The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20
pyrighted 1885; All Rights Reserved
Fl u @ II G. O N w A Y.
Days. Other Popular


position executor, lot of business to transact
with her, and for some weeks saw her nearly
every day. I thought the time was coming when
I might breach the subject of the cellar to her,
and as I was walking to the house one
afternoon, determined to sound her
upon it. I rang and knocked for some
minutes, but could get no answer to my
summons. They are all up stairs, I thought,
and can't hear me. Then I remembered that
the day before after going through a lot OF pa
pers of my uncles, l had locked the drawers and
put his bunch of keys in my pocket. HIS latch.
key was amongst them and took the liberty OF
opening the door with it.
AS entered the house, smelt very peculiar
smell proceeding from the kitchen. 1t was the
odor of wine and very strong. They must have
broken bottle carrying it up thought. Per
haps, after ALL the old lady is not so strict tee
totaler when alone. And | laughed at the idea;
little dreaming from whence the smell came. l
could find no one in any of the sitting rooms,
and. as heard persons moving in the basement,
proceeded there My aunt, hearing my steps on
the stairs, ran to the kitchen door to who it
was. l noticed she appeared vexed as she met
ME.
81 am particularly engaged this afternoon,
John, and cane speak to you now" she said
AS she spoke noticed the smell of the wine
was almost overpowering, and wondered what
she was doing.
She had some old gown on, and that covered
with rough white apron, apparently soaked
with some colored fluid She was dusty, dirty,
untdy and heated, and l noticed blood flowing
from cut on her hand. What extraordinary
household exploit could she be engaged in?
When lady tells you decidedly she can't stop
to talk to you, and when she appears up to her
eyes in cleaning house something of that sort,
the next thing to do is to make yourself scarce;
so l apoogized for my intrusion and promised to
call again to morrow.
But what strong smell of wine auntW
said. Don't you notice it,"
My servants have just broken bottle or
two" she replied looking rather embarrassed.
| Good bye, John, shut the door after you"
Good bye" I said, and retraced my steps
| AS went up those dark kitchen stairs sud
den thought struck me. And yet it seemed SO
wild and absurd that laughed at the idea. But,
before had reached the top, it had taken full
possession of me, and I felt cold and pale with
dread. | could not bear the uncertainty, and
determined to ascertain, at any risk. if my sus-
picions correct. Instead, therefore, of
shutting the door from the outside, l shut it
with good bang from the inside and waited,
scarcely breathing, at the top of the stairs AT
ter minutes listening my ears caught crash OF
glass, and then rich gurgle of fluid that sent
thrill of horror through my heart. Another
crash, another gurge, and then another and an
| other, and even that strange scent of wine
| stronger and stronger 1t must be as | thought,
| so crept like cat down the stairs once more,
and gently opened the kitchen door. No one
was there, but heard another crash, and my
| aunts voice exclaim in tone of exalted fervor.
Observation-Disclosures bait taken from
| Satans trap"
| passed across the kitchen and looked through
| the door of the scullery, and there L my
| aunt and one Of her red checked servant wenches
busily engaged in knocking the necks off the cob
| webbed bottles and-oh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| their priceless contents amid potato parings,
| soapsuds, and beastliness of that sort down the
| sink to gladden. the hearts of the rats in the
! main sewer.
| For few moments was so taken aback
| could not speak or move. 1t seemed like a
CHASTITY dream. Yet it was real, and l could see
an exalted look in my auntS face, and | heard
her exclaim with each cruel decapitation,
| Another bait snatched from Satan" l knew
| the poor woman was earnest in her conviction,
and imagined she was doing right AS
| / looked at this strange scene, think
ing what course to take, exclamation
| behind me made me turn, and saw in the
| kitchen the other red-cheeked servant girl, bear
ing on her muscular arm bottle basket holding
| a doze Of wine she had evidently brought up
| from t: cellar for the purpose of immolation.
| 0, William Slacg. you must have turned in your
grave. If l. had ever believed in ghosts, this
! work would have banshed my belief for if any
thing could have brought ghost back to earth
| the sacrifice going would have brought yours
back. That basket contained the very particu
! lar, the JOY of your heart, the wine that only
came forth the most important occasions, the
very opening of which was religious ceremony,
| and fervent prayers went ND each bottle
that the cork may have withstood the ravages of
years and the wine be still sound And now
| Even if the servant had not discovered me-
should have interfered then, so l stepped boldly
| forwards into the scullery and confronted the
| heartless executioners The servant. looking
sheepish and ashamed, put down the bottle, the
neck of which was just approaching the edge of
| the stone sink Ny aunt, with the conscious
ness of rectitude, met my gaze firmly.
Thank heaven l returned" l said. What
does this meauE'
Mean, john Only that I am doing my
duty"
Doing your duty in pouring the finest cellar
| of wine in London down common snkw
You know my views. John. say touch not,
taste not, handle not"
She has been touching and handling with
vengeance, thought, but l kept my temper,
| and said
But, if you don't drink it, why not sell it
and give the proceeds to the poor if you like!"
mo- John. have considered the subject
! fully. My duty is to pour 1t down there If
sell tiff give it away-some will drink,
and every drop of wine that passes down a mans
throat helps to float him to perdition."
Her imagery was strange, but her mind was
made up, so after pause | said
Come up stairs and talk with me. Tell your
servants to stop for pit"
She followed me, saying. Its 70 good talking,
John; my mind is made up"
/ cast about for way to move Eer, and at last
decided on bold course.
We seated ourselves in the dining room, near
that polished mahogany board in which poor old
! Uncle Slagg loved to see the crystal decanters
mirrored. Then | commenced, gravely-
MY dear aunt, you will understand that
from motives of prudence could not speak
before your servants as l can now. Of couse,
do not dispute your right to do what you like
| with your own but l am sure you cannot be
aware of the penalties you are mourning in this
wholesale destruction of fermented liquors.
| How do you meanl" she said, startled.
Il mean replied, in my most solemn &C
cents that you are defrauding the excise and
are liable to heavy fine, and, l believe, imprs-
onment."
But the wine is my own, she argued.
Precisely. so is this sovereign mine;ibut were
to clip, debase. or destroy it, lay my self open
to legal proceedings and punishment. Wine has
paid duty and is protected in the same manner
nc