The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-03-02
THE LONG PACK.

ADc
.What Kind Of . story do YOU
want, Harry ?" she asked, Grave
or gas, true or untrue, pleasant or
sad? For my life has been long
and my experiences many" she
added, as she gszed dresmily and
thougtltfully into the fire that blaz-
ed on the hearth before as.
"Oh, something narrowing and
thrilling, fearful and shocking, and
above ali, true-there's dear aan-
~ ~ exclaimed as drew near her
side, and gazed shuddeFingIy
around the large, gloomy room.
A little pause ensued, while aunty
pazed mediiatively into the fire,snd
I watching her face in eager hope
Of the exciting tale that was coming.
was about 10 (Aunt Betsy be-
gan at last) when l was invited to
re ard stay with some relatives in
Sussex, whom / had never seen.
NY life In this old house-where i
was born and had lived all my days
was somewhat m0notonous. i
was lively girl then, and wild
with delight at the prospect OF q
change OF scene, looked anxious
iy fer my parents permission to
accept the invitation
After some deliberGiiop, the de-
sired permission was given {; so ear
lY one morning, accompanied by
father, I set out IN high Spirits for
my destination, arriving there in
the pleasant twilight of an autumn
evening.
Our friends gave Us q cordial re-
ception. Squire and Mrs. Old
ham were staid, good-tempered,
rather elderly people, and their two
daughters-girls of eighteen and
twenty-as merry and wild as L
could desire. Their names were
Mildred and Janet.
The house, standing on its own
grounds, and surrounded by lofty
trees, was old and spacious, with
many long corridors aud passages,
and plenty of rooms of all sizes and
descriptions. I can recall SO well
the great entrance hall. It was of
immense size and gloomy, and from
it assembled a wide staircase which
led to an open gallery above.
During my stay with nay Sussex
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham went
to spend a few days at 9 gentle
mans house o few miles distant
from their own, aud 1t was while
thew were absent that the alarming
occurrence am about to relate to
you took place.
The household consisted of the
butler and four maid servants. The
coachm an, who lived q mile distant,
was now absent with his master and
mistress. 7-he butler was q pomp-
.ou., stately, middleaged man, Civ
en- somewhat to patronizing, though
always respectful in his manners to
ms young folks. He evidently con-
sidersd the safety of the house as
his pecu lar charge, and was very
particular in the extinguishing OF
fire, aud in looking after the fasten-
ing OF doors and windows.
We had heard of one or two rob-
berries being committed in the neigh
borhood but we did not feel ner-
vous, and my cousin placed great
dependence on q huge black dog
which always slept at night in the
hail.
One EVENING" believe it wal
the third after Mr.. and Mrs. Old
hams depsrture--my cousins and
were sitting chatting merrily around
the Gre in large room which open,
ed from the hall. ! think it wal
about z o'clock, when there came q
pull at the front door bell, and af-
ter q short delay, the butler answer
ed it. Presently, hearing . some
what prolonged parley outside, we
Opened our room door and Peeped
'out.
Two men, apparently much ex.
Elausted. sto0d at the lower end o.
the hall, while on the floor at theil
feet lay o large, long package. OPP
poaite to them stood the butler and
one of the maid servants, and &
q, orIny discussion seemed going or
he, Veen them. Mildred, my elder
coma, q, fter q few moments pause
wake I forward and requested al
exnlana ton. One of them, rather {
respectalie locking individual,
Thought. advanced, and making q
low how b cyan to speak:
MADAME. said he, 7" we have
brought this bale Of goods 20 yOnl
house by mist. IKE; We were to take
IL to Mr.. Needh am's," mentioning 9
house about five miles distant, "6nt
have carried II lSere instead. We
are much exhausted. for we have
walked far, the night is tempestu
Gus. and we feel that we can't take
IL no farther. Will you kindly al.
low us to leave il here till morning
Mildred looked at the butler III
,Quiringly before she answered. The
old servant shook his head with q
doubtful and suspicious air, VIII ere
upon the man who had just spoken
observed hastily:
ave do not ask for lodging fol
ourselves, madam, we shall MAKE
our way to the nearest public
hoase. 1t is only the pack we wist
to leave. 1t is very heavy, and WI
will call for it in good time toner
row. We throw ourselves upoI
your compassion"
Let the poor men leave thell
large package, Mildred, said Janet
my younger cousin, ''and have 1
put iato the snte-room until to
morrow" NJ @
Mildred consented, and in disre
gard of the frown and Omiuoui
looks OF the butler, ordered the
pack to be carried into little room
NEAR the entrance.
This was done, and glad and
thankful 1 was to see the door bolt
ed and barred behind the fOrmida
BILE strangers. 1t seemed TO me I
dangerous risk in our thinly PEG
pied household, to admit two stran
gore at that time of the evening
had noticed too, that they glanced
around the hall In q superstition
manner, and especially at the dog
which stood with Ne in the hall anC
had at first begun to bark, but had
been quickly silenced by q low cem
rmand from Mildred. saw tina
the maid servant. who still stood
by, shared my uncomfortable feel
ings, and she assisted very readily
after the departure of the men, il
barring the door and seeing 10 the
safety Of the window fastenIngs. :
Sk.ater in the evening met her oil
! thastirs aud she stopped me.
'ITdon't like the look of the bun
die, miss" she said /; 1T looks to INT
alive, and twice have faucied
saw it move-once when lying OF
the hall floor, and again now, for
have been to look at"