The Penn's Grove record., 1886-01-30

came. There was TO be a fancy pail at
the county town on Twelfth-Nigh to
which Willie and Charley were going,
the one as Faust, the other as Mephis-
tophees.
We dined earlier than usual, in order
to give the men time for their long
drive. After dinner, Amy and | set
tied ourselves in the library, which we
preferred to the large d~rawing-room
when we were alone. When Willie
appeared in his dress as Faust, | went
to see how Charley was getting on
for punctuality was not one of his vir-
tues; and my brother-in-l2w was apt to
get impatient if he was kept waiting.
/ knocked at Charley's door; and
when he called out Come inl" n
tered; but l started back in horror at
his disguise.
"OA, Charley" 1 cried, ''what a hor-
rible dressI"
Eyes. Isn't it GneP" he laughed.
81 wish you had not chosen that,
dear" l said. 81 do hope Amy will not
see you. or any of the servants"
81 will take care of that. so don't
worry yourself. Bah. l will dwadle
about until Kenrick goes 'on the ram
page,' and then run straight out to the
carriage. This cloak covers me well,
and I'll take my head in my pocket"
Charley did as he promised. Wait
ing, after the carriage came round,
until Willie began to call to him to
hurry, he came flying downstairs, and,
calling out ''Good night, AmyP' was
in the carriage before his companion.
My brother-in-law vas always con-
siderate for his dependents, had decid-
ed that he and Charley would sleep in
the town, SO as to avoid having the
coachman out again that night in the
intense cold. A small portmanteau
conveying their morning.dress was put
into the carriage. In this the fancy
attire would be brought back, SO that l
had no longer any fears of Charley's
hideous garb being seen by the house
hold.
We did not stay downstairs long
after the men left. Amy, who had
been ailing all day, became so nervous
as the evening progressed that nurse
persuaded her to go up stairs and get
to bed early. Then nurse and l sat
over the fire chatting quietly, until
Amy's calm breathing told that she
was sleep. We had been talking of
''the days that are no MORE" and the
time had passed so quickly that we
were both astonished TO hear the clock
strike twelve. Nurse rose then, and
went away to her own DOL l was 60
ing to sleep with Amy, and had I'M
dressed, but was wrapped in a warm
dressing-gown which had been a Christ
mas present from Amy and Willie. l
fingered over the fire after nurse left,
lost in thought, and forgetting the
flight Of time.
| was aroused from my dreams by
the sound Of wheels IN the stable
yard; but, before | had time to wonder
what it meant; the door opened quiet
ly, and my brother-in-law came into
the ROOM.
"Why, Willie" 1 whispered, "what
does this meanP"
II was nervous about Amy; she
looked so pale tonight that | could
not make up my mind to stay away"
he answered. ''The bail was a stupid
affair, and in an hour both Charley and
l had had enough of it; so we slipped
out and went back to the hotel. In the
barn parlor we came acros Giles, who
asked if | would not prefer to driy-
back, as it was not much past eleven.
l was glad enough to act upon his suge
geStion; and so here we arel"
"And where is Charleyp" l asked.
sin his room, l believe. Good night
Barbara"
Good night" L replied and then |
went in search of Charley.
l found him in his room smoking a
pipe before going to bed. He still wore
his fancy-dress, which looked more re-
pulsive than before. He greeted me
with
"Well, it all went right, you see. No
M saw me-"
''That's WE'LL" l returned. But do
take the horrid things off and lock
them up safely"
IAN right; III take care. l shall
never wear them again. There were
several dresses like mine in the ball
room, and l came to the conclusion that
| did not like it when 1 saw 1t upon
others"
When l reached my own chamber, l
found the fire nearly out and the room
quite cold, and it made me SILVER.
Even after | was covered up in bed |
could notget warm, and my chest was
so oppressed that | could hardly breathe
| got up and coaxei my fire to burn up
again, and put on some wood, which
soon blazed up merrily. But the warmth
failed to give me the hoped for relief
SO l determined to sally forth in quest
of mustard and linseed, both of which
| knew l should find in Amy's store
closet, which was on the bedroom floor
and the keys of which she had handed
over to me. But l hunted In vain for
the keys-nowhere could l find them
SO l concluded that l had left them
i'll Amy's room. By rOuselng the house
keeper l could get her duplicate key.
but l was lOathe to do that; so l decid-
ed that l would go down stairs and
look in the kitchen for what l wanted.
But FIRST l put a small kettle which
was kept III my room upon the fire as
should need boiling water for the pol
tice | intended to make. Then, draw
ing over my boots a pair of soft knitted
boots to render my footsteps inaudible,
l started on my expedition, proceeding
along the corridor and down the back
staircase. crept along as quietly as
possible, anxious not to disturb Amy,
who vas a very light sleeper. There
was a turn in the staircase about half
way down; and when l passed that
was surprised to STE a bright light
shining under the pantry door. Sup
posing that Markham the butler was
there, and not caring 10 be seen by him
In my dishabile, l drew back-just in
ttme-for the pantry door opened, and
out came Jane, the under-housemaid,
She left the door open. and went on
INTO the kitchen. To my horror and
dismay, l saw in the pantry two strange
men busily employed in emptying the
plate-chest.
When | saw Jane, ! blew out my
light, and well was 1T l did so. for one
of the men turnedround suddenly, and
| thought looked at me. Fear lent me
wings, | turned and sped noiselessly up
stairs. There was a door at the top OF
the staircase, which | shut and locked.
Then | dew TO Charley's oom Fore
most in my mind WAS the th0upht that