San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-25

Plenty Of time, plenty Of time" said the
old gentleman. helping himself to another
glass Of sherry. "You don't dine till 8, do
your
saw that Ella was quite pale.
Pray, don't hurry" observed calmly
As | spoke, the whistle Of Uncle Simon's
train was heard In the distance Ella disap
peared from the room, and in another mo-
ment the dinner bell sounded vigorously
Old Carper rose-after imbibing a final
glass Of sherry.
IL hope you have something decent for
dinner" be growled- I'm as hungry as
hunter Hadn't time for more than a bite at
lunch"
smiled q painful smile and murmured
something to che effect that hoped be would
have something he could enjoy
The old fellow plodded heavily up stairs,
where Ella was waiting to usher him into the
Hateful pink room. In another moment my
wife, flushed and breathless, joined me at the
foot Of the stairS
Have you done it ." I asked gloomily,
feeling as imagine Macbeth must have done.
"Yes," she answered, showing me the key.
preparatory to slipping il into her pocket
"And, Charley, took down the bellrope
to-day, 50 all Is safe But. oh dearl how
very unfortunate that uncle Simon didn't
come first. | suppose he will be here di
rectly"
Just then the doorben rang loudly. 1t was
uncle Simon.
1t CHANGED that Mr.. Finicker was not in
the most amiable frame of mind, either. He
had lost his umbrella, it appeared, and was
even more aggravatingly nervous and fdgety
than usual
Just as dinner was served, loud banging
was heard from the room above. q don't
think have mentioned that the pink room
was situated Just above the dining room.) /
hastened upstairs. and hypocritially turned
the handle of the pink room door, having
previously knocked
Are you not coming down to dinner, Mr.
CarperF inquired, feeling, Iconfess, rather
ashamed Of myself
Coming down r Numbered my wife's uncle
Indignantly from within. "Of course
I'm coming down. but can't get the door
open"
Nor | returned, with a careful accent
Of surprise Il trust this COMPOUNDED lock
ha- not caught again We intended having
it repaired but the locksmith has unfortu
nately not arrived" Which, as be had not
been sent for was not be wondered at,
Shake the handle from the inside" con
tinued
He shook the handle. butt need hardly
say-wthout effect shook it also.
perhaps you have locked itF' suggested.
allowing faint amount Of anxiety to appear
in my tone
Locked it, Rubbish" was the irats 70
4 L. - &c. =.
woman Besides, there's no key"
Il am exceedingly annoyed" went ON,
in a voice full Of vexed solicftude; but |
fear we can do nothing until the locksmith
comes 1t ia most unfortunatel He shall be
sent for again at once. but Of course it will
take some little time, as we are 50 far from
the village"
Whereupon followed fearful and ungov
ernabls language from Mr. Carper He
shook the door violently, stamped about the
room. and went on" generally in a most
alarming way pacified him as well as
could or rather. | tried to pacify him. but
ne continued to storm and swear without ap
parently listening to my hes-they were
nothing less-and at last | went down starr
again. and took my place at the head OF the
table in a furious passion, Our previous de
ceptions had never gone as far as this, and |
felt myself q sneak from the tips Of my tin
gers to the toes Of my boots This was a
most preposterous and outrageous plan OF
Elias | reflected savageiy We could never
carry it out Why had listened to hers
As we devoured our soup we could hear
footsteps tramping about excitedly and II
regularly overhead Then there was a sud
len silence 1t was the lull before the storm
Scarcely had the Dish been removed than a
series of loud bangs resounded on the pan
els up stairs Uncle Simon started nervously
Emma became crimson and muttered some
ching about 'ronsIng oaby | tO)E no
5Iot. but went on grlmiy carving the fowl
before NE
Will you take Leg. or a wing uncle" |
said shortly
A leg boy Indignantly What are
YOU thinking of Iii taSs Ving--the liver
SIng-0t ''OurSe
hastily at"loG1zed and said | was think
ing Of something else so was was
thinking OF Uncle Gregory
Bang bang bang from above.
Good gracious v hat Is THAT exclaimed
and amaZement
uaL u "ndC' asked cOidly, WlCnout
raising my eyes from the plate
That most extraordinary noise, Charles
went on my uncle, IN much agitation lis
it possible you do not hear ltf'
Il hear the wind rising. replied calmly
II fear we shall nave storm Happily
the wind mad risen oy this time, and was
blowing pretty stiftiy.' Pray help yourself
to claret uncle" | continued; 81 think you
will find it good"
There was short silence after this broken