The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-07-08

heard doors opening and shutti 8
downstairs, a suppressed laugh It
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 taco and her small figure all
of 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 a 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 victimized
by somebody else's dream. 1t was
arrant nonsense, and he was fool to
give in to it. No, not quite that, with
a 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 q sound in the passage. He be-
gan to think his nervous system was
| deranged, for he had never believed
| there was the smallest reason for his
| wat ching.
But the sound was repeated, and sent
| an unmistakable thrill through his
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-heeled
boots in his hand. Was there really
something, in the dream after all? He
waited until the man actually stopped
at Miss Nj. s door, and then placed his
hand on the handle.
Then with one stride he was by his
side
What are you doing here?" he said
in 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 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 l shall report you to
your master tomorrow.
The mans under-lip shook, and his
ewes shifted uneasily II meant no
HARM" he said, sullenly, as he stopped
to pick up the boots.
But Mr.. R. stopped him on sudden
impulse. leave them here and GO
off at once"
Bird seemed inclined to demonstrate,
and even stretched out his hand again
signed to him to go, with q significant
frown.
The butler skunk down the passage
giving a 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, a dainty
innocent covering for pretty foot
but something hard ratified IN one o.
them as they dropped on the floor
and he was not surprised to find II
the second q long, pointed knife. As
he drew it out and scratched his finger
with the sharp edge, his blood turned
cold as he thought of the girls white
throat and crimson cash.
Ii it had not been for q dream, thai
girl would have been brutally muir
dered in her bed.
Mr.. R. thought it right to tell thu
circumstances of the case to Lord ane
Lady B. Miss M. agreed with him
but said she would go home before h
spoke, to avoid 81 fuss. AS soon a.
she had LETT the house the story int
told, and Lady B. nearly went wa
mysteries. Lord B. said there wa
not sufficient evidence to support {
charge of murder, but he declined tt
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 OF
tbo lookoI for anOt her Mace Wher
he may cut q throat when he feels in
elined, with no troublesome thirt
party to interfere 4 nice thong ito
. those about to engage g butler.
This story is true, only a few triflinl
details having been altered, and tn
proper names suppressed. Mr.. Bir'
, Is the only person concerned in it VIII
! would be able to bring action for libe
against me, but for his own sake he
likely to keep quiet.