A Scene In A Wine Cellar.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 11, Issue 793, 27 July 1888, Page 2

A Scene In A Wine Cellar.

I first met Miss Fyfe at a Ram'pgato boarding-house, where she was staying with' her maid. 'In person, 'she was tall and thin, with grey hair, a strong resolute face, an 1 large grey eyes. "W« were all seated round' the fire one evening when Miss Fyfe related to us the following adventure : — ' I had been living, > said she, in Loia-! don for a year, and had grown heartily tired pi it, so 1 determined to gqcjiowni td a' rimall country 'house J l nave' in Leicestershire^ \ where it yJ9®\ jjarranged my neptiew, Fred, should join me, The beginning of June found us ; all comfortably . settled in Ivy Lodge; with which only one fault could be found, its being six miles : distant from the nearest country town. . , - Summer and autumn passed away quietly enough.- One morning, in the early winter, iFred accepted an invitation to stay with an old friend for. a few "days. 5 On the- Second morning of his absence, Mary, the housemaid, asked if she and Bessie might go to the fliir at VV estbury » 1 gavg them leave, so in J the afternoon they were called for ) and driven off by. Mary's father in bis light cart. Before going, the old man observed that it jwould inmost likely be rather late at night before the lasses could get back, but perhaps I would not mind it *or once.'J " ' "If they are late*" I said, '* It would be best for them to stay all night at at your house, and get back in time for breakfast next morning," TKe cart was nearly but of sight when I remembered that I should be alone for the night, and also that I bad a large Biun of money in the house. Iho feeling was not a pleasant one, but being far from a nervous woman I soon banished it from my mind. Beides, "Wolf, the large house dog, would be sufficient protection for one night. So I shut the door, made myself tea, after that sat working for two hours, and then took a book and read. I read till nearly twelve o'clock, and then rose to go to bed. ° How about Wolf ? " I said to myself. " Shall I go and release him, or leave him chained to his kennel 1" 1 opened the door of tha passage leading to the yard, intendißg to release the dog, but at the same moment I felt a nervous tremor shoot through me, such as I bad never experienced before, and a gre&t disinclination to move into \>he dark parts of the house. I sat down and tried to prov6 to myself the absurdity of my feare. This I did in a very short time, but determined not to release Wolf. " 1 have had a cold for two days," I said to myself, ." and it would not be wise for me to go ont of this warm room into the cold air." Sol lighted my caudle and went to bed. When I got into bed my terrors vanished in some degree, but in their stead I became oppressed with a- presentiment of some evil near at hand. : Peeling thirsty, l putout'my hand, to reach a glass of water which stood on a low chair near the bed, wheu, horror of horror 1 my wrist was suddenly clutched by a death-cold hand, which grasped it for a second and then let go. For a moment my heart ceased to beat, then a cold sweat enveloped me, and I lay with staring eyes, expecting the aj-. pearance of some dread apparition. The next minute the blinding glare of a dark lantern was thrown in my dazzled eyes, : and a hoarse voice exclaimed, " Now, mum, will you oblige ml by getting up ? Sorry to disturb a lady, but it can't be helped this time." *2# was 5 a. burglar. Mustering all my courage, I determined to put a'bold face onthe matter, to protect myself, if pos•sibleV ftom personal violence. Recovering rn^Self, I said, ' " If you bad only written to say you were coming I would ,uave sat up for you." ■&•-■'='-'•>:. •■'•.■: ■''■ 11 1' Wanted to give you a plesant surprise.'' he replied. •• Are you gok g to get up ? " 14 Presently, when you go out of the room." Me went outside the door, holding it carefully with band and foot while 1 hurried on some clothes. I began by this time to feel alarmed, but I thought it better not to show it, and to treat him with polite audacity. " I am at your service," I said, in a couple of minutes. " Then light, your candle and po down stairs j you in front and me behind. But first hand me over that ticker of yours." " You must be careful not to turn the key more than six times wbeu ycu wind it up," I said handing him my watch and chain with a sigh. Now the cundle was lig%tedil coald see moie clearly what the fellow was like, . both hands and fac'd/WJere [blackened, and his head was fu&nw disguised with a flaxen wig and fur cap- When we reached the foot of the stairs he said, ''Stop a moment. Let us first pay a visit to that little room on the left, where there's a 'an* some, rosewood \ desk, in which there's two hundred pounds in good money, seventy in gold, rest in flimsies.'' Hbw had he obtained such information? But there was nothing for it but to obey, so I conducted him to the Study, opened my escritoire, and luckily handed him the money. He counted it with a chuckle^ and put it in his breast pocket. "Now this ia what I calls a comfortable way of doinjpusinese," he said; "no fuss, bother, cries, nor tears. I hate folks who snivel and bawl, and &mp fyel inclined p give them a tap

on the 'cad. If everyone was as sensible as you, mum, our trade 'ud be a pleasant one. Now, I think a few forks and spoons wouldn't come amiss, as I am expecting company next week." , Porks and spoons were soon disposed of, and sorrow of sorrows, my cherished silver teapot and sundry other articles of plate placed in a capacious bag, which Mr. Black produced from one of bis pockets. i " There, mum, I'm pretty well loaded by this time," he said, disposing of the last article ; v and its truly thankful X am that I came here without a pal. I knew I could crack a little crib like this myself; it's child's play." He pulled but my watc^. tf Why, blow me, it wants two houWand a half yet to daylight. Time tor supper, if you have no objection^ mum." ■ . ■ ■■ ■ : •' None whatever," I replied ; " if you will follow me into the dining-room I will see what I can find." " Blinme ! but this is prime, and no mistake," he exclaimed, turning up bis coat cuffs, as I set before the remains of a cold fowl, and a half a bottle of port. " Best quarters I've been in for many a day, hang me if it ain't ! He set to work with energy. li Here's your health, mum," he said after a time, "and best wishes of a fellow^whose heart dosen'thold hold too many_good. wishes for, anyone." . When he bad made a hearty meal, he produced a little black pipe and tin tobacco-box. "By your leave, mum, I'll just blow a little cloud, though ts perhaps its rule to smoke in the droering-room, if so, say the word, and we'll sjoun to the kitchen." *' You are a privileged visitor," I replied, " so light your pipe, by ail means. " A brick I 1 said it before and I'll maintain it again. Let's have some more wine. 1 suppose there's more where this came from.'* " Yes, plenty more in the cellar." Taking a candle in one hand, and my bunch of keys,jll led the way to the cellar, closely followed by the ruffian. The wine cellar was reached by descending a steep flight of stairs. At the top ot these stairs was a sli-hfc door, partly made of glass, and at the toot a stronger door, usually kept locked. Having descended the stairs, I unlocked the lower door, and we both entered the cellar. 1 painted to the various ranges of bottles, and said to Mr. Black, " Pick aad choose, the last row is port." " Couldn't improve on the last lot. But I say, mum, it wouldn't be amiss lor me to carry away a couple of bottles, and I'll crack another up stairs^ before I go." Chuckling to himself, he stooped down to pick up some bottles ; I gave him a sudden push, with all the iorce of my two hands, which sent him crashing head-first among the bottles. 1 locked the lower door, rushed up the staircase, and double-lucked the door ac the top. Mr. Black quickly picked himself up from among the bottles, and stumbled to the door. M What fool's trick is this?" he shouted through the keyhole. " Open the door, you hag, or I'll murder you when I get out." But 1 had struggled upstairs and lighted a candle in the kitchen. Leav- 1 ing it for a moment, I hurried to the bacfc door and called Wolf j but hearing no growl or bark of recognition, I went across the yard and found my poor dog lying dead and cold, poisoned bo doubt by that wretch in the cellar. This cruel deed set my blood aflame with hatred of the man. Tne next morning I had pleasure in seeing him marched off to his well-de-served punishment.