Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-07-15

Drlei period, on account OF the com /
miseion OF dreadful crime.
sledgemere is an out-of-the-way |
spot in Sussex, having 10 this day no |
railway station within nine mi'oz. and |
boasting only two gentlemen's resi-
dences and yicarage.
For nearly thirty years the parson
had preached, and his parishioners
had listened. There had been squab-
bles between the Vicar and the Squire
about chancel rights. There had been
good seasons and bad; nine-day scan
dsls had been cherished and nursed;
but never before had the sober. slow
going people OF the village been so ut
terry startled from their dreamy. ey-
ery-day existence as they were on that
memorable morning Of the 1ith OF
July. 49,.
About half mile from the Squire's
house and on the opposite side of the
village there was a pretty old man
sion called Froyles. which had been
occupied for a considerable time by an
elderly bachelor named Hughes. Very
little was known of him, although
when he first came into the neighbor-
hood he brought with him introduc-
lions to the Squire. from whom he
rented the house. Considering that he
lived almost entirely alone, he kept up
somewhat large establishment. p
Occasionally an elderly maiden-lady
named Miss Pyeeroft. who was sup
posed 10 be his niece. came and paid
him a three or four months visit; but
the old man was OF such retiring habits
that be could not endure for any
length OF time any Interference in
his ways OF life. So Miss Pyecrofts
visits invariably terminated in a
stormy eruption on his part, caused by
some faneied liberty he imagined her
10 have taken in the ordering Of the
household. or by some grumbling on
the part Of the servants, who by no
means relisbed her trespassing upon
their preserves.
MIR. Hughes spent his time chiefly
among his books and coins, OF both Of
which he prided himself upon having
large and valuable collection.
His household consisted chiefly OF
butler, footman. 4 cook. and two
ma!d-servsnis. besides two out-of-door
men. the coaehman and gardener. In
such a dull spot II was no easy task TO
get indoor men-seryants TO remain.
The master of the house very
daalay Ad
having TO preside at the two or three
annual dinner-parties. at which the
/ Squire. the Vicar and the local doctor,
accompanied by their respective wives
were his chief and generally his only
4 guests. These dinners were indeed but
/ slow affairs. for the only post-prandial
4 diversion ever offered was an inspec-
ton OF Mr.. Hughes coins, which were
displayed in their glass cases a.
| around the drswing-room. After tht
departure of the guests. these treas
ures were re-deposited In the grea
oaken cabinets In the library, to lie b,
until the next festive occasion. Amons
/ them were many valuable antique golt
and silver pieces. and II was common
remark OF the squire's, when he dineC
AT Froyles. that he would not like 4
keep so much bullion In bis house, FOL
fear OF waking up some fine morning
and finding his throat cut! Habit
however. had become a second nature
and the possession OF these coin,
caused Mr.. Hughes no anxiety.
They were not things people coul'
steal, he always declared. as the rea
value consisted In their antiquity, an,
Il would be a hard matter to dispose o
them.
But you might melt them down,
the Squire suggested.
Melt your grandmother down.
Mr.. Hughes had replied irritably, q
II the very motion OF melting dow
such treasures for the cake of paltr,
dross wsFe offensive to him.
It ia necessary. in order to folloy
thu revelations contained In thes
pares. TO be particular as to the de
scription OF the inmates Of Mr.. Hugh
cs' establishment at the time the mar
rative commences.
The cook, Mrs. Young, was an elder
" woman. who had been FIVE years IL
her present situation. The two maids
Sarah and Anne Dodson. wer,
sisters, both young women. and ma
tiyes OF the village of Sledgemere
The footman, Edward Bartlett. was {
youth of nineteen. and had lately beer
engaged with an excellent two years
character from his former master. Tn,
butler, William Luke. was a man O
over forty years OF age, who had en-
tered Mr.. Hughes service about tn,
same time as Bartlett.
In consequence OF the difficulty h,
had experienced in obtaining servants
Mr.. Hughes had taken Luke into hi
service without character. The mat
had been discharged by his late EN-
ployer for impertinence and suspected
pilfering OF wine; but Mr.. Hughe.
liked his looks. and. after cautionint
him ~ to his future behavior. con
~ASkAA - Apooya htu1