The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-06-14


ity and that If the dogs were set on
me by way of welcome | had no right
to be surprised AS l mounted the
steps l became suddenly aware of u
kind of peculiar atmosphere, as Of q
place desolate and deserted, that now
made itself felt. 1 hammered, mildly
at first and then more vigorously, on
the knocker of the front door, getting
no answer except echoes from the big
hall inside Surprised by this and
urged by my private needs, | tried the
door at last. 1t was open. l entered,
walked forward, walked on, prepared
to apologize to the first person l should
meet at every step. But l met no one.
The house was utterly deserted. l
struck a series of matches and saw
that it was completely and elegantly
furnished. There were fine library, a
grand piano, rich hangings-every sur
rounding of wealth and refinement
but no need for apologies, for was
my own host. | found candles and
lamps and lit them. l found q table
spread with dclicacies, wines, fruits,
meats and beautiful china. 1t vas
covered, as was the sideboard, with
handsome silver. The chairs had the
air of having been hastily pushed back.
One was overturned. The viands had
the appearance of having been cooked
as recently as the day before. They
had been disturbed and partly consum-
ed 1t was evident that some sudden
alarm had caused the inmates to leave
the premises at moments notice.
got together all the lights l could mus
ter and sat down and ate the queerest
meal of my life under these circum-
stances, surrounded only by shadows,
my mind full of speculations about the
people who ought to have been around
that table,
'Who and where are they" l asked
myself 20 times. When l had eaten
and drunk and smoked 0here was a
box of Reinas on the side table,,
mounted to the second floor. Here all
was luxury and daintiness again.
took possession of the prettiest bed
room of ALL and how pretty it did look
after army life, to be sure, with it's sea
green walls and white muslin hang
ings! l took Il luxurious bath. l came
back to this room and rummaged
through the closets and presses for
something cool and clean to put on,
some substitute for my drenched linen
and hot, dusty uniform. l found a
score of pretty dresses, all frills and
laces; hats, bonnets, and petticoats. l
ruefully searched all the rooms adjoin-
ing for something belonging to the
owner of the Reinas. | found nothing
Of the kind-they must have been pro-
vided for guest-only more dresses,
high heeled slippers, feminine stuff of
all kinds that made me ashamed to
look them in the face and sent me
away a convicted bachelor. Back l
went to my room, turned down my bed
and, thinking to pull off sheet and
make q "Banquo's ghost" of myself,
came upon long, white laced garment
with blue bow at the throat and M.
G. l." down the front We will call it
q tea gown If you please, a nightgown
If you insist. There was no help for it.
/ put it on and sitting down on the
edge of the bed, laughed uproariously
over the figure cut in 1t for fully ten
minutes and felt myself the biggest,
coarsest, ugliest lout that ever lived.
then sank into sea of bliss. Never,
never shall forget that spring mat
tressed, linen sheeted, lace pillowed,
lavender scented, billowy bed! l felt
as if should never get out Of 1t again.
It seemed waste Of sensation to go
TO sleep in such one after four years
Of curling up on fence rails, in mud
ppddles, horse trqpshs, under baggage
wagons, with saddle for pillow. l
could not keep awake, however, and l
dropped off regretfully, lamenting that
l could not keep my cake and eat it too.
was aroused next morning by steps
in my room and, opening my eyes ana
fumbling under my pillow for my pis-
tol at one and the same moment. be-
! held at the foot of my bed the most vii