The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-24
H OIL Y 0 0 D .
BY ALICE CAREY.


CHAP. ~.
| The next time found myself alone with
Miss Halstead, in her study, she resumed the
story, as follows:
"Glad to find you ready for am come for
| you" MIR. Richards said, seeing that | was
| tying on my bonnet; and observing my puzzled
| countenanoe, he explained that be was quite
| serious, and really come to ask charity at my
hands. He had been forsaken-left INTO him.
self dosolate Miss Pinchum had gone during
the night; the house was in disorder and the
| servants, lacking their captain, would grow
| mutinOu5, he feared, and make him walk she
| plank-a ceremony which be felt anxious to
defer, by the securing of an ally.
| said, if could be of any service to him il
| would give mo pleasure, but feared nv abili-
ties would prove unequal to the directing of bis
| household had been little used to servants
| for was determined to square my conduct to
my late resolve
| Mr.. Richards drew himself Up little said
| my presence in his house for one or two DAYS
was all be rtquired--he must necessarily be
| absent for an indefinite number Of hours, or
days perhaps, in quest Of some ono to supply
the place of his late housekeeper sand that if in
asking of me the favor he had, he lad o7erdra wn
upon the account of friendship between us, he
could only ask pardon.
| felt at once how much pride yet remained
in my heart to be subdued, and replied prompt
ly that would go-I should perhaps be find
ing my level in assuming the mantle of Miss
Pinchum.
Ispoke bitterly, bat Mr.. Richards laughed at
the pleasant jest, as he seemed to consider what
Lad said; and having explained briefly to
Martha, who neither seemed to noiiae my words
nor receive the slightest meaning from them,
We left my home together, and from that hour
have never hid homo.
But let me not anticipate. We walked in ST.
lence at tirst-l did not care to say anything,
and Mr.. Richards appeared singularly distract
ed or embarrassed, ] could not tell which.
About midway of the lane between our houses,
We met Doke-he was siding close along tho
fence, and evidently trying to escape observa-
ton, but his curious movements served only to
rivet our attention upon him, and 50 we met I
noticed that his head was bent forward, and
tha. blood was trickling down bis eck. 90
Dokei" called, in alarm "That in the world
has happened? 2"
"Noffen much" he replied, for his mouth was
too full to speak plainly, and | now saw that
what appeared at first the writings of pain,
WAS but distorted grin.
Still under the impression that he must be
hurt, if not severely, [ indicated the blood, up
on which the grin broadcned and deepeued; and
removing his greasy cap the boy exhibited to
my astonished view the almost pal pitatng heart
and liver Of q recently slaughtered sheep. 81
have BEEN to the butchers shop" he said and
the man has given me all this good stuff" and
replacing the cap on hi, head, he went forward
at a shambling trot happy in tho anticipated
feast
This incident. gave US theme upon which
to start, and served in fact, as staple during
the rest of the walk.
Arrived at homo, q new source of annoyance
awaited Mr.. Richards. The cook and cham
bermaid, IN consequence of q lively quarrel,
had sngly and separately gathered their effects
together and departed, leaving only little
maid OF all work in the house
For myself, l felt it rather relief; | could
direct my own hands better than the hands of
another, and | saw before me an open field
aking survey OF the premises | found ali in
sad dlsorder-beds unmade carpets un-nailed
and askew, curtains torn and disordered cup
boards filled with variety of things that
should not have been in them, and EMMY of all
they should have contained, with every apnear.
ance, generally, of the absence of q regulating
head, and Of there having been such absence
for long while. could not help rejecting
that Miss Pinchum had been striving to com.
mend herself by other means than her good
housekeeping.
In the door Of the library we found card
on which was written, in delicate female char
acters-
"False hearted man thou hast broken the
fondest heart that ever beat in the breast of
woman. Fare thee well and, when thou wed
dest another, mayst thou learn what thou hast
lostn
Rosanna, tie little maid of oil work, and q
smart, mi.chiefloving creature, presented 1t to
Mr.. Richards, saying, "a precious relic,m as
she did SO. Precious nonsense !" he replied
but afterwards he read il through deliberately,
reread it. and, tearing it in strips, very leisure
~ laid them one by one on the fire.
"What pleases you? 2" he said, seeing that
Rosanna could not suppress litter.
| go, sir" she replied, " | had such funny