The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-29

the wall | must come to the window 10
time. "Ah, here it is," L muttered as
felt the cnrtains. but | was mistaken it
was the little bed in the recess. Again
| jonrneycd onward, knocking my shins
against the chairs, but at last 1 ex.
claimed "Here il is these are the cur.
tains." 1t was bow window, and
passed through, to feel for the fastening
of the shutters: wben-how shall I de-.
scribe my sensations | screamed, l
yelled, | scarcely know what l did. II
acas the self acting shower bath / had got
into, and the water camo down in tor.
rent on my devoted head. supposo my
cries we're deadened by the curtains, for
no one appeared to have heard me, and |
emerged dripping from the bath, | drew
of my wet night shirt, and then felt my
way to my portmanteau. and got another.
This took me some time to accomplish,
and l was glad to get into bed again.
Strange to say. it was not long before |
got warm /; glow seemed to come over
me; but sleep was still out Of the ques
ton.
During all this time had never got
over the oppression Of the intense dark
ness. All at once | thought, "Why, what
a fool am! ~ | had forgotten how easy
it was to light the gas | had only to
press on the ivory knob. True, there
might be some difficulty in finding it
but at auy rate would try.
Again felt my way along the wall,
and at length finding tho knob, pushed
it in; but no gas was lighted Instead.
heard terrific noise overhead. it was
the alarm bell. All the neigbborhood
would be aroused. What should | do ?
| did not in the least know how to stoJ
it. must try and find my way to Har-
ry. As for the pipe, | could not be at
all sure which was number one 10 the
dark. In my hurry to fud the door,
had just upset table with variety OF
thing, upon it, when Harry, who had
heard the bell, burst into tho room at the
instant of the crash. and exclaimed
"What on earth is the matter 2"
Nothing" cried. "If | could but
stop this abominable bell was trying
to light the gas, and pushed in the wrong
knob"
There, said Harry, when he felt hi,
way in ; i've stopped it. But mus
now run down stairs TO the telegraphs
| can hear the bells ringing the neigh
bors have heard the alarm, and are
wanting to ask what is the matter :" ant
away went Harry, still leaving me in the
dark. When he bad sent them each {
message stating that the alarm was all ,
mistake, he came back TO ask me how i
happened, and lighted the gas for me.
II could not sleep" said, and want
ed to get a light but, unfortunately,
pressed in the wrong knob and set tn
bell ringing"
"Oh well, never mind, it's all righ
now. But J. must 60 and get into bed
I've got scarcely anything on, and m.
teeth are chattering 50 | can bardl
speak
But. l say, want to explain some
thing to you. I've got into such an aw
ful muddle. wanted to speak TO yon
bu! | got hold Of the wrong tube, anC
called to your sister instead, and She"
"Oh well, never mind I'll make
all right in the morning. can't sta
any longer now"
lie was gone, and / had not been abl
fully to explain. Should / do SO tbroug
, the pipe? No; Iwould not risk that
perhaps l might get hold Of the wron
one again, and only make matters worse
, llay ponderiog for long time what
| should DO l was seized with an arden
desire to get away. I looked at m
watch; it was four o'clock; why
\ would soon be getting daylight. Ifthos
conlounded shutters were but open
1 should be able to see if tho day VIZ
, breaking. Now. had light, surely
e might open them. would try. Ye
!, l could open them but as the gas WI
alight, it prevented the catch from keel
+, ing them open, and, as have said, the
closed with spring; however, as l ael
r them back, could see no signs Of Il
dawn, and at last managed to prep the
e open with two chairs. How could q
o away ?-that was the all important que
I tion-and without Jane seeing me to
l Suppose I were trying to slip out. az
l we're to meet her on the stairs in Il
" dusk, she would probably think I ha
!. improper designs, and before I could e
plain, would rouse the house. Decided
d if I meant to go, must start before Il
:. servants wero stirring. consulted n
y Bradshaw. and found that there was
k early train from the station where 8
out last night. Only last night? Cou
A it be It seemed an age. Yes; Iwou
o make up my mind to go. Iwould lea
It a note for Harry, asking him to excu
| my sudden departure, and begging hi
rs whatever might be alleged against u
% moral character. to suspend his judgme
r until he had heard what l had to say.
| we should ever meet again.
p ] found in my pocket note with
IS blank half sheet this tore of, a
er writing my letter TO Harry in pencil,
lt placed it on the dressing table. and pr
At pared to start l had only a small po
10 msDteau. which ! could easily carry
the station myself. Soon all was read
n cautiously opened the door. and ere
lie nOiseessly down stairs carrying my bo,
= 10 nay hand 10 the hall / sat down a
, put them on. Confouud it the fro
as door was locked, and the key taken avs
~ must Try some Of the back entrsnc
"A was determined to get out of the hol
or If possible, had not been in the kit
en-. but l saw passage which Ihad
H. doubt led in that direction. Cautious
IN / Itraversed it, for tie early daylight '
I'D only dimly struggling in through the Fl
light over the hall door.
no Presently came to pair of fold
N doors covered with crimson baize
r. pushed they did not yield; but peer