Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-31

now before me, the glittering spiral
threads hanging partly down the back,
and surmounted by some sort of black
Golf or conical head-gear. Their as
pect, altogether, was very singular;
found that, so soon as my eye had fall
en- on them, could not take it off F;
and to say the truth, if l stared, the
young women returned the stare with
interest. AS l moved wearily away,
the elder one spoke
"Have you no money to buy your
self a nights lodging, young man ?"
II have enough for that, Fraulein, y
l replied coloring; "but | am almost
too tired to go about and look for
one. | have been
| ill, and have walked some miles to-
day."
The sisters exchanged glances.
"lf it be so, We will give you a supper
and a nights lodging, We need no
payment, We are bound by VOW
to help any poor wayfarer so far
You may come with US, young man."
Something within me said ado not
go. But why? What young fellow
of twenty would refuse the hospitality
of two handsome women, especially
when he has hut a few shillings in his
pocket, is tired and hungry? Yet I
hesitated. 80.
accept it or Decline" said she
who was still the spokeswoman, some
what impatiently.
awe cannot wait here longer"
We were at the door as she said
this. ....
81 will paint your pictures in the
morning, then, in return for your hos
pitality," Ireplied smiling. 1 was a
vain boy, am afraid, in those days.
| had good teeth and liked to show
them. The younger sister. | saw,
never took her eyes off me. There
was no harm in appearing to the best
advantage. | bowed rather directly
to her as spoke, and once more the
sisters exchanged glances.
A hired carriage was waiting
Without a word they stepped into it
and | followed them. The driver
clearly knew where to drive. With
out any order being given we set off
rapidly, but what direction | did not
think of observing Like most Ger
man carriages, the glasses ratified
over the stones, so that | could not
hear myself speak. | made futile
effort, but neither sister attempted to
respond. Both sat there opposite me
motionless, leaning back in the two
corners. | had nothing for it but to
watch their faces in silence, aud spec
ulate about their history, as the lamps
swung across he narrow streets,
threw lurid jets of light ever and anon
upon those Two white masks under
the black point d'coifs.
1t was not until we had been driven
for upwards of twenty minutes, and
had come into what | supposed to
have been suburb of the city, judg-
ing from its high garden walls, that it
suddenly flashed upon me that had
left my knapSack behind me in the
confessional. An exclamation of an.
noyance escaped me.
"What is it ?" said the younger sis
ter, leaning forward her voice was
far more musical than her sisters.
| told her what troubled me.
Ibid it contain anything of value p
asked the other.
| shook my head. Nothing of
value to any one but mySelf-a change
of clothes and my colors and brushes
and a few books"
"The cathedral is locked now. Il
would be no use in our returning. II
will be open at six, and if you are
there before that hour, you will fine
your property all safe, no doubt.
Here we are Gret
chen; have you the key ?-Open the
door,"
We stopped before a small, single
storied house, having wall on eithel
side of it, and no other habitatior
near. So much | saw, while Gretchen
(the younger one) drew out a key ant
opened the house door. The carriag'
drove off. 1 followed the sisters int
a narrow passage. Upon the righ
was the kitchen: on the left the stair
case; at the back, a door, leading by
flight OF steps, into garden.
"Come with me, young man." sal,
Gretchen. "Lori will get suppe
ready meanwhile.
t awe have but two rooms. y
Lori will prepare your bed in tn
t parlor after supper. 4
/ Will you wash your hands ?"
Y She struck light, and opened
{ door to the left at the top of the stair!
}. 1t was the bedroom of the two sister
+ small, yet containing two beds an
t several great chests. A black crucif,
I too, l observed in the corner of th
r room.
d "And you two live here alone p
It asked. "No servant? Are you ne
= afraid sometimes ?"
s She shook her head. "No, we al
e not afraid. Lori is afraid of nothin
:. mot even Of ghosts ?"
e laughed.
e "Do not laugh" she whispere
a. aGhosts are the only things | fear.-
d Sometimes / fancy | see them in Il
|. garden there" She shuddered. "St
: what fine garden we have.
u Plenty of space, is there not p
o. She was pouring water into a bas
n from an earthenware ever, remer
q Der, as she said this. She set tt