The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-04-09
from Chambers Journal.l
THE UNHlRED SERVANT.


been long on the road. Neither of us could
speak for some minutes, and saw there was
terror as we'll as surprise in my mothers face
but she recovered her oomposure, told Sally
she was in very good time, asked her some
questions about her brothers wedding, and our
friend Mrs. Turner, which the woman an-
swered quite satisfactorily, and sent her to
have her tea comfortably by tho kitchen fire.
"ls that the woman we engaged, SOphy p
she said, as soon Rs the door was shut
az don't think it is, mother"
Neither do L; but what brngs her here
and how can she answer so readily? Could
seeing her hy night and day make such diff
ference2"
We tried to persuade ourselves of that; but
both went to bed wfth queer, uncomfortable
feeling; and my mother looked NJ If her dreams
had been troubled next morning. Moreover,
the dayffstt did not make Sally whit more
like the girl wc'engaged in Norwich. Her face
kept the same sceny look we bad observed
over night. She wort about her work will
ingly, and like one used torit, but without word
or smile or sign of cheerful activity. My
If1othcg's questions, remarks and observations,
elected no evidence against her identity; but
seeing is beifeying-she was not thowoK1an We
had seen at Mrs. Turner's. The hall had al
ways been dreaTS residence, and this strange
servant did not add 20 its cheerfulness. Why
she had come troubled Irs for many day, but
ye could make nothing Of It; besides, she did
her work WE'LL required no Wstching, seemed to
have no dread Of the Hartwells on her mind,
did not complein of loneliness, did every thing
she was told, and was on the whole % valuable,
though not lively, servant. My raother's
letter on the altered appearance of our maid
seemed to amuse Mrs. Turner. She wrote by re-
turn of post, which in FenAem was o weekly Oc-
crrrence, to say that Sally hSt been at her house
only tTo hours before she set out with the
wagner, locking just as usual and for her
own part, she ccald not help thinking that
fancy was playing trick in that old house of
ours. Mrs. Turner was above deceit Of any
kind. There was no probable motive for sub
stitutfUn. The strange-lookiDg woman served
us faithfully; so we made up our minds that it
must be the vsTitable Sally Steen, who had
come to us from Norwich, and that our eyes
and memories had somewhat deceived us. One
thing was oertain-Sally had profted by her
residence in the convent Early and late she
was repeating to herself aves, prayers, and
penitental psalms. l caught sight of an iron
cross and rosary hung round her neck, and
carefully covered by the gray gown ,and her devo-
tions were generally prolonged far into the
night. My mother had q sincere respect for
the faiths and forms in which other souls found
comfort. Sally's abundant prayers were no
stumbling block to us, though mostly addressed
to the Virgin and st. Mary Magdalene. The
household went on we'll and quietly for some
weeks; we had got fairly in the belief that all
was right, and were preparing for our lonely
Christmas, when new element was added to
the mysteries of Fenham Hall.
/ happened to be restless and wakeful one
night. 1t was still frosty weather, with that
deep silence in the wintry air which makes
sounds distinct, however faint or far off. Every
body had been in bed for hours; had heard
the parlor clock strike two, when, somewhere
AZ -. ILL. h.. Asna
as if some one were delving or digging with
all their might at very hard ground. listened
as long as my breath would hold; it was not
fancy; the digging went on regularly; 1 could
catch the sound of spade or pick coming in
contact with stones, and felt sure it was within
the hall. had some courage, though 1 was
not then twenty; my mother had taught me
there was no honor in being easily frightened
My candle was lighted as quietly as possible
Every thing was just as we had left it; the
kitchen was dark; so was Sally's room, and
its door tightly closed; but the sound of the
digging went on, till our poor cat, seeing mt
invade her nightly solitude, jumped up with q
loud mew Then it suddenly ceased; list
ened for some time, walked about my room, a
length extinguished the candle, and got intC
bed, but heard no more of it for that night
Two or three mornings after, my mother
came to breakfast, looking as If she had no
slept well. had not mentioned the digging
to her, meaning to watch and see if fancy haC
been playing trick; but as poured out the
tea, she said, looking firmly at me: "Sophy
did you hear any noise in the house last night?'
Mutual questions and explanations followed
of course. The very same sound which so as
tonished me had been heard by my mother
night after night, all the previous week; she
too, had walked about, candle in hand, but
could see nothing, and the noise had always
ceased when she made any audible movement
"Shall we speak to Sally2" said I. "0r dc
you think it would frighten her2' .r
''No,' said my mother. 81 think she has
something to do with it. Last Wednesday
night tried her door; it was fast locked, ant
there was no breathing of any sleeper inside
Our best plan is to watch and say nothing.
have gone over all the rooms, and even the wine
cellars; have been in Sally's room too, an,
in the strong room; there is nothing moved
nothing out Of place; but, Sophy, am sur
the noise wac in that direction"
The strong room of Mrs. Fairbrother'
chronicle was situated Immediately behind Ou
kitchen, and could be reached by privat
stair leading up from dark closet at the inne
end of the corridor. 1t was said TO have bee
its vaulted roof and the traces of larger win
dows in its thick walls, there was no appear
apce of those days about it. The grated win
doWs kept their place, and the iron barred door
but under the Yarmouth administration it ha
become receptacle for the better sorts of lum
ber--remnants of old armor, dilapidated hunt
ing gear, pictures damaged by the cleaners
and great chests of family papers. Itwas on
of my amusements in that solitary winter
turn over its curious contents, and wondt
what had become of the secret chapel whicl
according to a tradition preserved by the ol
people of Fenbam, Squire Richard had mad
for himself somewhere in the hall, and ornG
mented in a most costly manner when he turne
Catholic. There were no relics of the kind i
the strong room; but was poking behind on
of the chests day or two after our talk abou
Sally, when 1 came upon a roll of painter
canvas. 1t was picture. drew it up to tn
window, for the evening light was growing din
and read that il WAS the portrait of Madelin
Teresse, seventeenth Countess of yarmouth
painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
That was the picture which had been take
out of its franc to keep the servants from know
ing the unlucky lady who died so miserably
Padua, in case she thought proper to reYis
- the hall. was not very superstitious, but IN
hair did begin to rise when the waning ligl
showed me the very image of our unaccoun
able servant. 1t was younger, richly dress'