The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-03-29

package, Mildred" said Janet mv
younger cousin, "and have it put in
the ante-room until Tomorrow
Mildred consented, and in disregard
OF the frown and ominous looks Of tn.
butler, ordered the pack to be carried
to little room near the entrance.
This was done, and glad and thankful
L was to see the door bolted and bar.
red behind the formidable STRANGERS
1t seemed to me dangerous risk. in
our thinly peopled household, to admit
two strangers at that time of the eve,
ming. | had noticed. too, that they
glanced around the hall in a surrepti.
tlous manner, and especially at the
dog, which stood with us in the hall.
and at first began to bark, but had
been quickly silenced by low com.
mand from Mildred. saw that the
maid servant, who still stood by.
shared my uncomfortable feelings. and
she assisted, very readily, after the de.
parture of the men, in barring the
door and seeing to the safety of the
window fastenings. Later in the eve.
ming | met her on the stairs and she
stopped me.
Il don't like the looks of that bun.
die at all, Miss" she said at looks
to me alive, and twice | have fancied
| saw It move-once when lying on
the hall floor, and again now, for I
have been in to look at it."
smiled, and telling Sarah "uot
to be whimsical" passed On, and re-
Joining my cousins, told them what
Sarah had said to me, and proposed
to 60 and take look at the myster.
ious package. Taking a lamp with
us, we proceeded to the little apart.
ment where it was placed. 1t Law on
a wooden settee, which stood on one
side of the room. 1t was enveloped
In brown wrapper, was very long,
and thicker at the middle than at the
two extremities. Somehow | did not
like the looks Of it, but my fears
were of such vague nature that
did not like to express them. As we
crossed the hall on our return to the
sitting-room we encountered Sarah,
who was lowering about with a very
uneasy and mysterious expression on
her face.
"What is the matter, Sarah ?" ask
ed Mildred.
ooh, Miss, l am SO frightened about
that pack. l cannot rest, and I ala
sure that l cannot go to bed while it
is in the house."
"You are very ridiculous, Sarah"
remarked Janet. 81 am sure the men
were very respectable looking individ. |
uals, only two shopmen. We have |
just been looking at the pack, and it |
did not move, though | gave it good |
squeeze. ] am sure there is nothing
in it to alarm you"
Sarah looked very pale, and shook |
her head warningly. Ten o'clock |
came,and my cousins and were think.
ing of bstaking ourselves to our sleep
ing apartments, when we heard a
door in the hall violently shut and
locked. Immediately after Sarah
rushed in on us, on the nearest chair
in violent Mysteries. She was speedily
followed by the butler looking as pom. |
pous and still as ever, but with a Ger.
tain expression of unquiet on bis fat,
grave face.
"What is the matter, Jones ?" asked
starting to her feet, "tell us
quickly. Do try to be quiet, Sarah"
"Oh that pack is slive?" shrieked
Miss Sarah.
"Hush Sarah" said Mildred, calm.
ly; "let Jones tell us. 1 heard you
lock the door. 1t was that OF the
ante room in which this unfortunate
pack is placed, suppose p
1T lYyaSS, Miss" Is Tspljigsd Zig /. 1dpPasSnaf,"
he added.
$50 far so good" said Mildred, com
posedly. "And how, pray, do you
know that the pack is alive?"
"You see, miss" replied Jones. "ev-
er since that pack has been left Sarah
has been in a distracted state of mind
frightened out Of her senses, in
fact"
81 saw the thing move when it was
laid in that hall" sobbed Sarah.
go on, Jones" interposed Janet.
Jones continued:
$50 before we went to bed Miss
Sarah persuaded me so come and take
another look at the package. You
know l did not approve Of its being
left miss" he added.
"Never mind that" said Mildred
"tell us what you have seem"
"Well, miss, l thought it great nom
sense, but / went. We took hold of
the bundle and turned it about a lit
tie, but could make nothing of it.
Presently Sarah found a small hole in