Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-09-16

IN. Now that man had not the soul Of
q man at all; he had the soul Of a rat,
q miserable, sneaking vermin Of . rat.
and when he died his soul went into a
rats body. 1t was late one evening
when l saw big black rat run through
ny room, which was on the other side
of the wall to this. 1t was an enormous
rat, quite black, with long white whis-
kers, and very bright eyes, and it ran
squeaking and shrieking through my
rom. and then disappeared. l could
Not see where it went to.
The next morning l heard the man
had shot himself. Then knew 1t was
the mans soul which had gone into the
body Of this black rat. OF course. they
mad an inquest. and brought in the YER
dict. Temporary insanity and they
mad a big funeral and all his relations
came. They invited me, and 1 went,
out Of politeness. you know. but when
they came to that bit OF the service
about the seul Of our dear brother
resting in peace why, / could have
hughed in their faces, for ] knew 1t
was not resting in peace at all, but ca
reering away somewhere in the body Of
that black rat"
Sir William, who had been locking
very grave during this TRADE. here
broke into q smile and observed: well.
old fellow, l dare say You are not far
out; It would be the fittest punishment
for such . scoundrel - you describe.
But did you never see the rat again?'
"Yes, many times; but the last time
Of all was here. in this very house" "
cried Jasper, excitedly.
"Indeedw said Sir william. "Why,
then, you must have brought 1t with
you"
mo such thing" retorted Jasper,
scornfully. "A rat like that does not
he continued, Il am confident It IS also
identical with a little dark man who
has taken the lawyers house and goes
10 business every day carrying a black.
81 my bag l watch him every day as
he passes, and I always say Good
morning. Sir Rat under my breath.
You mark my words, though, and look
out for that rat. 1 got up and chased
it all around the room and out into the
passage, and 1 am confident 1t disap-
cared in the drains. You have not
seen the last Of it yet"
Before Jasper had been very long n
;he house it became evident that his
Of
r'ous character than had been imagin-
ID. At times he was quiet and lucid
enough, and then would srddeni 2
break out into some incoherent rodo-
montade. His inconvenient penchant
for me still continued and he would
haunt the scboolroom with gifts OF
flowers and fruits. or sweets and mu-
sic. or any thing for which he heard me
express liking.
One morning, soon after breakfast,
was one the lawn with May, shipping
dead roses off the bushes and gathering
a fresh supply for the trbles.
Here comes Uncle Jasper; let's
hide" said May.
l turned and beheld Mr.. Jasper ad-
yancing in his peculiar ambling fash
ion. Flight was impossible. SO l held
Nays hand and waited until he came
up with us. He held an enormous full
blown crimson picotes in his hand and
came eagerly up to me.
"Ah. my princess. have found you;
have been looking every where for You
20 give you this" pressing the gaudy
blossoms into my hand. Don't you
remember the old rhyme. Miss Monroe:
The rose is red-the yiolets blue,
Carnation's sweet, and so are you.
You, YOU" he cried, you are my
rose and my carnation and my morn
ing star all rolled into one. /" Where
this outburst of poetic eloQuence would
have ended | know not, for this mo-
ment Simpson, the butler, came up 10
Jasper.
Mr.. Jasper" he said, will you please
tome and speak to Sir William in the
study? He wants to see you ON busl-
ness very particular"
Now. why do you come and talk 10
ne about business when you see me
Conversing with Miss Monroe" de-
.nanded Jasjer, testify. go away! I
cannot attend to you or to business
uuw."
On my representing to Mr.. Jasper,
however, that 1 must attend to mine.
and take May to do her lessons. he con
s.nted to accompany Simpson to the
study, saying as he walked away:
well, l will go now. but shall come
again; have something very particu.
ar to say to you"
About a week after this Sir William
aud Lady Northumberland by the
doctor that though Mr.. Jasper was no,
dangerously violent at present. ne
might at any time become so-went up
% town to see Mrs. Jasper and arrang-
ed with her about having her husband
Eiaced under proper control, even If
only for a short time.
Simpson has had experience in men,
tai cases and will take charge of JAS
per. so you need not feel nervous" said
Lady Mordaunt to me As she went
away.
resolved that would spend the day
IN the schoolroom and give my eccentric
lever a wide berth. In the afternoon
however, May complained Of head
ache, and sent her to her nurse to lie
down. Then, tempted by the beauty OF
the day, took my book and went out
intending to spend the afternoon on the
els. l walked through the Crowley
woods, now lovely in their autumna
t.nts, out on to the rabbit warren. and
over that to the cliffs. / made my way
TO one much higher and sleeper thar
tie rest. known as the Great Tor, and
climbed to its summit, a moss-covered
Lit of tableland tutting out over the
beach and commanding a grand view OF
the surrounding country. 1t was dan
rcrous spot. and one to which l never
ventured when l had my restless littl,
pupil with me.