The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-03-14
SELECTED SKETCH.
THE CRAZY GUEST.

II was bitterly cold day. Not sugges-
ton of warmth in the frozen rose and pearl
of the chillingly clear sunset, mot sound
in the air, but snow crunching under ones
feet, icicles clinking 10 the woods, and old
trees creaking dismally at every touch of the
blast. Rocky Tower WAS, doubtless
pleasant place, with an extensive prospect in
the summer, but of January afternoon,
with the thermometer gradually settling to-
ward zero, one does not caro- for frozen
fields and lakes that look as if they were
carved in steel
Mr. Mallow gazed out of his window in the
second story of the funny little octa9oE
tower-had it been constructed of stone il
might have been appropriate. but in wood
it was ludicrously out of place-with shud-
der.
This is all very incomprehensible," said
Mr.. Mallow. HE told me his cousins were
young and pretty,-and these two women
are both of them ON the shady side of thirty,
with sharp noses and muddy compilations
He said the cottage was perfect little gem,
and this is the bleakest place l ever was
in in my life. However, he will Join me in
three days. Three days will soon pass
but upon my word, can't congratulate my
friend Hartop on his taste in female beauty,
Whew how the wind shakes this rattle-box
of q tower. And the easements are frosted
as if they were made Of ground glass; Hush,
is that the step of one of the ancient beau
les outside ?"
And opening bis door, Mr.. Mallow put on
his most ingratiating smile. Miss Chapman,
who was passing, with shawl wrapped
tightly around her shoulders and very blue
nose, stopped, with a nervous start, at the
sound of his voice.
"Oh, beg your pardon" said Mr.. Nal
low. 81 fear startled you"
"Not a. all, said Miss Naomi Chapman,
looking half scared out of her senses.
But" added Mr.. Mallow, 81 was merely
about to ask if it would be convenient for
me to have q little fire in the fireplace Il
is so very cold" with an incipient chatter of
the teeth
Miss Naomi looked frightened. "I-I am
afraid it wouldn't be safe" said she.
"Not safe? Why notf"
"Its quite against our rules" said Miss
Naomi, hurrying down stairs, while Mr..
Mailow looked after her in amazement.
81 never saw such an extraordinary wom-
an in my life,n said he aloud.
While Miss Naomi, bouncing hurriedly
into the room below, shut the door with
bang and LOOKED apprehensively over her
shoulder.
"He's solloquizing," said She
"He isn't" said Miss .Dorcas, the
younger sister. "Then he must be mad 7"
"Oh, he's mad !" said Naomi. Mad as q
March hare. Any one could tell that to
look at him. He wants fire in his room"
"Quite out of the question" said Miss
Dorcas.
"That's what told him." nodded Naomi.
"Why, we should all have the roof burned
of from our heads. I've told John to come
in from the stables directly he gets the
horses cleaned, and not to leave the room
while he is in it. And Becky has hid the
carving knife, and put all the matches out
Of sight-aud there's coil of rope in the
lower shelf of the buffet, in case he should
turn dangerous, all of sudden, as they. do
sometimes, you know. And John has his
directions not to take his eye off the poor
creature for second"
"Oa, dear oh, dearl" said Miss Dorcas,
wringing her little knuckly hands. "What
did Mr.. Hartop mean bys ending us q mad
man to take care of n
He mentioned particularly" said Naomi,
"that his keeper would accompany him."
No doubt he has murdered the poor
man, and hidden him somewhere on the
way" whispered Doroas
"Or contrived to elude him." said Naomi
"These poor insane wretches are diabol-
ie;lly cunningln
But, my DEAR" consoled Dorcas, Sits
only for day or two; Mr.. Hartop expressly
declared in his letter that the Superinten-
dent Of the Retreat would come for him
soon" e5.s
:" But in the meantime" said Miss Mao
mi, despairingly, "What is to become Of
us2"
SIN the meantime" said Miss Dorcas,
1--WE must do the best we can"
Mr.. Mallow came down presently, blue
and chilled.