The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-12-20


li0n. He hated the embroidered
demon--a cross-eyed wretch, wht
semed TO threaten evil and misfor
ftuue TO all-but the remainder d
The screen WAS SO superior that he
bought il, demon and all. Whef
it was being folded he almost Ie
Tented. 1t seemed as if the COLDER
demon cast on him a most threat
enIng, malevolent glance, and the
events Of the next tweniy.tonl
hours proved his uneaslness we'll.
founded.
0rderinglt sent 10 the newhouse,
No. 80 West -- Street, and pay.
ing extra for lis prompt and sale
delivery that night, he arrayed
himself in spoIless attlre and wend-
ed bis way through the conventions
al Christmas snow-slorin toward
the millionaire'S abode.
1t was away up town, on street
with which he was unfamiliar; but
finding the number, he presented
his card, inquired for Miss Grin
dell, and rather ushered himself
in, as il were, to lhe receptions
room. He noticed the servant
hesilated, but his attention was
arrested by the screen, demon and
all, standing III one corner and
while he was examining it the
lackey reluctantly withdrew. A
moment later his eager ear caught
the rustic Of drapery and the
sound of a light step. Yea, her
dear sIep! He would recognize
that anywhere.
Hummipg some words Of the fa
mlliar song
"She is coming-my own my sweet!
Were it ever so airy tread,
Ny heart would hear her aud beat,
Had lain for a century dead,"--
he suddenly in the spirit of mis-
chiel which seemed 10 be suggest
ell by the embroidered demon,
sprang behind the screen, and,
peering cautiously over the top,
prepared TO say Peek -a-boo!' in
his most lacelious manner; but in
81 cad of Miss Gertrude Grindell
there stood facing him an utter
most amazed matron
of some two hundred pounds
1t was awkward, very The
truth was he had simply mistaken
the number; but Mr.. Bancroft
was thankful that The awkward
ness was not all On his side. The
fact that they had received a screen
which did not belong TO them, and
sci 1t up in their reception-rcom,
made the whole affair a complica-
ton Of mbarrassments. 1t seems
the address was partly erased
when the package arrived, the
name being completely oblilerated,
and only the number Of the house
readable; and it being Christmas
Eve they had accepted The unex
peeted gift without question.
Bancroft had no Intention of let
ing Inc evening pass without The
present reaching his adored one ;
so a messenger boy was sent for,
The screen was tied up, and making
himself sure of The correct desli-
nation, which was only short dis
ance, they started.
The gusts Of wind, the fast-lall-
ng snow and The treacherous |
Davements made the big screen |
'ather difficult TO manage. Final |
y, the messenger boy, with that
careless grace so characteristic of
he class, by a skillful manGuvre
using a small piece of ice
rs an excuse, torhy INTO the air and
'ome down in such way as 10 land |
he screen in the face of an old
yenllemen, who Immediately filled
he neighborhood with ms hands,
eei, hat, cane and strong language,
md fell in a heap among The JaDa-
leSe screen and me ssenger boy.
1t it had been a paper screen,
here would have been 40 difficulty |
II lie genlleman's poking his head |
md arms and legs through every |
,anel /; but the embroidered silk |
'esisted his efforts, so he only sue
,eeded in forcing his pallid features
hrough one fold. Even in the un-
certain light of The street, 1t seem
d to Allen as if the eye of the
,olden demon glIllered with mali
,ious JOY. The fallen man was
ipeedily assisted by-his companion,
lnd it was only then that Bancroft |
the irritable face OF the i
I'd Commodore
With a sigh OF thanklulness that |
he old mans anger and confusion .
made him fail 10 recognize the |
,wner Of the diabolical screen, |
Allen hurried on his way with the /
wreck, and was soon telling his
nisfprlu unes 10 "ihe dearest girl in I
he world" while she was eshma-
ing the amount Of damage 10 the
Japanese treasure. He was still
on The misadventures
I had occasioned. aud was ex-
,ressing his conviction that the
Golden demon must be an evil spir-
:, when Gertrude. in iurnigg
mound 10 sniile q his superstition,
,aughi The skirt Of her train in the
,rass corners of The screen, and in
/ second. with a crash, II went
wirling down, upseitng a mag
iiceni rare old jar--a regular an
ique, said 10 be the only one OF
he kind in the country-wiih three
Compartments. The coyers Of which
vent rolling about over the floor, !