Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-15
/ thought, advanced toward her, and


servant shook his head with doubtful
and suspicious air, whereupon the man
who had just spoken observed hastily:
eve do not ask for lodging for our
selves, madam, we shall make our way
to the nearest public house. It is only
the pack we wish to leave. It is very
heavy, and we will call for it in good
time to morrow. We throw ourselves
upon your compassion"
'Let the poor men leave their pack
age, Mildred" said Janet, my younger
cousin, 'and have it put into the ante
room until tomorrow.
Mildred consented, and in disregard
of the frown and ominous look of the
butler, ordered the pack to be carried
into little room near the entrance.
This was done, and glad and thank.
full I was to see the door bolted and
barred behind the formidable strangers.
Il seemed to me dangerous risk, in
our thinly peopled household, to admit
two strangers at that time of the even
ing. I had noticed, too, that they
glanced around the hall in a surrepti
tious manner, and especially at 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. I saw that the maid
servant, who still stood by, shared my
uncomfortable feelings, and she assisted
very readily, after the departure of the
men, in barring the door and seeing to
the safety of the window fastenings.
Later in the evening | met her on the
stairs, and she stopped me.
st don't like the look of that bundle
at all, MISS" she said; sit looks to me
alive, and twice have fancied I saw it
move-once when lying on the hall
floor, and again now, for I have been in
to look at it."
I smiled, and telling Harriet "not to
be whimsical passed on, and, rejoin-
ing my cousins, I TOLD them what Har-
riet had said to me, and proposed going
to look at my mysterious package,
Taking lamp with us we proceeded
to the little apartment wherein it was
placed. It lay on wooden settle,
which stood on one side of the room. It
was enSeloped in q brown wrapper, was
very long, and thicker at the middle
than at the two extremities. Somehow
I did not like the looks of it; but my
fears were Of such vague nature that
I did not ike to express them. As We
crossed the hall on our return to the
sitting room, we encountered Harriet,
who was lowering about with a very un
easy and mysterious expression on her
face.
"What is the matter, Harriet 2"
asked Mildred.
ooh, miss, I am so frightened about
that pack. I cannot rest. and am sure
that I cannot go to bed while it is in
the house. /"
s'You are very ridiculous, Harriet, !"
Janet. Il am sure the men
were very respectable looking individu-
ais. only two shopmen. We have just
been looking at the pack, and it did
not move, though I gave it a good
squeeze. I am sure there is nothing in
it to alarm you
Harriet looked very pale, and shook
her head warmly.
Ten o'clock came, and my cousin and
/ were thinking of betak1ng ourselves
to our sleeping apartments, when we
heard door in the hall violently shut
and locked. Immediately after Harriet
rushed in on us, and sank on the near
est chair in violent by sterics. She was
speedily followed by the butler, looking
as pompous and still as ever, but with q
certain expression of unquiet in his fat,
grave face.
ssWhat is the matter, Jones" asked
Mildred, starting to her feet. "Tell us
quickly. Do tty to be quiet, Harriet. :"
ssOh tbss pack is alive - shrieked
Harriet. :
s'Hush, Harriet" said Mildred calm
lock door. It was that Of the ante
room in which the unfortunate pack is
placed, suppose 2"
sit was, MISS" replied Jones, sem
tentiously; ''and the dog is in the hall, :"
he added.
$50 far good" said Mildred, COM
posedly. .'And how, pray, do you
know that the pack is alive?"
'sYou see, MISS" replied Jones,
lever since that pack has been left
here Harriet has been in distracted
state of mind frightened out Of her
senses, In fact. , t
saw the thing move when 1t was
laid in the hal sobbed Harriet
eco on, Jones" interposed Janet.
Jones continued.
$50 before we went to bed Miss Har-
riet persuaded me to come and take
another look at the package. You know
I did not approve of its being left,
MISS" he added. =
"Never mind that" said Mildred,
''teli us what you have seem
''Well, miss, I thought i great non
sense, but / went. We took hold of
the bundle and turned it about little,
but could made nothing of it. Pres
emily Harriet found small hole in the
wrapper. She pulled the rent rather
more open and looked in. I saw her
face change. She turned and drew me
out of the room, pulled the door to,
and locked it. ThiB is all I know at
present, ladies, . and here Jones bowed
to us politely.
Harriet had become quieter, SO Nil,