Year: 1864

they were on the point of starting. h,
drew them back and begged them to sta,
during the night The village priest onl,
laughed, and said that mine host evidentl,
did not know the life of paste,r or h,
would not think much of going out in
little shower; and the lawyer said my
uncle was far too considerate and kind


Nonsense" said my unc e; don't cal
1t kindness to save friend a miles walk
IN weather in which it is not fit for Il dog
to put his nose out of his kennel"


Bah the weather will not penetrate
our thick greatcoats SO, if that is a you
fear, good night !"


"Abl but argued my uncle, ''that is
not all fear. You know how many per
sons have lately been pulled up by high-
waymen, and have had their pockets rifled
and been seriously discounted in many
ways. Come, now, give up the idea OF
going home, and stay here instead"


'Ha, ha, ha" laughed the attorney
go we are to he pick pocketed during a
short miles walk, which we have both
taken hundreds of times on many darker
nights, and at later hours too. No, no;
really believe you are nervous yourself,
and want us to stav and help to frighten
away the hogies. Is it not SOP


NO, indeed" retorted my uncle; "I
am far too matter of fact to trouble my
head about bogies, material or immaterial
until they really make their appearance
at the chateau


My upcie's manner, seemedhowever, to
belle his words; for he gave a nervous
cough, which he tried to convert into a
laugh as he finally shook Lands with his
friends; and thus they departed.


1t was indeed fearful night Every
moment the wind rose higher, and blew
round the old mansion with such violence
the very walls. 1t was about eleven o clock
when my uncle retired to his room. This
was = large old-lashioned chamber, quite
in keeping with the rest of the castle; its
walls were gloomy with tapestry of an an
cient date; the door was hung in such a
manner that it was difficult TO detect
whether it opened from within or without,
or indeed whether any door existed at all.
Opposite was a Fireplace, which, instead
of stove, contained iron dogs, on which
blazed n bright wood fire.


Between the door and the fireplace was
a large bay wind ow, in which stood the
dressing~tab'e on the table was n large
lookine-glass g'oomily rejecting the four
post bed As may be supposed from what
has already been said, dressing his head
for the night formed no inconsidcrable
portion of nv un,le's tot eft. Tonight he
seemed depressed, apparently by the
moaning of the wind and he moved un-
the window and looked into the darkness
but not being able to detect anything
there. he turned to the fire, and after gag
inc moodiIr for a few moments at the
burning logs, commenced the important
business Of assuming his night gear First
came the scarlet flannel cap. which was
carefully drawn on over the ears, and the
strings tied Suddenly my uncle assum-
ed a listening attitude.


did not hear laugh ?" said he tO
himself .Surcly heard something, Oh
but nonsense Bah what am dreaming
Off And he took up his nightcap and
proceeded to place it gravely over the
other, and then. lastly, a gorgeous one oi
black velvet embroidered with heads.


Again my uncle started, for he distinct
" seemed to hear some one laughing, He
glanced uneasily around; al was sti
save the noise of the wind bowling through
the trees Again he tried 20 quit his ris-
inc fears, and once more riveted his at
tention on the mirror before him. The
fioure therein reflected was certainly cal
culated to excite n smi e, for 1t was curl
ous to see such n benevolent, kind lace IN
a huge velvet cap with trln"l 'e OF black
yellow. and red, to say nothing of ear lap
pets and strings. 1t is often the case,
when looking in a mirror, that one does
not 'ook ut the object one seeks to see,
but the eve wanders to other things re-
fiected in it This was the case with my
uncle tonight His eve wandered from
himself to the bed, and from the bed to
the floor. which seemed strangely distort
ed ; it appeared to form a steep hill, as
seen in the glass But whatwas that black
thing on the apparent HILL between the
bed-,rimmings and the carpet? He leaned
forward to examine the ass more ose V
bu. rs he did so, he started back with :
slicht scream, for the black looking object
on the Garnet was the heel Of a man
boot. He turned quickly around to ascer
tain if there really existed such thing,
and there wa. nothing to be seen thu
valance Just touched the carpet and seemed
perfectlv undsturbed. He then began to
reason that it must have been an optica
delusion that the noise of the elements
had made him nervous And then he al
most resolved to lift the valance and lool
= -Lara wore n man under the ped. This