Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-09-28
MIsCELLAREoUs.
A NIGHT OF HORROR.

& HORTLY after being comfortably settled
~ IN my new house, along with Mrs. Spi.
vIu~, business summoned me to tho rural dis
tricts.
dispatched the affair in hand with what
speed might and knowing that Mrs s
would be on the teuder hooks of suspense uu-
til she saw me, jumped aboard a Convenient
train. and hurried home tn relieve her
1t was right when / again reached 6uIce
"0nl"m There was something so provocative
in the darkness aud utter quitt in which |
found the premises that | determined to give
lovely surprise but Narnre, appealing tn
me on vital point, dropped into tho dining
room with the view Of refreshing myself with
bit of cold joint by way of preliminary.
Striking light, found that my wants
had been anticipated. for there on the table
lay the remains of past-breast of chicken.
cakes, cheese, aud what not. Being sharp
set, pitched in n glass Of old port materially
assisting the process of digestion
All at once my eye caught sight Of nneer.
shaun upon the mantle Now there is moth,
ing very alarming IN meerschaum PER sc. but
when the meerschaum is the property of
stranger. and is found upon ones own premises
during his absence. il becomes invested with
an importance which it could derive from mo
other circumstances. There was also paper
oil Turkish tobacco The fellow has taste,
at all events" said l. and filed and smoked,
drank bumper, aud cogitated.
Now Maria knows an not in the least bit
jealous; knows it had never entered my head
to suspect her of an imprudence but this. 10
say the least oft. had very suspicious look
| drank again. Yet protest was not at all
jealous At that moment started and spraug
81 II
battery. for on the settee in the corner lny an
impudent looking hat and cane. and even a
pair of gloves! Tosmash the hat into smith>
erens. torear the gloves into fragments. to snap
the cane into flinders was the work of a mo-
cent took another bumper, and folding
my arms, glared mnjcsticaliy around. Not
that wss jeslous! Oh, dear. no!
was resuming my seat and pipe, to cogi>
tate over course of procedure, when re-
ceiVed another shock Nv eye had alighted
upon a note which had fallen beneath the ia
BILE. 1t was feminine hand "Dear Charlie!"
1t ran. ''I'm 40 GLAD you've arrived. SAM
mv's away. Don't stand upon ceremony
We'll have such a nice time! Cold lunch
and agreeable. Come over at once"
Ssmmy's my name. "PerGdious woman
1t is thus"
Aud rip went the odiOus missive into
dozen pieces. There was rose, which had,
doubt, been in his buttoDhole, l suppose
I threw that in the Ere, after tramp;ng on it.
fortified myself with another glass. took ,.ff
my stockings aud started m stairs. % the
way I stumbled over strange cat in the
kitchen.
In my ascent suppose must have made
some noise, for strange dog set up furious
yellin the hack area 1, may be as we'll to 90
prepared for contingencies, l reflected as /
re-entered the parlpr with a view to posses
ing myself of the poker. Dark as Il w.s, /
secured the desired nhject and was retreating
when fancied somebody came in on tip.toe.
Holding my breath. I lodged past him. and
crep' MP the stairs life thief. mot that I vas
at all jesl"us, bnt only IN see what was going
on. After pause. during which could
CONT the bestipss of my heart, triad the
hed-ronm door 1t was not locked, and all
was dark within. A gentle snore-not a
rough, exssperating, reckless thing, hut more
of a musical moan came from the he'd.
She is asleep" unused ''the sleep of
the virtunus; and what thought the step of
strangers toes was the tread Of ibst cat
Poor. dear Mariai How conld 50 wrong
you ?" ] disrohed and slipped into bed
Charlie. how long you hsve been !" said
feminine voice.
Gracious goadners 1twasthst of a ssran.
ger. A cold peTspiFation broke out al over