The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-04-02

seemed, for he himself was not able to re-.
ply near so often however, of course I
was not bird, so that could not be in
two places at once, SO l made the best of
it. and was rs happy as confidential la-
dy's maid, under such circumstances could
hope to he.
One evening had been preparing my
mistress. who WAS Il very splendid dresser.
for the opera; my only fcllow-servant was
on leave Of absence for some days; and en-
cept the porter in the courtyard, there was
nobody when the carriage had driven OFF
that night, in the whole house, save myself;
therefore, having nothing be,tcr-or at
least ncer-to do, and being in my mis-
tress' bedroom among her beautiful robes
and ornaments, it WAS hardly to he cxpcc-
ted that should resist such an orportun-
ty Of trying them on. The room. besides
being charmingly hung with mirrors, had
delicious full length swinging glass, and
before this I amused myself for a good
long while. l bchcd how Malcmoselle
Elizabeth Martin-,lat is my prcscn, name,
but dear Joscph's is Andrews-how she
looked in baregcs, in silks, in muslins, for
the morning; a how lace and satin, and
how sleeves, w "'ars, became her for
evening wear; qnipping myself in
a particularly pie slacc silk walking
dress, with a boi. aud falling veil, fit for
bride, could not help twisting round
little, to see rs much of myself as possible,
and contrasting the effect ut the sa,nc time
with that of maam-who WAS beautiful
enough. hut in'litfcreniIy proportioncI-I
involun,arily remarked aloud: "Well, we
may be plain i'll the face, but we are Ger
tainly unexcep:ionahlc behind"
1t was an ahsard thing to say, even to
ones self, and remember Llusling like Il
beet, rs though it were not quite out Of the
question that could bc overheard There
were several jewel drawcrs-this ruby upon
my middle finger, ring belonging to my
mistress late husband, was in one Of them
but had no time for more than to set
Oh n handsome necklace or two, and to
very much regret that my ears had not
been punched for the accommodation "f IN
especial pair of diamond earrings, before
/ heard wheels in the courtyard, and my
mistress came home. Everything had been
put away carefully, and unlrcssed her and
SAW her to bed us usual. She WIS more
than commonly kind and gentle in her
manner that night, IA I have thought at
least; and when she wished me her Jon
soir, she added, q" am sure we shall both
he tired Tomorrow, Bessie; so call me an
hour later, and take an extra sleep your
self" | was never 10 hear my good mis-
tress speak any more.
Did dream that nj gilt that size had left
me all her wardrobe, and that | WAS mar
ried i'll tie glace silk Did I. even in Inv
sleep. build schemes Of what would do
with the money that my dead mistress
might enrich me with No; as hope for
heaven, and to meet dear Joseph, will, all
my woman's vanity, had my wo,nan's
heart, too, beating true and warm. and
thought no shadow Of evil. I told them
SO in court, where al looked black against
me, and they believed me even there. But
in that morning, late, when the sun was
shining full upon the window, and the
noise of the people g"ing about their daily
work was full and clear, saw frigltful
sight. a gllas.ly horror, that tho day hut
served to make more hidcous and unnatu-
ral-my mistress murdered in her bed No
answer when l knocked; again no answer.
The curtains at the bedside were close
drawn, but through. tho open shutters Il
fiery flood of light fell upon the carpet and
the curtans-ay, and on the corner of the
snow-whitc counterpane, red also. 1t was
blood! 1 thought there had been rain
of blood upon the handles Of the draw
crs, upon the toilet cover, on the dressing
case, upon the towels, in the basin-every
where, where the nurderer's hands had
been after their deadly work; and in the
bed-I dared not look in the bed but in
that great swinging glass, where had
dcckcd myself but few hours ago, saw
it all, and every mirror in the room was
picturpg the same rsight-there lay the
corpse, the murdered woman, withjher ga
ping throat.
They thought at first that 1 was mur-
dered too, lying SO stiff aud cold in lint
death chamber. answered nothing to
their questions. neither in tlse house nor in
the prison. ] knew nothing, nor could l
have told them had I known, s,ntiI Joseph
come. 1t seemed to me then quite natural
that he should be with lne-nolhing praise
worthy, polhing. Crhis dear little engaged
young PERSONS eyes begin to get redder
Al