The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-02-17

the blacksmith were Tor the time de-
tanned in the kitchen, as | wished to
talk the matter over with the joiner,
as the most intelligent Of the three.
AS he entered my room, [ was sur
prised to find second person behind
him, whom he introduced to me as
Mr.. Burrowes, the district inspector Of
police, who had been on an official
visit to the village that day, and who,
when he heard the story, volunteered
his services in place Of the constable.
His presence at once gave me great
relief; and this was enhanced when |
found he had had long experience in
the London detective force, and was
entering with the enthusiasm of his
profession into our plans. He had
heard already from the joiner what
had passed that day; complimented me
highly on the presence of mind | had
displayed on the previous evening, and
expressed his acquiescence in every
thing that we had since done.
When, however, I mentioned to him
my unexpected interview that after
noon with Mrs. Weevil, and that she
had left the house, he was good deal
taken aback. He questioned me close
ly as to her. manner and appearance
when she was in my room, and as to
whether she seemed much affected by
her sons illness. I answered his sew
eral questions to the best Of my abili-
ty; and he, after thinking a while,
pacing up and down the room, turned
to me and said,-
''Let everything be carried out as
you formerly proposed. See that your
family retire to rest at their usual
time, and with as little appearance as
possible Of anything unusual going
on. If the woman has taken alarm,
will be lost by waiting till
tomorrow, when her rooms can be
more carefully examined by daylight.
In the first place, will you show me
the bedroom in which you were dis
turbed last night?"
| conducted him thither, the joiner
following; and after he had ascertain
ed where, to use his own expression,
had first seen the party" and where
and how the party had disappeared, he
at once intimated his plans. He said
was to retire to my room as usual,
seat myself in my chair by the fire as
on the previous evening, and either
sleep or appear to sleep, as was most
agreeable to myself Beyond the win
dow stood a large wardrobe, in which,
after the house was all quiet, he and
the joiner would conceal themselves;
the blacksmith and the gardener being
set as guard upon the door Of the
housekeeper's room below. The vii
Iage constable, he had arranged, would
keep watch on the outside Of the
house, but so as not to be readily dis
covered.
The duties Of the household, in the
absence Of my servants, fell somewhat
heavily Oh the ayah and myself; and
the time passed quickly for me as
bustled about, seeing the children put |
to bed; after which the ayah also re-
tired. During all this time every
thing had been carried on in our Gus
tomary way. Mr.. Burrowes and the
rest Of his helpers betook themselves
for the time 20 distant apartment |
upstairs, and the house had resound-
ed all the evening with the mingled |
sounds of laughter and noise insepara-
BILE from a large family of children
such as ours. But now all was silent;
the men had slipped quietly to their
different posts; Mr. Burrowes and the
joiner were, | knew, in the wardrobe,
at the other end of my b.droom; and
| was seated in my lounging-chair, as
on the previous evening.
AS | sat in this position thinking, I
could not help observing to myself
how near we were all to making our
selves ridiculous. The old woman
whom l had suspected was out of the
house; no one else but the ordinary
members of the household and the
watchers could possibly be in it; and
here was |, sitting at my bedroom fire,
believe to sleep, with two men
concealed in the wardrobe, all hoping
to catch-we did not know what. |
The humor of the situation so strong
ly affected me at one time, that | could |
refrain from bursting into
laughter. But the thought Of Mr. |
Burrowes having put himself to so |
much trouble on my account, combin-
ed with remembrance of what | had
experienced during the past twenty
four hours, gradually sobered my feel
ings; and | shortly found my thoughts
floating away in dim remembrances to
my life in India; to my distant hus-
band; to our long separation; to the
terrible nights and days Of that fear
full, Mutiny, whose horrors still rose