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

| Dob WIN my mulueH relative IN q
huge tapestried apartment in a ram.
bling old fashioned house in the couu.
try.
What kind of story do you want
Harry?' she asked, "grave or gay
ture or untrue, pleasant or sad? For
my life has been long and my ekper.
fences many" she added, as she gazed
dreamily and thoughtfully into the
fire that blazed on the hearth before
us.
ooh, something narrowing and
thrilling, fearful and shocking, aud
above all, true-tbere's dear aunt r'
| exclaimed as drew near her side
and gazed shudderingly around the
large, gloomy room.
A little pause ensued, while auntv
gazed meditatiyely into the fire, and 1
watched her face in eager hope of the
exciting tale that was coming.
WAS about sixteen (Aunt Betsy be-
gan at las) when was invited to 90
and stay with some relatives in Sussex.
whom had never seen. NY life in
this old house-where l was born and
have lived al my days-was some.
what monotonous. l was lively girl
then and, with delight at the prospect
of change of scene, l looked anx.
iously for my parents permission TO
accept the invitation. After some de.
liberation the desired permission was
given; so, early one morning, accom-.
panied by my father, set out in high
spirits for my destination, arriving
there in the pleasant twilight of an
autumn evening. Our friends gave us
a cordial reception. Squire and Mrs.
Oldham were staid, good tempered,
rather elderly people, and their two
daughters-girls of eighteen or twen-
ty-as merry and as wild as | could
desire. Their names were Mildred
and Janet. The house, standing on
it's 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 de.
scriptions. can recall so we'll the
great entrance hall. 1t was of i'm.
mense size and gloomy, and from il
ascended 4 wide staircase which led
to an open gallery aboye. During
my stay with my Sussex friends Mr.,
and Mrs. Oldham went to spend few
days at .gentleman's house a few
miles distant from their own. and Il
was while they were absent that the
alarming occurrence / am about to re-
late to you took place. The house.
hold consisted of the butler and four
maid servants. The coachman, who
lived in a cottage on the grounds
about quarter Of mile distant. was
now absent with his master and mis-.
tress. The butler was a pompous.
stately, middle-aged man, given some.
what to patronizing, though always
respectful in his manners to US young
people. He evidently considered the |
safety of the house as his peculiar
charge, and was very particular in the |
extinguishing Of fires, and in looking
after the fastening of doors and win,
dows. We had heard of one or two
robberies being committed in the
neighborhood; 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 EVENING" believe il was
the third after Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham
departed-my cousins and | were cit
ting chatting merrily around the FIRE
in large room which opened from
the hall. | think it was about seven
0 Clock, when there came a pull at
the front door bell, and, after a short
delay, the butler answered it. Pres.
entity hearing a somewhat prolonged
parley outside, we opened our room
pare pafsaPyf HPf RsSBGe3 cut sIGyg ggtJB sR sR
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 stormy discussion seemed to be
going on between them. Mildred, my
elder cousin, after a few moments
pause, walked forward and requested
an explanation. One of them, rather
a respectable looking individual, /
thought, advanced toward her, and
low bow, began to speak:
Madame" said he, 1--WE have
brought this bale Of goods to your
house my mistake; we were to take il
TO Mrs. Needham's," mentioning
house about FIVE mile distant. "but
have carried it here instead We are
much exhausted, for we have walked
far; the night is tempestuOu Gus, and we
feel that we can take it no farther.
viii you kindly allow us to leave it
here till morning?"
Mildred looked at the butler inquir.
ingly before she answered. The old |