Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-15
THE LONG PACK.

"AunF. tell me story" said, as ]
sat with nay maiden relative in huge
tapestried apartment In rambling, old
fashioned house In the country.
"What kind of story do you want,
Harry2" she asked. Grave or gay,
true or untrue, pleasant or sada For
my life has been long. and nv expert
ences many" she added, as she gazed
-dreamily and thoughtfuIly into the fire
that blazed On the hearth before us.
ooh. something narrowing and thrill
ing, fearful and shocking, and above
all, true-there's dear Auntyl" |
exclaimed as L drew near her side, and
gazed shudderingly around the large,
gloomy room.
A little pause ensued, while aunty
gazed meditatively into the fire, and /
Watching her face in eager hope Of the
exciting tale that was coming.
was about 16 (Aunt Betsey began at
1asD when I was invited to go and stay
with some relatives in Sussex, whom /
had never seen. ~ life IN this old
house-wnere L was born and have
lived eli my days-was somewhat mo-
notonous. was 9 lively girl then, and
wild with delight at the prospect of a
change of scene, I locked anxiously for
my parents permission to accept the in
yitation.
After some deliberation, the desired
permission was given; SO, early one
morning, accompanied by my father,
set out In high spirits for my destina-
7tion, arriving there In the pleasant twi-
light of an autumn evening.
Our friends gave Us a cordial recep-
ton. Squire and Mrs. Oldham were
staid. good tempered, rather elderly
people and their two daughters-girls
of is and 20-as merry and as wild as ]
could possibly 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 we'll the great entrance
hall. It was of immense size and
gloomy, and from 1t assembled wide
staircase which led to an open gallery
above.
During MY stay with my Sussex
friends. Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham went to
spend few days at gentleman
house few miles distant from then
own, and it was while they were absent
that the alarming occurrence I an
about to relate to you took place.
The household consisted of the butler
and four maid servants. The coach
man, who lived IN a cottage on the
grounds about O quarter Of mile dis
tant, was now absent with his master
and mistress. The butler Wis a pom
pous, stately. middle-aged man, give1
somewhat to patronizing, though always
respectful In his manners to us youne
people. He evidently considered thu
safety of the house as his peculiar
charge, and was very particular in th,
extinguishing of fires, and in looking
after the fastenings of the doors anl
windows.
We had heard of one or two robberiel
being committed in the neighborhood
but we did not feei nervous, and ny
cousin placed great dependence on a hug,
black dog which always slept at night il
the hall
One evening-I believe it was The
third after Mr. end Mrs. Oldham's de
parture-my cousins and were sitting
chatting merrily around the fire in {
large room which opened from the hall
7 think It was about Z o'clock, whe1
there came q pull at the front door bell
and, after ehort delay. the butler an
swered it. Presently, hearing some
what prolonged parley outside, WI
opened our room door and peeped out
Two men, apparently much exhaust
ed, stood at the lower end of tie hall,
while On their floor at their feet lay 6
large. long paclage. Opposite to them
stood tue butler and one Of the maid
servants, and stormy discussion
seemed going on between them. Mil.
bred, my elder cousin, after few mo.
sments' pause, walked forward and re.
quested an explanation. One of them,
rather respectable looking individual,