Year: 1870

deuce Therefore L resolved for the
present at least, to keep my accidental
knowledge of Hatfeld's plans to myself.
He seemed TO be not so much villain
as II weak fellow who had got himself
first into pecuniary difficulties and af.
terwarls into bad company. Perhaps
he would confess the whole affair him.
self to May before the wedding, aud in
the sincere hope that he would do so,
| resolved to keep quiet at present aud
say nothing about it,


A day or two after this, while we
were all at breakiast, there came letter
in the morning post, addressed to Char
ley.


That looks remarkably like the gov.
ernor's handwriting" said Charley,
looking at it aud breaking the SEAL
" What's up now | wonder p'


lie dived at once into the contents,
and in a momeut pushed away his plate
with movement Of annoyance.


He's coming home day after to NOR.
row." he said "Botherl Why couldn't
nc stay MS time out


May looked ut him out of her tender
blue eyes reprOacbfully.


That isn't the worst of it either"
continued Charley, not needing her
" He's going to bring company with
him-old Mr. Pedroncell and his wife"


MIR. Pedroncclli % exclaimed May.


Yes. Wen all have to toe the
mark while he's here, contouud him
Comiugevents cast their shadows before.
Here's postscript about the family
plate,'


What about the family plate ?"
asked May.


lie says it must be got home and
rubbed up in honor OF our distinguished
visitor, who is Of very aristocratic family
and used to considerable splendor in all
his surroundings. lie says we must fix
up the north chamber as handsomely as
possible. see We are to have a regular
old martinez with US. Good by to the
shooting and all the other fun"


May turned to me to explain that the
family service Of plate, which was very
old, massive and valuable, was usually
kept at the bank in Daybrook for safety,
aud never used except upon what her
father considered state occasions, when
it was brought to the house and cleaned
up for service.


Hatfield remarked that it would be
well to be sure Of the genuineuess of
the letter before taking the plate from
the bankers.


There's no doubt about the letter."
said Charley, tossing it to me. ado
you think there is 7"


II should say not" replied. "That
is certainly Mr.. Dunham's signature"


And SO also said May.


The necessary orders were according
ly given to the banker and on the fol-
lowing day the plate came home. 1t
was most elegant service an consisted
of great many pieces, SO many, in fact,
that the three housemaids were kept
busy throughout the whole day in
securing it up and getting it ready for
use. At night it was arranged upon
the various tiers of the great oak side
board in the long dining room and COW
cred up with green cloth. The north
chamber was cleaned and fitted up, aud
We all retired to rest that evening in
considerable curiosity as to what sort of
visitor the morrow would bring to us,
aud iu not little disappointment at the
sudden termination Of our sport.


The room assigned to me during my
stay was in the east gable of the house
and almost directly over the dining hall.
| mention this in order that the events
Of that night, which have never since
passed from my memory, may be thor
oughly understood. The family retired
to rest at about the usual hour, but |
was unable to sleep. The nervousness
Induced by the expected arrival OF tho
dreadful Pedronceili, kept me tossing
from one side Of the bed to the other,
and in vain | endeavored to court the
drowsy god. All efforts to obtain sleep
were fruitless. The dog Crusoe, too,
seemed unusually wakeiul. lie came
beneath my window at intervals of five
or ten minutes and vented his uneasi.
ness in a series Of low howls, so lugu.
brious that jumped out of bed at last,
and opening the window, reproyed him
sharply. lie went away reluctantly,
but soon came back, whining piteously
aud scratching the pillars OF the piazza
below with his nails. The night was
intensely dark, aud occasional violent
gusts of wind, rattling the shutters,
bctokened rain. | attributed the dogs
nervousness to the approaching storm,
aud finally, unable to endure his noise
any longer, went down stairs into the
front hall and let him in. No sooner
had | opened the door than he bolted
past me like shot and disappeared.
Fastening the door again called to him
softly, but could not ascertain whittier
he had vanished. The door leading to
the dining-room was slightly ajar, and
putting my head through the opening,
called again. Still no response. The
entire house was silent as death. sup.
posing that the dog had been frightened
at the wind aud had sought place of
safety under the stairs or somewhere
else, | gave up the search aud returned
to my room, laughing at Charley's faith
in the courage OF his mastiff.


Toward midnight must have dropped
asleep, for it was not long after that
when | awoke with sudden start and
vague sensation of terror. 1t seemed
to me that terrible crash had rung
through the house, SO loud and fearful