Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-03-09
MIScELLANEoUS.
A NIGHT OF HORROR.

- N1Ghl OI oOhROhS
&HoRTLY after being comfortably settled
81 in my new house. sinng with Mrs Spiv
ins, business summoned me TO the rural dis.
tricts.
dispatched the affair in hand with what
speed might. and knowing that Mrs. S.
would be on the tender hooks of suspense
Until she saw me, jumped on board CON.
venient tEaiu, aud hurried home to relieve
her.
1t was night when again reached dulce
dOn'NnI. There was something so provocative
in the darkness and utter quiet in which |
found the premises wrapped that determined
to give lovey surprise but Nature appearing
to me on vivid point, dropped into the
dining room wish vie@ "f refreshing myself
! with bit of cold Joint by the way of preliu,-
mary.
Striking light, fnupd that my wants had
been. anticipated, for there en- the table lav
tho remains of a repast-bre of chickens,
cakes, cheese. and what not Being sharp
set. pitched in. glass of old port materially
assisting the process of digestion.
All ut once | caught sight of a meer-
schaum upon the mantel. Enw there is
nothing very alarming in mecrschaum per
SC, bnt when the meerschaum belongs to
stranger aud is found upon ones own premises
during his absence, it becomes invested with
an importance which it cnnld-drrive from NJ
other circumstance. There was also n papcr
! of Turkish t"hacco. '-The fellow has taste Mt
! all events" said l. and filed and smok ed
drank bumper, and cnritated
Now Maria knows that | um unt the least
bit jealous; knows that it Eever entered nv
| hend to suspect Eer Of nnv imprndPncc, hnt
this TO say the least "f it had very suspicion
look. I drank again. Yet l protest wa
not at all jealous. a that m mcnt started
! aud spr"ng-from my seat at the touch Of an
| electric battery. for On the scrtee in the corner
lay an impudent looking hat aud cane, and
even pair of gloves! To smash the hat into
smi,hereens to tear the gloves into fragments
to snap the cane into flinders was the work
at n moment. took another bumper, and
folding my arms c!ared majpstirAIly around
Nor that l vas jealous! Oh, dear no!
| was resuning my scat and pipe. to cogi-
| tate over course of prncrdure. when I re
c'ived another shock My eve had aliphted
on note which had fallen beneath the
table It in feminine hand Dear
Chsrls!" it ran 'I'm so GLAD you've ar
rived. Srmmy's away Don't stand uron
ceremony. Well have such nice time -
Cold lunch and all agreeable. Como over at
once"
sSmn'y's my name. Perfdious woman
| Il is thus
And rip went the odiots missive into a
dozen pieces. There was rose which had
no doubt. had been in his buttonhole.
suppose! threw that in the fre, after
tramping on it. Tfortifed myself with an
other glass. took of my stockings and started
up stairs. Un the way l stumbled over
strange cat in tho kitchen.
In my ascent | suppose made some noise
for strange dog ser up O furious yell in the
back area Ii NAV he as well to 90 prepared
for contingencies, reflected, as rc.cnfercd
the parlor with view to possessing myself
| with the poker. Dark as il was, secured
the desired inject. and was retreatiDe when
fancied somebody came in on tttoe Hold
in" my breath, dodg~d past him and crcrt
up stairs like thief, not that | was at all
jealous, but only 10 see wIrt was going on
Alter pause. during which cnuId count
the beatinys oF my heart I tried the bedroom
door 1t was not locked. and all was dark
within. A gentle snore-not rough, exas>
rerating. reckless thing. but more OF musical
moan, came from the bed
She's asleep unused l "the sleep of the
virtu"us; and what | thought the step of a
strangers toes was the tread of hat cat
Poor. dear Maria how could 80 wrong
you? 2 disrohed and slipped into hid
Charlie. how long you have been !" said
feminine voice.
Gracious goodness it was that of a stran>
ger. a c"ld rerspirati"n broke ont all over
me as I reflected upon the horrors of my situa
ti"n. The house had purchased was nne
ot pair which had been bniIt exactly alike,
ard sleepy, direct from the cars. must have
entered my neighbours mansion instead of my
own!
/ bounced ont upon the floor.
Excuse me. my dear" l whispered al
think I lcsr burglars"
"what. agaipy 1 think you must be
mistaken"
I'll go aud see." said and budding on
something, grcped my way to the Stairs.
descending them, with cold feeling all the
way down my back, aud crept into the base.
inert There I made another appalling dis
covery The clothes had rut on we're some
body else's and not nv ownl
Safe on the siIewalk, I glanced M At the
house from which had just escaped. thinking
how should manage to return the borrowed
| toggery.
Aud 1T was my house, after all
Resolved on explanation. I rang the bell
boldly. heard the tip. tippety. tip of we'll
known feet and was at once in the arms of
Mts. Spivius
f'why don't you remember Sammy, /" she
said in rsply 10 ths inte.razstories. ~ toId