocd | must be dreaming
Sure it's the right number p asked
Jessie.
Twenty. y.one--yes, said the other
And here's my handbook. Oh, dear
I'm sleepy
I'm not, | wish | was, aunt said Jes
sic.
You didn't sleep wink last night,
said the aunt. Nor you haven't eatel
your meals to-day. You'll 60 into de
cline if you 60 on in that way. III SCI
DR.. Black about you tomorrow.
Il don't want DR.. Black to be called,
sighed Jessie. I'd rather die
What's the matter . cried the old la
dy. You are not yourself. You don
eat nor sleep, and you cry perpetually
What ails you?'
I'm miserable, said Jessie
why . asked her aunt
ooh, aunt, said Jessie, it's all you
fault. You told me over and over agai
that a girl must never jump at an offer
that man must be refused at least once
or he'd not value a girl, Aud ! like'
him so and he liked me. And when b
asked me felt so glad Aunt rem
embcred what you said, and l--oh, hoS
could do it | said, oh, dear, no
and he left me without word And l'u
20 sorry because love him aunt
You little goose = cried the old lady
As for me- you fancy how felt. ha
10 thought of suicide now. My desir
was to live and ask that question owe
again pockctcd my pistol and crep
down on the other side Of the bed.
stcppcd toward the bureau and blew GU
the candle, The faint red light Of tn
fire was still in the room, As | dashe
out of the door | heard two femal
screams, but | escaped in safety
met the waiter on the stairs.
Found out the mistake, sir he said
Just coming to rectify it,
Don't mention it, said. l'm yer
gIad--that it, it don't matter. Here
something for your trouble and | gav
him five dollar bill
lie said Thank ye, sir but | saw b
thought me crazy He was confirmed i
his opinion when, as passed to the doc
Of my own room, | cried
Heaven bless twenty one It's luck
number
But | never was saner than | was thei
aud never half so happy.
or course proposed to Jessie the yer
next day, and need not tell you this
her answer was not 'Oh, dear, no An
that's why call twenty-one my luck
number