Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-11

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my new serial so much, and my cousin,
Theodore Teft, and old Mrs. Rapidan,
and Seringa Pole. Yes, yes, remember
them now"
And Miss Clackett trotted up stairs to
put on her black silk dress and gold mo-
sale set, to do honor to the guests she
had completely forgotten.
In the middle of her toilet, however,
literary IDEA occurred to her, and sit
ting down to commit it to paper, she lost
all count of time, until the hum of voices
below warned her that her guests had at
last arrived. She then jumped up hasti-
ly, wiped her pen and flung the foolscap
sheets this way and that.
| 81 must make haste" she said.
Hurrying down stairs. she bethought
her of certain little garnet clasp which
| she liked to wear, sewed on velvet rib
bon, across the parting Of the snutf-col-
Ored front on her forehead. And sJucez-
| Ing herself into one of the odd little octa-
gon closets between the parlor and the
dining-room, she unluckily contrivcd to
lock herself in by some patent arrange
ment as complete as it was terrible.
"That self-lockings Hatch l had put on
last week." said Miss Clackett to her
self. ooh, dear! oh, dear! Here 1 am
just exactly like the bride in the Mis-
tletoe Bough' song
| She WAS about TO call to Dorothea to
| llberate her. when the sound OF her own
name. pronounced in the mild accents of
Mr.. Mole, the clergyman, arrested the
words upon her lips
"Where is our dear Miss Clackett?" de-
manded that honey-volced divine.
"She must have fallen into tit of alp
straction up stairs" said the eldest Miss
Walker.
Tea is quite ready said Dorothea.
II have rung the bell twice. Perhaps
had better go up stairs and see what has
become OF her."
'Do, my DEAR" said old Mrs. Rapidan,
who spoke in slow, comfortable way,
''for I'm quite perishing for my tea"
Away tripped Dorothea, and present.
ly she came back with something of a
scared face.
II can't find her anywhere said she.
II have CALLED and called-and I have
looked IN every room, and she isn't
thcre!"
Depend upon if, 'saio Mr.. Folkstone,
shifting the table with his hand, "she's
been and gone and done it at last"
"DoDe what9" SAID mild Mr. Mole.
"Committed suicide" said Mr.. Folk
stone. She always was three-quarters
madr'
"Nonsense" said Mrs. Rapidan, with
Il spice otsquiet malice in her voice. ''It
was nothing on earth but temper.
"I've always thought she ought to be
put in an asylum" said the youngest
Miss Walker
''And have an administrator appointed
over her affairs" added Mr.. Theodore left,
abstractedly helping himself to slice of
cold boiled tongue and another of York
ham.
Miss CIackett, who was not without a
sense of humor, chuckled to herself as
she listened to their remarkably free and
uncomplimentary expressions of opinion.
"Well," said Mrs. Rapidan, ''dead or
alive, [ suppose we had better have our
teap
y think" viciously announced Miss
Seringa Pole, 'that she's as mad as a
March hare! And I think her money
should be equally divided between her
relations"
$50 do t. said Mr.. Folkstone. "And
if she has hanged or drowned herself
'Its all those horrid literary habits
OF hers" said Mr.. Mole, with his mouth
full Of lobster salad. Enough to under
mine the strongest PERSONS equilibrium!
4 knew it all along" said Mrs. Folk
stone. Il could see she was losing her
mipd--what little there was OF it TO lose
poor, silly, old woman
Perhaps it might be as we'll to look
around the premises little, after sup
per-" said Mr.. Mole, with a hungry
glance in 1hc direction Of the cold meat
''And if you will be good enough to pour
out the tea
y mont!'' said Dorothea, with blazing
checks and stamp OF her little foot.
"Eh?" said Mr.. Teft.
"What?H calculated old Mrs. Rapidan
$50 out OF the house, every one of
YOU criod Dorothea. $50 dare to talk
so of aunt, who is so good and generous.
To sit quietly down to eating and drink.
ing when she is not hcre To call her
lunatic-a-a-"
young woman said Mr. Mole, ''you
are taking too much upon yourrelf.'
Il should think So" said Mrs. Folk
stone. "for pauper founding picked
out of the workhousc'
"Well, never cried tie Misses
Walker in chorus.
''Leave the house, l say" reiterated
Dorothea. ct IS Aunt Clackett's house
You have no business 70 sit here and
talk so about her,"
''Aunt Cisckett, indeed" said Serin-
ga Pole. LAS il she were any relation
OF yours, miss! !, for one, shall say
what please about her She Is a crazy
old lunatic, and
But just here was the sound OF {; Wig
orous pair of knuckles on the door which
connects the parlor closet with the din
ing-rcom.
"What is that?' said NJ. Mole, start
ing up in alarm.
"a ghostw SAID Miss Walker. ncrv-
ously.
''Rats.' said Mr.. Folkstone
No 1t isn't. said Miss Clackett, lit
is !! Locked In here by mistake. Doro-