Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-03-16

I sst With NJ nai5 - : -
itapestried apaxtqeat Il = u "a.
fasbioned kouse Il a. c. 7.
H.What hid q : 1uexy = wart
Harryr" So nskedv - ssy,
true or untruA plee1lnt m ~
nv Ne has beoa 1oae = esperi.
ences nany." shs adde1, = Gnsed
dresaily and tboeebtf6z aSe ar1
/; that bI6oea On 4he k6nr(l -,
~0A soee4hisg 1870 - Inn.
liees isarfsl a.1 skoe ekess
a sszs L. -
gased shoadefine asoood o. -
g1so0s seOoo. ~ s.sSs-. s..-s,~ 4 4 ! !
| A little pause enspad. While aunGy
gased ipeditatively into the Are, and
watched her face iu eager hope " the
exciting tale that vas coming. i
i was about sixteen (Asnt Betsey be.
gan at Lst) when was invited 70 70
and stay With some relatives in SUSSEX,
whom had never seen. Ny life in this
old house I was born and have
lived al my dAys-was somewhat mo-
notonous. l was . lively girlthen, and,
wild with delight nt the prospect Of a
change Of scene, I looked anxiously for
my parents permission TO sccept the
invitation. After some deliberatiou the
desired permission was given; %, early
one morning, accompanied by nv faith
er, I set out in high spirits for my des.
tination, arriving there in the pleasant
: a.. 4e
friends gave us q cordial rsception.-
/ Squire aud Mrs. Oldham were staid,
ood.tempered, rather elderly people.
aud their two daugbters-girls Of eigh-
teen or twenty-as merry and as Wild
as could possibly desire. Theirnames
were Mildred and Janet. The house,
standing on its own grounds, and sur
rounded by lofty trees, was old aud
spacious With many long corridors and
passages. and plenty Of rooms Of all
sizes and descriptions. / can recall 50
well the great entrance hall. 1t was of
immense size and gloomy, and from It
ascended q wide staircase which led to
an open gallery above. During my stay
with my SUSSEX friends, Mr.. and Mrs.
Oldham went to spend few DAYS at q
gentleman's house few miles distant
from their own, and it was while they
were absent that the alarming occur.
renee am about to relate to you took
place.
The household consisted Of the but.
Ter aud four maid servants. Thecoach.
man, who lived in q cottsge on the
grounds about quarter Of q mile dis.
tant, was now absent with his master
and mistress. The butler was . pom.
pous, stately, niddle-aged man, given
somewhat to patroniziug. though al
ways respectful in his manners to Us
young yeorle. He evidently considered
the safety Of the house ss his peculiar
| charge. and was very particular in the
extinguishing Of fires, and in looking
after the fastening Of the doors and
windows. We had heard Of one or two
r"l.beries being committed in the neigh
borhood; but we did not feel nervous. and
my cousin PLACED great dependence on
a huge black dog which always slept at
night in the hall. One eveuing--I be-
lieve it was the third after Mr.. and
Mrs. Oldham departed-my cousins and
l were sitting chatting merrily around
the fire in large room which opened
from the hall. think il was about 2
O'Clock, when there came d pull at the
front door bell, and, after short de.
lay, the butler answered il. Presently
hearing somewhat prolonged pariey
outside, We opened our room do"r aud
peeped out. Two men, apparently much
exhausted, stood ut the lower eud of
the hall, while on the floor at their feet
lay large, long package. Opposite to
them stood the butler and one Of the
maid servants, and q stormy discussion
seemed going on between them. Mil
dred. my elder cousin. after . few mo-
ments' pause, walked forward and re.
| quested an explanation. One Of tbeu,,
rather a respectable hooking individual,
thought, advanced toward her, and
making lo~ bow. began to speak:
Madame" said be, I'VE have brought
this bale Of goods to your house BY mis-.
take; we were to take it 60 Mrs. Need
hams" mentioning house about five
miles distant, ''but have carried it here
instead. We are much exhausted, for
We have walked far; tbe night is TEN.
| pestuous, and we feel that We can take
It no farther. Will you kindly allow Us
to leave il here till morning /"
Mildred looked at the butler inquir.
ingly before she answered. The old
servant shook his head With doubtful
and suspicious air, whereupou the man
who had Just spoken observed hastily
ave do not ask for . lodging forour.
selves, madame, We shall make our way
to the nearest public house. II 10 ouly
the pack we wish 10 leave. Il 10 very
heavy, and We will call for it in good
time tomorrow. We throw ourselves
upon your compassion"
"Iet the poor men leave their large
/ package, Mildred" said Janet, nv
younger cousin, ''aod have Il put in ths
ante room until to-DogrOw."
Mildred consented, and in disreesrd
Of the frowu and oasiseos look Of tb<
butler, ordesed the psek 20 lie carried
IN little rom near The entrasce. Tbi,
was done, .Sd glad and thsmksul I "a,
70 see the door bolsea and basred BE-.
Hind ~ fsr~n = hle a r.auu~,~~ tvs>j