Year: 1878

| than my full share Of inches. already
! enjoyed fair modicum of whiskers,a and
had even made some progress In the cul-
tivation of n pair of mustaches, when
suddenly the house which was con-
nected with failed. What was ! to do :
The Governor insisted upon my return
to England, where his interest among
the mercantile class was considerable.
Laura limited mysterlously that my pres
ence In the house would soon be mat
ter Of great Importance to her father, and
mamma let out the secret by writing to
me that Laura was going to "change her
condition." was glad to hear this, for
knew he would be model fellow who
was Laura's husband; and gulping
down my pride, which would fain have
| persuaded me that 1t was unmanly to go
back again like the i'll six-pence, set
out on my return home.


The family, knew, had moved to an
other house; but being well acquainted
with the town, had no difficulty in
finding the place. 1t was range of
handsome buildings, which had sprung
up in the fashionable outskirts during
my absence; and, although 1t was far
on in the evening, my accustomed eyes
soon deserted through the gloom, the
governors old-fashioned door plate.
was just on the point of knocking when
a temptation came into my way. One
of the area windows was open, gaping
as If for my reception. A quantity of
plate lay upon table close by. Why
should not enter and appear unan-
nounced in the drawing-room, u sun
burnt phantom of five feet, eleven Why
should 1 not present the precise and
careful Laura with handful of her own
| spoons and forks, left so conveniently
at the service of any area sneak who
might chance to pass byY WhyY This
is only figure of speech. 1 asked no
| question about the matter as the idea
was hardly well across my brain when
my legs were across the rails. In an
other moment had crept in by the
window; and chuckling at my own
cleverness and the great moral lesson 1
was about to teach, 1 was stuffing my
| pockets with the plate.


While thus engaged, the opening of
door in the hall above alarmed me, and,
afraid of the failure of my plan, step
ped lightly up in the stair, which was
partially lighted by the hall lamp. AsI
was about to emerge at the top, SER
want girl was coming out of room on
the opposite side. She instantly retreat
ed, shut the door with bang, and 1
could hear half-suppressed hysterical
cry. 1 bounded on, sprang up the draw
ing room stair, and entered the frs door
at a venture. All was dark, and stop
ped for moment to listen. Lights were
hurrying across the hall, and i heard
the rough voice of man, as If scolding
and taunting some persons. The girl
had doubtless given the alarm, al
though her information must have been
very indistinct, for when she save me L
was in the shadow of the stair, and she
could have little more than u vague inn
preston that she beheld human figure.
However this may be, the mans voice
appeared to descend the stair to the area
room, and presently heard crushing
noise, not as if he was counting the
plate, but rather thrusting it aside en-
noaSSe. Then heard the window clos
ed, the shutters bolted, and an alarm
bell hung upon them, and the man
re-ascending the stair, half scolding,
half laughing at the girls superstition.
He took care, Notwithstanding, to exam
inc the fastening of the street door, and
even to lock it and put the key in his
pocket. He then retired into room,
and all was silent.


began to feel decidedly queer. The
governor kept no male servant that 1
knew of, and had never done so. 1t was
impossible he could have introduced this
change into his household without my
being informed of it by my sister Laura,
whose letters were an exact chronicle of
everything down to the health of the
cat. This was puzzling. And now that
1 had time to think, the house was much
too large for a family requiring only
three sleeping rooms, even when was
at home. 1t was what is called double
house, with rooms on both sides of the
hall, and the apartments on the thresh-
hold of which was still lingering, APP
peared, from the dim light of the win
dows, to be Of very considerable size.