Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-28


How long is it since You left Lon
don, Mrs. Sa!tram;''
"a year, l think. What is it to day.
..'Thc twenty fifth, no, the tweniy-sixth
Of May'n
| dropped my head on the cushion
Then, that date, the first she mentioned.
had passed over unthought Of by US
That night, the nj hit of mortal horror
when the Argo went down, lay thus far
buried in the past, parted from US By
two blessed years
But found it impossible to converse
longer with Mrs. Hart: 80 about 10
o'clock l left her reading, and went to
take half an hours rest in my chamber,
which, as l have ex ex.laincd, was divided
from the salon by small boudor or d. es-
sing room. The only other entrance
was fom door near the head Of nv
bed, which I locked.
Il seemed uneourteous TO retire for
the night, so / merely thew dressing
gown over my evening toilet, and lay
down outside the bed, dreami watching
he shadows which the lamp threw. THIS
lamp was in my chamber but its light
extended family into the bodoir, showing
he tai mirror there, and sofa which
was placed opposite. Otherwise, the
little room was dusky, save for narrow
CLINT streaming through the no; quite
closed door of the salon.
l lsy broad awake, bat very quie',
conienied, and serene l was thinking
Of Alexis. In the midst Of my r,verle,
| heard, as l thought, my maid tying
he handle Of the door behind ne.
II is lock d, | sad; 'anoti er time. :
The Sou ceased, yet / almost thought
she al opened the door, for there came
= siit Of win4, which made the lamp sway
n lis socket But when l looked, the
IA or was closely shut, and Ike bolt still
.ast.
lay, II might be, hall an honr longer.
Then, with a ce tam compunc.on a M
'iscourtesy, l saw til, sion door open
and Mrs. Hart appear.
Size looked in, Grew back hurri dly,
AID lo>ed he doc. after her.
OF urse l imn, diafely rose t. follow
h r. Ere Ding 30, l remember pariicu-
larly standing with the lamp in my hand,
IT ausi G my dress before tn mirror OF
The bofdoir, and seeing ref cted IN til
=la~s, with my cashmere lying over lis
cushions, the soia nnoccupicd
Eliza was standing thoughtful'y by the
stove.
Il ought to ask pardon Of you, my
dear Mrs. Hart"
"Oh DO. but of you l did not know
Mr. Sa tram had returned Where Is
my husband -
"With mine, no dolbt! We need not
expect them for an hour yet, the rene
gados -
You are jesiing," sad Mrs. Hart,
half offended. l know they are come
home 1 saw Mr. Saltram in your blu
doir two minutes since"
Glow"
in your boudoir, repeat He was
lying on the sofa"
Impossible ~ and l burs. out laugh
ing "Unless he las suddenly turn d
into a cashmere shawl. Come and look. I"
I flung the folding doors open, and
poured food Of light into the littl-
room.
1T IS very odd" fdgeted Mrs Hart :;
every odd indeed | am sure l saw a
gentlemen here. His face was turned
aside, but Of course 1 concluded it was
Nr. Saltram. Very odd, indeed"
l still laughed at her, though an un-
easy feeling was creeping over me. To
dismiss it, | showed her how the door
was fastened, and how it was impossible
my husband could have entered.
"No, FOR | distinctly heard You say,
1t is locked, another time" What did
YOU mean BY another time ~
II ,houghs it was Fanchon- ;"
To change the subject | began show
ing her some parures my husband had
just bought me. Eliza Hart was very
fond Of Jewels. We remained looking at
hem some time longer, and then she
5ade ms good night.
"No light, thank YOU can find ny
-. The boudoir il not dark. Coed