The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-07-06
THE LONG PACK.

|
" Aunty, tell me story" l said, as
sat with my maiden relative in a huge
| tapestried apartment in rambling old
fashioned house in the country.
"What kind of story do you want
Harry ?" she asked. "GraYe or gay
true or untrue, pleasant or sad Fol-
my life has been long and my experiences
many" she added, as she gazed dreamily
and thOughtfully into the fire that
blazed on TIE hearth before us.
"Oh, something narrowing and thrill
ing, fearful and shocking, and above all,
true-there'sa dear aunty !" exclaimed
as l drew near her side, and gazed shud-
deringly around the large, gloomy room.
A little pause ensued, while aunty gazed
meditatively into the fire, and watching
her face in eager hope of the exciting tale
that was coming.
l was about 16 (aunt Betsy began at
last) when was invited to go and stay
with some relatives in Sussex, whom /
had never seen. My life in this old
house, ,---where / was born and have lived
all my days---was somewhat monotOnous.
l was lively girl then, and, wild with
delight at the prospect of a change of
scene, locked anxiously for my parents
permission TO accept the invitation.
After some deliberatioD, the desired
permission was given; so, early one
morning, accompanied by nv father,
set out in high spirits for my destination,
arriving there in the pleasant twilight of
an autumn evening.
Our friends gave us cordial recep>
staid, good-tempered, rather elderly peo-
pie, and their two daughters-girls of Is
and 20-as merry and as wild as l could
possibly desire. Their names were Mil
dred and Janet.
The house, standing on its 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 descriptions. / can recall SO
well the great entrance hall. 1t was of
immense size and gloomy, and from it as
cended a wide staircase which led to an
open gallery above.
During my stay with my Sussex
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham wenI to
spend few days at gentleman's house
a few miles distant from their own, and
it was while they were absent that the
to you took place.
The household consisted of the butler
and four maid servants. The coachman,
who lived in a cottage on the grounds
about a quarter of a mile distant, was
now absent with his master and mistress.
The butler was pompous, stately, mid
die aged man, given somewhat tOpatren-
izing, though always respectful in his
manners to us young people. He evil
IDENTIFY considered the safety of the house
as his peculiar charge, and was very par
ticular in the extinguishing of fires, and
in looking after the fastening of doors
and windows.
We had heard of one or two robberies
being committed in the neighborheod !;
but we did not feel nervous, and my
cousin placed great dependence on huge
black dog which always slept at night in
the hall.
One EVENING" believe it was the third
after Mr.. and Mrs. Oldham's departure
my cousins and 1 were sitting chatting
merrily around the fire in large room
which opened from the hall. l think it
was about seven o'clock, when there
came pull at the front door bell, and,
after short delay, the butler answered
it. Presently, hearing a somewhat pro-
longed parley outside, we opened our
room door and peeped out.
Two men, apparently much exhausted,
stood at the lower end 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
a stormy discussion seemed going on be-
tween them. Mildred. my elder cousin,
after few moments, walked forward and
requested an explanation. One of them,
rather respectable-looking individual,
1 thought, advanced toward her, and
making a low bow, began to speak:
Madame" said he, 1--WE have
brought this bale of goods to your house
by mistake; we were to take it to Mr..
Needham's," mentioning house abou'
five miles distant, "but have carried 1t
here instead. We are much exhauted,
for we have walked far. the night is tenn
pestuous, and we feel that we can take it
no farther. Will you kindly allow us to
leave it here till morning."
Mildred looked at the butler inquir-
ingly before she answered. The old ser
want shook his head with doubtful and
suspicious air, whereupon the man
who had Just spoken observed hastily.
eve do not ask for a lodging for our
selves, madam, we. shsll make our way
to the nearst public house. 1t is only
the pack we wish to leave. 1t is very
heavy, and we will call for it in good
time tomorrow. We throw ourselves
upon your compassion"
'Ilet the poor men leave their large
package, Mildred" said Janet. my youn-
ger cousin, ''and have it put into the
ante-room until tomorrow"
Mildred consented, and in disregard of
the frown and ominous looks of the but
Ter, 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 bOlted and barred
behind the formidable strangers. 1t
seemed to me dangerous risk, in our
thinIy peOpled household. to admit two
strangers at that time of the evening. |
had noticed, too, that they glanced around
the hall in a surreptitious manner, and
especially at the dog, which stood with
us in the hall. and had at first begun to
to bark, but had been quickly silenced
by a low command from Mildred. / saw
that the maid servant, who still stood by
shared my uncem 'ortable feelings, and
she assisted, very readily, after the de-
parture of the men, in barring the door
and seeing to the safety of the window
fastenings.
Later in the evening met her on the
stairs, and she stopped me.
"I don't like the look of that bundle
at all, miss" she said; ait looks to me
alive, and twice have fancied 1 saw it
move-once when lying on the hall floor
and again now, for have been in to look
at it."
smiled, and telling Harriet " Bot to
be whimsical" passed on, and, rejoining
my cousins, l told them what Harriet
had said to me, and proposed going to
take look at my mysterious package.
Taking lamp with us we proceeded
to the little apartment wherein it was
placed, It Law ON a wooden settle, which