Little Falls transcript., 1886-07-09

SIdGlJuu6 In6I MS ne$hrI AutbSAC 49, 49,
? schoolboy's.
Two o'clock A. NJ, with q decayine
fire and without the solace Of q pipe.
He had written two or three letters
just to save his conscience, but the ef-
fort had been so great that no
| wouldn't have begun another to save
his life. In order to reassure Miss a.,
who might be on the lookout, he lett
the smookingroom on pretext OF q
headache, and established himself IN
his room about midnight. Smoking
and sleeping were both out of the ques-
tion, and two longer hours he had
! never spent in his whole existence. He
heard doors opening and shutting
downstairs, a suppressed laugh at
the last good story told amidst to-
bacco smoke, the tread OF several
pairs OF feet in different directions,
| and then silence.
Miss M. being no longer there with
| her white tace and her small figure all
OF a tremble to work up his feelings,
he began to feel his position eminently
! ridiculous. His excitement had cooled
do wn, his compassion had waned like
the moon; but infinitely bored and in
tensely sleepy, he was bound by his
| promise to girl. And all on account
OF a dream He asked himself with his
| fingers running through his usually
neat hair and his mouth distended in
an unconscious yawn, if anybody had
ever heard of man being vlctlmized
by somebody else's dream. It was
arrant nonsense, and he was q fool TO
givein to it. No, not quite that, with
q throb of conjunction, or the girl
would have worried herself into fits;
! but he ought to have reasoned with
her, or suggested that she might have
a dog in her room: LadyB.'s Fidget
would have been sure to bark if
mouse squeaked, and would have
howled the house down at the sight
OF a burglar. Apity he hadn't thought
of it; but supposing he had, Miss Ms
gratitude would have been given to
Fidget and not to himself, and he
rather wished to win it. Another
yawn. till he thought he had cracked
his jaws. The fire was dying out; he
was afraid to stir it, but he thought
! he might tickle it with the poker. He
| got up cautiously, and was stretching
| out his hand for the poker, when he
heard % sound i'll the passage. He be-
| gan to think his nervous system was
deranged, for he had never believed
there was the smallest reason for his
! watching.
But the sound was repeated, and semi
an unmisrakable thrill through hir
veins. He got to the door noiselessly,
thanks to his slippers, and without
opening 1T any further, peered through
| the crack. He could scarcely believe
his eyes when he saw Bird, the butler,
carrying a pair of tiny high
boots in his hand. Was there really
something in the dream after all? H.
waited until the man actually stopped
at Miss Ms door, and then placed hin
hand on the handle.
Then with one stride he was by his
side.
what are you doing here?" he said
in a stern whisper, staring the butler
straight in the face.
The man started, turned perfectly
livid, and let the boots fall from his
shaking fingers, but he made a great
effort after composure, and tried to
steady his voice as he said: II had
forgotten to send up these boots be-
fore, sir and l was afraid the young
lady might want them the first thing
in the morning.
"If she did it wouldn't be your bust.
ness to bring them. You must be mad
or drunk, and I shall report you tc
your master Tomorrow"
The mans under,'ip shook, and hu
eyes shifted uneaslly. II meant nc
harm" he said, su!lenly, as hestopped
to pick up the boots.
But Mr.. r. stopped him on sudden
impulse. Leave them here and &c
off at once.'
Bird seemed inclined to remonstrate
and even stretched out his hand again
as if to take the boots, but Mr. B.
signed to him to go, with significant
frOwn.
The butler skunk down the passage,
giving backward look before he
turned the corner. Mr. r. watched
him out Of sight, then picked up the
boots and carried them to the gas
light. Nothing in the first, dainty,
innocent covering for a, pretty foot;
but something hard ratified III one OF
! them as they dropped on the floor,
aud he Was not surprised to find in
the second a long, pointed knife. As
ne drew 1t out and scratched his finger
with the sharp edge, his blood turned
cold AS he thought of the girls white
throat and q crimson cash.
| Ii 1t had not been for a dream, that
girl would have been brutaliy mur-
dere2 in her h bed.
! Mr.. R. thought it right to tell the
| circumstances of the case to Lord and
Lady B. Miss M. agreed with him,
but said she would go home before he
spoke, to avoid a fuss As soon as
she had left the house the story into
told, and Lady B. nearly went was
Mysteries. Lord B. said there was
not sufficient evidence to support
charge OF murder, but he declined to
have his enterprising butler any long
er in the house. He therefore dis
missed him at once on another pre-
text, and Mr.. George Bird is now on
the lookout for another place, where
he may cut g. throat when he feels in
cllned, with no troublesome third
party to interfere. A nice thought tor
those about to engage butler.
This story is true, only few trihing
details having been altered, and the
proper names suppressed Mr.. Bird
Is the only person concerned in it who
| would be able to bring action for libel
against me, but for his own sake he is
| likely to keep quiet.
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Lotteries In prucs;o