Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-06-21

ing, and the delicious aroma OF the
dinner coming through the open
door proved irresistible. He gave
his name in a whisper, was handed
over 10 a servant, who took him up
stairs into a guest chamber, helped
him remove his shah! y OvercOat,
aud Wbisked off his best suit with
a silver handle brush, takeng it's
threadbare CLINT for dust. 1t was
we'll be was engaged to play,
otherwise he would not have been
in evening dress. He was begin.
ming to onjoy the little comedy in
which lie was himself an actor.
There was no introduction. His
host motioned him to seat be.
tween the maiden lady and a severe
matron who turned her silken
back on him to talk to her neigh.
Dor on the other side. The pro-
fessOr'S pride did not once assert
itself. He was maSquerading-
that was all.
But fate had not done with Pro-
lessor Snylhe.
Tue cOnsomme bad a dash OF
champagne in it, and new life was
infused into the veins of this pro-
fessional diner.Out. The fish and
game and pate that followed were
all triumphs of the culinary art,
and tie hungry man clOyed the
edge of bis appetite, not by the
bare Imagination of a feast, but
by the feast itself. It was no
feast of the mecide, either, 70"
the viands were sctual. The poor
professor felt like saying to his
nelghbor, pinch NE" for it was
like a dream or an illusion rather
than a reality.
But the striking of the clock re-
minded him tlat he had been
there an hour, aud as he had
broken the spell of the unlucky
thirteen, he ventured 10 excuse
bimself, and rose stlff1y from bis
place and bowed himself out of
tue room.
He was followed by servant
who handled him an envelope
With the compliments of the gentle
menwith whom he had Just dined.
Not tor worlds would he have
opened 1t, thO0gh 1t was unsealed
before the man, but he accepted it
graciously, and went upstairs TO
get his hat and OvercOat unattend
ed.
A number of handsomely ap.
pointed chambers were on the
upper hall, and the professor
glanced into each as he passed Oh
his way to the particular guest
chamber where he had left his
belongings. Perhaps he was a
trife OYercOLe by the beverages
bat he thought the room had been
darkeped and that be was right.
He stood a moment In the door.
way aud LOT ked cautiously in,
peeriug about at the luxury, but at
he saue tIme noting that it was
not the dressing-rOOm for which he
was looking. Before he could step
back aud turn down the corridor
again, the unexpected happened.
lie received sudden and violent
push from behind, which huDg him
forward out of the doorway into
the room, the door was Instantly
locked upon hin, and he was "A
prisoner.
'Smythe luckv said the pool
man as be tried III vain to open the
door, aud knew by the rumpus be
could hear outside, that the house
was in state of excitement: Il
suppose they Will think l was try.
ing to steal something
Tnen a frightiul thought took
possession of him, which caused
cold drops Of anguish to stand out
on his gaunt cL eeks. Did they
su pect himi II I'd he been Observ.
Ell He opened the envelope in his
hand; it contained a hve dollar
note. Tuat was generous, and be
was sure bis host lad suspected
nothing, but the mere thought o1
the situation in which he was
placed drove him to the verge o.
distraction.
, And to add TO his terror, he heard
/ the alarmed household coming
down stairs, and the next mOmen
, the door of his room WAS opened
had his host, backed by all the
male guests, stood in the oper
doorway.
"Wnat were you doing herei' wal
! the first question Ills host pro
, nounced; 'tell the truth now a
you would hope for mercy
/ Il came here to get my bat anC