Richmond weekly palladium., 1875-12-09
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THE LONG PACK.

THE LONG PACK.
"Aunty, tell me a story" said, as
sat with my maiden relative in a hug,
tapestried apartment in rambling old
fashioned house in the country.
s.What kind of a story do you want
Harry?" she asked. "Grave or gay
true or untrue, pleasant or sad? FOl
my life has been long and my expert
ences many" she added, as she gaze(
dreamily and thoughtfully into the fire
that biazed on the hearth before us.
"Oh, something narrowing an(
thrilling, fearful and shocking, ant
above all, true-there's a dear aunty!'
/ exclaimed, as 1 drew near her side
and gazed shudderingly around the
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.
I was about sixteen fAunt Betsy be-
gan at last) when 1 was invited to &c
and stay with some relatives in Sus-
sex, whom had never seen. My life
in this old house-where 1 was bOrI
and have lived all my days-was some
what monotonOus. I was a lively gir
then, and, wild with delight at the
prospect Of a change of scene, I looked
anxiously for my parents permission
To accept the Invitation.
After some deliberation, the desired
permission was given; 50, early one
morning, accompanied by my father,
set out In high spirits for my destina-
tion, arriving there in the pleasant
twilight of an autumn evening.
Our friends gave us a cordial recep-
tion. Squire and Mrs. Oldham were
staid, good-tempered, rather elderly
people, and their two daughters, girls
of I8 and 20, as merry and as wild as
could possibly desire. Their names
were Mildred and Janet.
g 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 well the great entrance
hall. 1t was of immense size and
gloomy, and from it ascended wide
staircase, which led to an open gallery
above. sbp IL t
During nay stay with my Sussex
Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham went to
spend a few days at gentleman s.
house, few miles distant from their
own, and it was while they were alb
sent that the alarming occurrence 1 am
about to relate took place.
3 The household consisted of the but
Ter and four maid servants. The coach
man, who lived in a cottage on the
grounds, about quarter of mile dis
tant, was now absent with his master
and mistress. The butler was a
pompous, stately, middle-aged man,
given somewhat to patronizing, though
always respectful in his manners to uS
young people. He evidently consid-
cred the safety of the house as his pc
culiar charge, and was very particular
in the extinguishing of fires, and in
looking after the fastening of doors
and windows,
We had heard of one or two rob-
berries being committed In the neigh
borhood; but we did not feel nervous,
and my cousin placed great depend
ence on a huge black dog, which always
slept at night in the hall.
One evening" believe it was the
third after Mr.. and Mrs. Oldhams de-
parture-my cousins and / were sit
ting, chatting merrily around the fire,
in a large room which opened from the
hall. / think it was about o'clock
when there came pull at the front
door-bell and, after short delay, the
butler answered it. Presently, hear
ing somewhat prolonged parley out
side, we opened our room door and
peeped out.
Two men, apparently much ex-
stood at the lower end OF the
hall, while on the floor, at their feet,
lay a large, long package. Opposite to
them stood the butler and one OF the
maid servants, and a stormy discussion
seemed going on between them. Mil
dred, my elder cousin, after few mo-
pause, walked forward and re-
quested an explanation. One of them,
rather a respectable looking individual,
/ thought, advanced toward her, and
making a low bow, began to speak:
Madame, said he, Eve have brought
this bale of goods to your house by
we were to take it to MIR.
mentioning house about
five miles distant, but have carried it
here instead. We are much exhausted,
and we feel that we can
take it no farther. Will you kindly al
low US to leave it here till morning?"
Mildred looked at the butler inquir-
ingly before she answered. The old
servant shook his head with doubtful
and suspicious air, whereupon the man
who had just spoken observed hastily:
I'VE do not ask for lodging for our
selves, madam; we shall make our way
to the nearest public house. 1t is only
the pack we wish to leave. 1t Is very
heavy, and we will call for it in good
time tomorrow. We throw ourselves
upon your compassion.
Let the poor men leave their large
package, Mildred" said Janet, my
younger cousin, land have it put into
the ante-room until to- morrow"
Mildred consented, and in disregard
Of the frown and ominous looks of the
butler. ordered the pack to be carried
into a little room near the entrance.
This was done, and glad was to see
the door bolted and barred behind the
strangers. 1t seemed to
me "A dangerous risk, in our thinly-
peOpled household, to admit two
strangers at that time in the evening.
had noticed, too, that they glanced
around the hall in a surreptitious man.
ner, and especially at the dog, which
stood with us in the hall, and had at
quickly silenced by a low command
from Mildred. saw that the maid
servant, who still stood by, shared my
feelings, and she as
sisted, very readily, after the men had
gone, in barring the door and seeing to
the safety of the window fastenings.
Later in the evening 1 met her on
the stairs, and she stopped me.
Il don't like the look OF that bundle
at ALL miss" she said; .'it looks to me
alive, and twice have fancied 1 saw it
when lying on the hall
floor, and again now. for I have been in
TO look at IL.
1 smiled, and telling Harriet mot to
be whimsical" passed on, and, rejoin-
ing my cousins, l told them what Har-
had IN nd
going to take a look at my mysterious
package.
Taking lamp with us we proceeded
to the little apartment wherein it was
placed. 1t lay on wooden settle,
which stood on one side of the room.
1t was enveloped in brown wrapper,
was very long, and thicker at the mid