Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-28
Christmas NIGHT.
IBY METH BoYoE.l

ot0Ny hAO, NAOWoA-%6 O'NA - ~'N-''
was nearly II O'Clock and Mr.. Prisby's
bedtime was 10 precisely. But tonight
Maud, his niece, home from school for
the holidays, had gone to Christmas
ball. Mr. Prisby's conscience would
not permit him to keepa tired servant up
till the small hours, and his nerves for
bade him to go to bed leaving an un-
locked door to invite midnight maraud-
ers into his house. Accordingly, he sat
up.
As the clock struck IL, the tinkle of
distant sleigh bells broke upon his ear,
and with terrific yawn he Strengthened
up and listened. The sound came nearer
and nearer-yes, the sleigh had turned
in the carriage-way and stopped before
the house. Maud, at last. Mr.. Prisby
rose and sleepily took his way to the
door. Just as he reached it the bell
rang loudly. He turned the key and
opened the door, whereupon the
fierce wind rushed in, caught
and almost extinguished the
flame OF the hall lamp. Mr..
Prisby lost and recovered his breath,
only to lose it again in his surprise at
finding himself confronted, not with
the furry little figure he expected, but
with tall man in shaggy overcoat
and cap, from the midst of which latter
a fiery nose shone like signal of dis
tress.
"John Prisby live here ?" he inquired
huskily.
81 am Mr.. John Prisby," said that
individual.
''Box for you, SIR" said the man, and
turning, plunged down the steps into
the darkness. The air was thick with
snow, but Mr.. Prisby, ensconced be-
hind the door and making his observa-
tions around it's edge, could dimly dis
tinguish the outlines of two other men,
assisting the first. The three lifted a
large box from the sleigh, and carried it
slowly up the steps. AS the light fell
on it Mr.. Prisby saw with blank aston
ishment that it was five or six feet long
and proportlonately heavy, to judge by
the slow and awkward manner in which
the three men brought it in. They car
ried it past Mr.. Prisby and into his
study, where they set it down as he had
indicated on the rug before the fire.
"Want it opened ?" inquired he OF the
shaggy cap.
"No, thank you," replied Mr.. Prisby,
glariug suspiciously at the trio "How
much?" quaveringly. paid" re-
ponded the man briefly, and backed out
of the door followed by the two others.
When Mr.. Prisby had locked the outer
door behind them, he stood for a
moment ruefully inspecting the snow
tracks on the carpet then ambled back
staring at the big box. Why had it
been brought at this time of night ? and
what on earth could it be? Books?
lures? Bah! Mr.. Prisby tried and
couldn't remember anyone that would
be likely to send him such quantity OF
anything desirable. Some one must be
trying to play joke on him. Mr.. Pris-
by grew wrathfully crimson at the
thought, and departed for hammer,
resolved to investigate the mystery at
once.
The cover of the box had been strongly
nailed on, and it cost Mr.. Prisby a quar-
ter of an hours hard work to get it off.
1t revealed layer of wood shavings.
Mr.. Prisby hated "a litter" He opened
two large newspapers on the floor and
lifted the shavings OUT handful by hand
full. Underneath these was a thick,
smooth layer of cloth. Mr. Prisby knelt
do vn, threw back six folds of the linen,
and stopped, staring. What was it that
had slowly taken vague shape under the
shrouding cloth? He clutched the last
folds spasmodically and drew them
down, sprang up and shrank back
against the farther wall, shuddering in
horror.
Before him was the drawn blue-shad-
owed face of dead man. He stood, his
eyes riveted to that awful, calm face,
feeling his knees slowly give way be-
meath him, until the loud clang of the
door bell wrung a startled scream from
his lips. Then, with immense relief,
he remembered Maud. He edged slowly
nearer and nearer the door. unable to
take his eyes from the dead face-sprang
across the threshold, slamming the door
behind him, and fled up the hall in mad
terror.
When his trembling fingers had again
undone the door Maud slipped inside,
her face bright and glowing with excite
ment, or the frosty air, or-something !
She threw off her cloak and hood and
surveyed herself approvingly in the long
hall mirror, while her uncle relocked the
door. In that instant of time he had
considered and dismissed the idea of
sharing his secret. Maud was almost a
child: she would be terrified out of her
senses; she must not know. At the first
sight of his face she started forward in
dismay.
why, what's the matter, Uncle
John?" she cried. care you sick, OF
what is it? and who's been here?" as
she noticed the foot-tracks on the car
pet.
''No one," replied Mr.. Prisby hastily.
I-ah--went out doors and Pm cold
that's all. Now 60 to bed"
''Well, but want to tell you about
the party"
II don't want you to hear about it,
Will you go along?" She stopped at the
turn of the stair, called down "Good
night, Uncle John!" and disappeared.
Good night The poor little man
dropped down on one of the hall chairs
as the horror OF what he had left behind
that closed door rushed back upon him,
He would go up stairs, away from the
sight of the place. Then he remembered
that the light was burning inside the
room, and the door unlocked. He must
IonE tho door opd tho kpv waa IN the