The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-06-28

and seeing to the safety of the window
fastenings.
Later in the evening I met her on the
stairs, and she stopped me.
81 don't like the look of that bundle
at all, miss" she said; ''it looks to me
alive, and twice I have faneied l saw it
aud Egain now, for have been in to look
at it"
smiled, and telling Harrist '' r6t to
be Whfmsical" passGd on, and, rejoining
ny cousins, l told them what Harriet
had said to me, and proposed going to
take look at my mysterious package.
Taxing lamp with US we proceeded
to the little apartment wherein it was
placed. It lay on a wooden settle, which
stood on one side of the room. 1t was
enveloped i'll brown wrapper, was very
long, and thicker at the middle thai at
the tive eEtremitiEs. SOmehow I
hot 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 Harriet. who was
lowering about with a very uneasy and
mysterious expression on her face.
What is the matter, Harriet" asked
Mildred.
Z" Oh, miss, am 80 frightened about
that pack. l cannot rest, and l am sure
that l cannot go to bed while it is in the
h0use."
'' You. are very ridiculous: Harriet"
remarked Janet. " I ath sure the men
were very respectable looking indi-
viduals, only two shOpmen. We have
just been looking at the pack, and it did
not move. though I gave it a good
squeeze. | am sure there is nothing in
it to alarm you"
Harriet locked very pale, end shook
her head warmly.
Ten O'clock canle, and my cousin and
I were thinking of betaking ourselves to
our sleeping apartments, when we heard
a door in the hall violently shut and
locked. Immediately after Harriet rtished
in on us, and sank or The nearest chair
in violent histories. She was speedily
followed by the butler, looking as pOmP-
Gus and still as ever, but with a certain
expression of unquiet on his fat, grave
face.
What is the matter, Jones?" asked
Mildred, starting to her feet. "Tell US
quickly. Do try to be quiet, Harriet -
"Qh, that pack IS alive!' Hhrieked
Harriet.
Hush, Harriet, " said Mildred, calmly;
Z" let Jones tell us. ] heard you lock a
door. 1t was that of the ante-rOOm in
which this unfortunate pack is placed, l
suppose ?"
''It was, miss" replied Jones, senten-
tiously; "and the dog is in the hail. he
added.
go far so good" said Mildred, com
POsedly. And how, pray, do you know
that the pack is alive?"
" You see, miss, p" replied Jones, q ever
since that pack has been lett here Harriet
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 the hall" sobbed Harriet.
q Go on, JONES'" interpreted Janet.
Jones continued.
q So before we went to bed Miss Har-
riet persuaded me to come and take an
other look at the package, you know
l did not approve of it being left, miss, ]"
he added
Never mind that" said Mildred,
"telI us what you have seen"
Well, miss, | thought it great non
sense, but I went. We took hold OF the
bundle and turned it about little, but
could make nothing of it. Presently
Harriet found a small hole in the wrap
per. She pulled the rent rather more
open and looked in. l saw her face
change. She turned and drew me out
of the room, pulled the door to, and
locked it. This is all | know at present,
ladies'" and here Jones bowed to US
politely.
Harriet had become quieter, so Mil
dTed inquired
What did you see, Harriet? ?" The
girl shivered and covered her face with
her hands.
q Come, Harriet, speak" said Mildred,
becoming a little pale.
Yes, tell us, and instantly cried
Janet.
Harriet took her hand from her face
and looked up.
q" 1t was an eye, miss" she said in
horrOr-stricken tones; such an awful
looking eye, and it glared at mel" she
added with a repressed shrek.
We looked at each other in mute con
sternation.
Was it a living one, do you think,
| Harriet" l asked.
Yes, it was all alive, miss, | am sure,
she sObbed. ooh, what shall we do? II
looked so malignant and terrible!"
We looked at each other for a few
minntes, and then Mildred spoke:
''I can scarcely believe that you are
| right, Harriet" she said; " fancy that
| your imagination must have been making
a goose of you"
''Stin, Mildred" l ventured to say
" Harriet may be right, and it would bt
we'll to do something at once. This may
| be plan to rob the house when we are
all in bed"
"And murder US all ," " shrieked Harriet
Janet began to cry, and meanwhile the
butler had left the room.
" Where is Jones" inquired Mildred
suddenly observing his absence. " Le
US 90 and hnd him, and see what is to b.
done"
She passed into the hall and we fol
lowed. Jones was managing in a large
closet, the door of which stood open ht
had a lamp in his hand. The other ser
wants stood by, and we together waited
for him to emerge. He was rather Ion!
time-so Mildred went close to the doc
and whispered:
"What are you doing there, Jones ~
Jones made no reply, but came out
armed with an old rusty looking dagge
and two pieces of strong rope.
''You are not going to Kill him ?" in
quiTed Janet.
Never fear, miss" replied Jones, &
little prick, however, will do no hurt
I must take care of my master
house"
eve will come with you," whispere
Mildred.
every good, miss" he answered
Please bring the dog to the door and kee
him there till want him"
So off went Jones with mis- lamp, hi
dagger and his ropes, we and the servant
following closely with the dog, who seen
ed to possess a strong conciousness {
something being amiss.
Jones opened the door of the IittI