Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-09-19
THE LONG PACK.


In the year 1928 Colonel Riddig re-
turned from India with what was con-
sidered in those days an immense for
tune, and retired TO a county seat on
the banks of the North Tyne in North
umberland. The house was furnished
with every thing elegant and costly,
among other things service OF plate
supposed to be worth 1000. He
went to London annually, with his
family during the winter months, and
at these times, there were but few LETT
at his country house. At the time we
treat of there were only three domes-
tics remaining there; maid-servant,
whose name was Alice, kept the ehouse,
and there were, besides, an old man
and a boy, and two ploughman who
ived in houses of their own.
One afternoon, az Alice was spin
ming some yarn fora pair OF stockings,
q pedler entered the hall with a COM
| zeal pack on his back. Alice had seen
| as long pack and as broad pack;
but a pack equally long, thick and
broad she declared she had never seen.
II was in the middle OF winter, when
| the nights were long, cold and weari-
some. The pedler was a handsome,
well dressed man, yet Alice declared
that from the first she did not like him
greatly, and though heintroduced him.
self with q great deal of fiattery, yet
when he came to ask for a night 9
lodging, he met with peremptory re-
fusal.
He tested on the subject, saying he be-
| lieved she was i'm the right, ,forit would
scarcely be safe to trust him under the
same roof wit h such a sweet and beauti-
ful creature. Alice was an old maid ,and
ANYTHING but beautiful, but it would
not do, consent she would not to his
staying there.
But, are you really going to turn
me away to-night?"
"YeS''
"Indeed, my dear girl, you are un'
reasonable; / am come straight from
New Castle, where | have been pur'
chasing fresh stock of goods, which
arc so heavy that ] cannot travel fa1
with them, and as the people around
here are of the poorer class. Will
rather make YOU a present ofthe finest
shawl in the pack thango further.
At the mention of the shawl deliber
alton was portrayed in lively colors
on Alice's face, but prudence overcame
NO, she was but servant, and had
orders TO harbor no person about th'
house. bat such as came on business
nor these either unless she was well &C
auainted with them"
"What the worse can you or youl
master,be of suffering me to tarry un
til the morning." urged the peddler.
The conversation went on thus, Allc'
proving opdurate, and at length tn,
peddler agreed te 90 elsewhere and seei
for lodgings. if she would let him leav'
the pack where it was for the night
since. fatigued as he was, he could no
possibly carry it away. To this Alic'
consented, although with much re
luctancc, as she wanted nothing to d'
with his goods. THE pack will b
better out Of your way" said he, "ant
safer il YOU will be so kind as to loci
. itby in some room or closet.p Sh
then led him into Il low parlor, wher
ne placed ii carefully on two chairs
, and went away wishing Alice a good
night.
When old Alice and the pack wer
left in the large house by themselves
she felt a kind of indefinite terror com
, over her mind about 1t. "Wha
, can be in it that makes it so heavy
, Surely where the man carries 1T so ia
: he might have carried it farther. It
, n confoundedly queer pack. Ill 6
look at it once again. Suppose shoul
handle it all around? may then hav
: n good guess what is init"
Alice went cautiously and fearful
, into the parlor, and opened a wa
!. press. She wanted nothing in tt
!, nress, indeed she never looked into ]
: for her ewes were fixed on the pacl
= and the longer she looked at it Il
: worse she'liked it, as to handling ]
. she would never have touched 1t ft
q all it contained. She came again INT
!, the kitchen and reasoned with herse
! She thought of the mans earnestne
4 to leave it-of it's monstrous snap
= and every circumstance connect'
Is with it: they were all mysterious, al
- she was convinced that there WI
~ something uncanny, il not unearthl
~ in the pack. She lifted a mould
= candle and went again into the pa
70 lor, closed the window-shutters al
rs barred them: but before she cal
ri out she set herself upright, held In b
breath. and took another steady a
scrutinizing look at the pack. God
mercy, She saw it moving, as visit
~ as she ever saw anything in her i
he Every hair on her head stood straigl
Or every inch of flesh on her body crel
IS. She hasted into the kitchen as fast
no She could, but her knees bent unc
O. the terror that overwhelmed her hea
ce She blew out the candle, lighted
is again, and not being able to find
candlestick, though a dozen stood
the shelf, she set it in water jug, a
ran to the barn for old Richa
No When she had told her story, end
is with the information that the pack v
sh a living pack, Richard dropped
IA. fail upon the floor and stared at A
ST with all his eyes.
". "A living pack, he cried, why
on woman's mad with doubt. 0f all
foolish jdees this = iethewQFst. Hewt