St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-05-19

tlous manner, and especially at the dog.
which stood with us i'll the hall. and
began to bark, but had been quickly
Silenced by low command from Mil
dred. ! SAW that the maid servant who
still stood by, shared my uncomfortable
feelings, and she assisted very readily,
after the departure of the men, in bar
ring the door and seeing to the safety
of the window fastenings. Later in
the evening met her on the stairs and
she stopped me.
Il don't fancy the looks of that bun
die at all, miss" she said lit looks to
me alive, and twice have fanccd saw
it move when lying on the floor
and again now, for | have been in to
look at it,"
smiled, and, telling Harriet not to
he whimsical, passed ON, and, joining
my cousins, | told them what Harriet
had said to me. and proposed to go and
take look at the mysterious package
Taking Il lamp with us, we proceeded
to the apartment where it was placed
Ii lay on il wooden settle, which stood
on one side of the room. 1t was very
long, and thicker at the middle than at
the two eXtremities. Somehow | did
not like the looks of it; but nv fears
were OF such vague nature that did
not like to mention them. As we cross
cd the hall on our return from the sit
tlng-r"om. We met Harriet. who was
lowering about with Il very uneasy and
mysterious expression on her face.
Wv hat Is the matter. Harriet p ask
ed Mildred
"Oh, Miss. am so frightened about
this pack. cannot rest, and | am sure
that | cannot go To bed while it is in
| the house"
"l"u are very ridiculous. Harriet =
remarked Janet. Il am sure the men
were very respectable looking individ-
uals. only tw" shop men. We have
Just been looking ut the pack. and it
did not move, though gave it good
! squeeze. | am sure there is nothing in
il to alarm you."
Harriet looked very pale. and shook
her head warmly. Ten o'clock came.
and my cousin and We're thinking of
hctaklng ouISelvcSt To our sleeping apart
m"nt>. when We heard IL door open in
/ the hall, violently shut and locked I'm
mcdiatclN after Harriet rushed in upon
us. and sank on the nearest chair in vi
client Mysteries. She waS speedily fol-
/ lowed 10y the butler. looking aS pomp-
GUS and still as evcI. hut with certain
expression of unquict on his fat, grave
face.
"What is the matter. Jones ?" asked
Mildred. starting To her feet. tell me
quickly. ID" try to bc quiet. Harriet. =
"Oh, that pack is alive Shrickcd
Harriet.
"IIu>h. Harriet" said Mildred. calm
/ lN: let Jones tell us. heard you
lock the door. 1t WAS that of the ante
room III which this unfortunate pack is
| placed. | suppose ,"
1T Was. miss" replied Jones. sentrn-
ri"m>ll. land the dog i in the hail." ht.
added.
-" far :" good" said Mildred COM
p">cdlN. And how, pray. do You know
that the pack iS alive ,"
lyon see miss, replied Jones. ''evcr
since that pack has hcrn left here IIar-
rirt has been in Il distracted state "t
mind frightened ont of her SENSES, in
fact"
Il SAW the thing move when il Was
in the hall" >"hhrd Harriet
''G'" on. Jones. mterpo>cd Janet.
Jones continued
. I
persuaded me to come and take anoth-
cr look at the package. I"u know |
did not approve "f its being left. miss. =
hc added.
"Nrvcr mind that. tell u> what you
have seen" said Mildred
"Well. miss. thought it great non
sense. but went. We took hold of the
bundle and turned it about Il little. but
| Il /,
Harriet found Il small hole in the wrap
per. She pulled the rent open and
looked in. | SAW her face change She
turned and drew me ont of the room.
pulled the door lo and locked it. Tins
i> all | know at present. ladies'" and
here Jones bowed t" Us politely. Han
rict had hccnmr qmirtcr. 81 Mildred in
quircd:
" What did YOU >rr Harriet ?"
The girl >IiNcrcd and covered her
face with her hands.
Come Harriet. speak" said Mildred.
tuning little pale.
''lc>. tell us. and instantlyr' cried
Janet.
Harriet took hci hands from her face
and looked up.
''lt WAS IN eye. miss" she said III
hnIror-StriCken tones, 'such an awful
looking eye, and it glared at me-" she
added with Il depressed shrek.
We looked at each other in mute con
Stcrnation.
WAS it Il living one do you think
Harriet ~ asked.
'.lrs, it was alive. miss. | am sure
she answered. "Oh what shall we do !
1t looked 81 malignant and terrible y
We looked at each other for few
moments and then Mildred spoke:
Il can scarcely believe that You aIe
right. Harriet" she said | fancy that
your Imagination must have been max
ing IL goose of YOU
.Still. Mildrrd." | ventnred to say
Harriet may he right. and it would be
well to do something at once. This NAV
he il plan To rob the house when all are
in bed"
And murder us ALL" shricked Har-
riet.
Janet began to cry and meanwhile
the butler left the room.
"Nhere is Jones ?" inquired Mildred
suddenly observing his absence LET
lis go and find him. and see what is ia
be done"
: She passed into the hall. and we fol.
! lowed. Jones was rummaging in a
large closet, the door of which stood
open; he had Il lamp in his hand. The
other servants stood by. and we to-
gether waited for him to emerge. II,
WAS rather long time, so Mildred went
: close to the door and whispered
Nv hat are you doing there, Jones y
Jones made no reply, but came out
armed with an old rusty looking dag