The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-02

After game or two at cribbage, in
which | cut but a sorry figure, suggest
ed, backed up by Ella, that my uncle look
ed very tired, and alluded to his projected |
early start in the morning. He agreed |
that he was tired; and after couple of |
stiff glasses of brandy and water he went
to bed.
An ominous silence meanwhile prevail
ed in the pink room.
When we were alone turned to Ella
"WelI;"4a voice of suppressed fury:
propose doing ndsraav ask what YOU
last time shall have anytear this is the
such confounded tomfoolery t.Sdo with
so contemplate in my life Your nc,,
and mine may leave their money to the
Irish Land League or to the devil for all
| care, | continued pacing up and down
the room in a towering passion. Il refuse
to take part any longer in your mean,
deceitful practices
This was distinctly unjust, of course, as
well as rude; and Fila fired up at once.
saying that it was as much my fault as
hers, &c
Hold your tongue, Madam = | thun-
dered goaded past endurance.
Here there was an extraordinary, mex
plicable. muffied kind of noise from the
direction of the pink room. | seized
candle and we rushed upstairs
II hope and trust he may not have had
fit of apoplexy," l muttered between my
set teeth, as we reached the door All
was silent
"Where is the key?' l said shortly.
But Ella hesitated
"Uncle, she said timidly through the
keyhole, 'we have found an old key that
we think will open the door The lock-
smith did not come
listened appalled, to this glib .perver-
sion of the truth, and wondered il it had
ever been practiced upon me. Still all
was silent.
The room is quite dark, Charlie, said
my wife nervously as she proceeded to fit
the key in the lock.
In another moment the door was open,
and gust of wind almost extinguished my
candle held it aloft with Il whistle of
dismay, for what scene met our eyes !!
The room was strewn with MANNED and
disfgured furniture the mirror was
cracked across the crockery was smashed,
and the lower half of the window appeared
to have entirely vanished. And oh, hor-
ror the pale-pink window curtains, the
bed-curtains, the covers of the chairs, were
stained here and there with deep crimson.
But where was Uncle Gregory?
/ He had disappeared. The room was
empty
Ella, after a Mortified glance around,
uttered series of piercing screams.
Hush = exclaimed, seizing her arm
viciously. "Have you lost your senses
You will wake Uncle Simon
But she sobbed and cried, and declared
hysterically that Uncle Gregory was dead
and that it was all my fault Indignantly
pointed out the glaring injustice of this
remark, and stated my conviction that the
old gentleman, in desperation; had proba-
bly, taken ''long drop" from the window
Il hope you are pleased with result Of
your plan, Mrs. Danvers. | went on, with
cutting sarcasm. ''It has certainly been a
most brilliant success-so far Of all the
was interrupted by the sound of a door
opening along the passage, and the next
moment Uncle Simon, in an exceedingly
airy costume and carrying a candle. in a
dangerously horizontal position, appeared
before our astOnished gaze. | had always
suspected that my uncle wore wig. Now
had ocular demonstration. His head
was bald as an egg.
Bless my soul = he gasped, with chat
tering teeth, letting the candle run down
on our new Kidderminster, 'this is most
ghastly house | refuse to 90 TO bed
again, Charles" he continued, excitedly,
81 shall sit up all night My nerves are
quite unstrung.
Here there was terrific and continu-
Gus peal at the frout-door bell 1t rang
and rang, and rang. | went down to open
it-our domestic having gone to bed
and Ella followed me. Hardly had |
drawn back the bolt than Mr.. Carper burst
in, dishevelled, painting, purple with rage,
his clothes stained with earth, his hands
cut and bleeding He tore past us up
stairs like a madman, and on the landing
he cannoned violently against Uncle Simon,
who was cllnglng to the stair rallngs shiv-
ering and shaking in his very sketchy at
tire To our utter amazement the two old
men grasped hands warmly and all but
embraced each other
@Where on earth did you come from,
Carper p quavcred my uncle, almost in
tears
"Fiuieker' returned the other in a
choking voice, "Im glad to see you-vcry
glad to see you. Let us leave this infer
nal place now-at once Then turning
to me Il tell you, Charles Danvers, you
will regret the dcspicable part you have
played to-day only once, and that, sir, will
be all your life. You are low, contemp-
tible bonnd sir. But I see now through