Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-21

II silenced by loS command from
Mildred. saw that the maid servant,
who still stood by, shared my uncom-
Portable feelings, and she assisted, very
readily, after the departure of the men,
in barring the door and seeing to the
safety of the window faSteniugs.
Later in the evening met her ON the
stairs and she stopped me.
Il don't like the look of that bundle
at all, miss" she said; at looks to ME
alive, and twice ! have fancied | saw it
moye-once when lying on the hall
floor, and again now, for have been in
to look ut it."
smiled, and telling Harriet mot to
he whimsical passed on, and, rejoining
my cousins, | told them what Harriet
had said to me, and proposed going to
take look ut my mysterious package.
Taking Il lamp with us we proceeded
to the little apartment wherein it was
placed. 1t lay on 4 wooden settle, w!lch
stood on one side of the room. Ii was
enveloped III a brown wrapper, was very
long, and thicker 1T the middle than at
the two extremltleS. Somehow | did
not like the looks of ii; but my fears
were of such vague nature that l did
not like to express them. As We cross
ed the hall on our return to the sitting
room, We encountered Harriet, who was
lowering about with avery uneasy and
mysterious expression of her face.
What is the matter, Harrietg" asked
Mildred.
oh, miss, am 50 frightened about
that pack | cannot rest, and am sure
that | cannot 50 70 bou while it is i'll the
house,
You are very ridiculous, Harriet"
remarked Janet Il am sure the men
were very respectable looking individu-
ais, only two shopmen. We have been
looking at the pack, and it did not move,
though | gave it Il good squeeze. ! am
sure there is nothing i'll it to alarm
you.
Harriet looked very pale, and shook
her head warmly.
Ten o'clock came, and my cousin and
| were thinking of betaking ourselves
to our sleeping apartments, when we
heard door in the hail violently shut
and locked. Immediately after Harriet
rushed in on lis, and sank on the nearest
chair in violent histories. She was
speedily followed 10y the butler, looking
us pompous and still as ever, but with Il
certain expression of unqN;et on his fat,
grave face.
what is the matter, jones'" asked
Mildred, starting to her feet. "Tell us
quickly. Do tell us quickly. Do try
to be quiet, Harriet
"Oh, that pack is alive!' shrieked
Harriet.
"Hush, Harriet" said Mildred, calm
ly; "let Jones tell us. l heard you
lock door. 1t was that of the ante
room III which this unfortunate pack is
placed, | suppose.
1T was, miss" replied Jones, senten-
tously; land the dog is in the hall, he
added.
80 far good" said Mildred composedly.
"And how, pray, do you know that the
pack is aliye?"
you see, miss" replied Jones, "ever
since that pack has been left here Har-
riet has been in distracted state of
mind-frightencd out of her senses, in
fact
81 saw the thing move when il was
laid in the hall, sobbcd Harriet.
Go on, Jones" interposed Janet.
Jones continued.
so before we went to bed Miss Har-
net persuaded me to come and take
another look at the package. You
know did not approve of It's being left,
miss, he added.
"Neyer mind that" said Mildred,
"tell us what you have seen.
"Well, miss, / thought it great nom
sense, but Invent. We took hold of the
bundle and turned it about little, but
could make nothing Of it. Presently
Harriet found small hole in the wrap
per. She pulled the rent rather more
open and looked in, | 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 po-
litely.
Harriet had become quieter, SO Mil
bred inquired:
what did you see, Harriet" The
girl shivered and covered her face with
her hands.
Come, Harriet, speak, said Mildred,
becoming y little pale.
"Yes, tell us, and Instantly" cried
Janet.
Harriet took her hand from her face
and looked up.
at was an eye, miss" she said in
horror-stricken tones; "such an awful
looking eye, and it glared at me-" she
added, with repressed shrek.
We looked at each other in mute cont
sternation.
WAS it living one, do you think,
Harriet" ! asked
Yes, it was all alive, miss, | am
sure" she sobbed. cob, what shall
we do? 1t looked so malignant and
terrlblew
We looked at each other for few
moments, and then Mildred spoke:
81 can scarcely believe that you arc
right, Harriet" she said; 81 fancy that
your imagination must have been max
ing goose Of YOU"
still, Mildred" ] ventured TO say,
Harriet may be right, and il would be
well to do something at once; This
may be plan TO rob the house when
we are ali in bed.