Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-03

directly, or indirectly, though my own
agency, or that of others o attempt to
meddle with, to disturb tk white chest
under the glass case on til roof, or to
seek in any way to disc,vr for what
purpose it has been placed thre, or what
it contains; and I further guarantee
that no person in my employ, nor any
one entering the house during ~ ten
ancy thereof, shall make any sth at
tempt, and | hereby undertake TIT in
the event of their being detected ii do
ing so, to forfeit the sum of one thus
and pounds, and in accordance with his
agreement have, in proper legal fola,
lodged the said sum with bankers {
of Thomas Gayling, Esq, the lessor, as
a guarantee of my good faith
"But for that clause" went on the
agent, as l finished reading it with some
surprise, "we should have no difficulty
in letting the house"
"Pray is the owner out of mind ?" l
asked in minute.
"Not that l am aware of sir; he is a
very pleasant, affable gentleman, Mr..
Gayling is; only, as 1 say, little rum
on some points; nothing will induce
him to strike out that clause, for in
stance. Lor' bless you, sir, parties
never entertain it for a moment when
they come to that part of the business,
they drop it like a hot potato
"Humph !" said l again, "it's queer
certainly, but l don't see why one
shouldn't acquiesce ; it doesn't matter a
rap to me what's inside the chest.
should never want to meddle with or
disturb it, and I'd take very good care
no one else did l would paddock the
trap door on the roof, and that would
settle that. All p | continued, after
walking round the structure and looking
about me bit-''ah see; precautions
have been taken to prevent any access
to this roof from the others on either
side, by this iron chevaux- frise yes,
no one can get over this. Well, it's an
odd freak, but l am not going to be
balked by that; I'll think about it. Mr..
Crumble."
And the result of my thinking was
that l signed the agreement two days
afterward, having conformed to the pc
cullar stipulation regarding the deposit.
| had no fear of losing the thousand
pU~-a, .A----4 - .-a. .,.--s
addition to the rent, and the house was
so exactly what wanted, that it would
even then be cheap to me, with my
large family of motherless children.
Nevertheless, l do not deny that,
after all was signed, sealed and settled
1 was conscious of lurking curiosity
and suspicion regarding that mysterious
erection. What could it be? What
could it contain p | was constantly
saying to myself.
Before l had been in the house a
month, it began to act as a nightmare
on me, an incubus could not shake off.
l was oppressed and depressed by it in
way quite unaccountable. Another
month passed, during which, more than
once. l was tempted to go secretly on to
the roof and look at the thing again
there was no harm in that; that was
not forbidden in the bond, and, l need
hardly say, saw nothing to provoke
any new comment.
About week after my last visit tc
the - Society, and walking home fol-
the sake of fresh air, | found a midsum
mer dawn breaking as / struck into
Park lane. Reaching Oxford street
was startled by observing in the western
sky strong light, not due to the re
fected sunrise. At the moment | saw
it fire engine passed me at full speed
and presently the first signs of the com
motion which confagration causes il
the streets became evident. No mai
undergoes this experience, when he ha
been away from home many hours, ant
sees the red glare rising in the direction
of his own house, without pang Q
anxiety, if not of terror. How well
founded was this sensation in the pres
ent case was made evident ere | ha
walked another 200 yards; yes, merci
full power ! it was nag house that was o
fire
I can scarcely record what followed
l only knew that somehow | found my
self in the midst of the police and fire
men. That | explained to the superb
tendent who I was, and that under h
, escort, | soon ascertained that all I'll
, inmates of my house, my children, the
, governness and the servants were
' safety, and had been taken into neigl
boris at the rear that, as soon as
found this to be the case, I accompal
| led still by the superintendent, mountt
to the top of an adjacent residenc
whence the iremen were directing Il
t hose upon the flames.
i Once on this vantage point, my mil
S reverted to the white chest. Was
still there? Yes; the flames. thous