The national leader., 1889-02-23

4
Mildred. / saw that the maid-servant,
who stood by, shared my uncomfortable
feelings, and she assisted very readily,
after the departure Of the men. in barr
Ing the door and seeing to the safety OF
the window fastenings.
Later in the evening / met her on
the stairs. und she stopped me,
do not like the look of that bun
die at all, miss, she said; 1T looks to
me alive, and twice 1 have fancied !
saw it move-once, when it was lying
on the hall floor, and again now, for |
have been in to look at it.
II smiled, and telling Harriet not to
be whimsical, passed on, and rejoining
my cousins, / told them what Harriet
had said to me, and proposed gong to
take look at the mysterious package.
Taking lamp with us. we proceed
ed to the little apartment wherein it
was placed. 1t lay on wooden settle
which stood on one side of the room.
1t was enveloped in brown wrapper,
was very long, and thicker in the mid
die than at the two extremities. Some
how did not like the looks of 1t at all;
but my fears were of such vague ma
ture that l did not like to express them.
AS we crossed the hall on our return to
the slttlDg-roOm we encountered Har-
rlet who was lowering about with a
very uneasy and mysterious expression
on her face.
"'What Is the matter. Harriet?' ask
ed Mildred.
son, miss. am so frightened about
that pack. | cannot rest, and | am
sure cannot go to bed while it is in
the house!'
"'You are very ridiculous, Harriet, ;
replied Janet. Il am sure the men
were very respectable looking indIvid-
uals-only two shopmen. We have
just been looking at the pack, and it
did not move, though | gave 1t good
squeeze. am sure there is nothing in
it TO alarm you.'
Harriet looked very pale, and shook
her head WarnIngly.
Ten O'Clock came, and my cousins
and l were thinking of betaklng our
selves to our sleeping apartments, when
we heard a door in the hall violently
shut and locked. Immediately after
wards Harriet rushed in upon us ana
sank on the nearest chair in violent hys-
terics. She was speedily followed by
the butler, looking pompous and stiff
as ever, but with d certain expression
Of unquiet on his fat, grave face.
"'What is the matter, Jones?' asked
Mildred, starting to her feet. Tell US
quickly. DO try to be quiet, Harriet. ,
"'Oh, the pack is aliye!' shrleked
Harriet.
"'Hush, Harriet!' said Mildred,
calmly; let Jones tell us. l heard you
lock door, 1t was that of the ante
room, in which this unfortunate pack
is placed, l supposed
"'It was, MISS replied Jones, SEN
tentiously; and the dog is in the hall,
he added.
s SO far good,' said Mildred, COM
posedly. And how, pray, do you
know that the pack is alive?'
"'You see, MISS answered Jones,
ever since that pack has been left here,
Harriet has been in a very distracted
state of mind-frighLened out Of her
senses, in fact
i saw the thing move when it was
laid in the hall, soDbed Harriet.
''Go on, Jones, interposed Janet.
"Jones continued:
$50 before we went to bed, miss
Harriet persuaded me to come and take
another look at the package. You
know did not at all approve of its be-
ing left, miss he added.
"'Never mind that said Mildred,
tell us what you have seen.'
"'Well, miss, l thought it great nom
sense, but | went. We took hold of
the bundle, and turned it about little,
but could make nothing of it. Pres
emily Harriet found a small hole in
the wrapper. She pulled the rent
rather more open, and looked in. l
saw her face change. She turned and
drew me out of the room, pulled the
door to, and locked it, That is all L
know at present, ladies, and here Jones
bowed to us politely.
Harriet had now become quieter, so
Mildred inquired:
"'What did you see, Halriet?'
'The girl shiyered and covered her
face with her hands.
''Come, Harriet, speak, said Mil
dred, becoming little pale.
"Yes, tell us, and instantly' cried
Janet.
Harriet took her hands from her
face and looked up.
sit was an eye, miss, she said, in
horror-strlcken tones, such an awful
looking eye-and it glared at mel she
added, with repressed shrek.
1--WE looked at each other in mute
CONSERVATION.
"'Was it living eye, do you think,
Harriet?' / asked.
"'Yes, it was alive, miss, am sure,
she sobbed. oh, what shall we do?
1t looked so malignant and terrible!'
"We looked at each other few mo-
ments, and then Mildred spoke:
L can scarcely believe that you are
right, Harriet, she said; L fancy that
your imagination must have been max
ing goose Of YOU
'''Still, Mlldred,' ventured to say,
Harriet may be right, and it would be
well to do something at once. This
may be plan to rob the house when
we are all In bed
"'And murder us alp shrieked Har-