South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1868-04-03


the table out in my room. was beginning
to let my keen sense of ludicrous triumph
over pain and weariness, and | watched her,
strangling the laugh, until she was down
stairs. To see her stab the potatoes and
behead the celery was a perfect treat, and
the air OF martyr preparing poison, with
which she poured out the water, was per-
feet. Harry was evidently prepared for
fun, for he watched her as kecnIy as did
Not one mouthful did she bring TO me
until she had made it as dainty as could be
MASKING my potatoes with the movement of
saint crushing vipers, and bu;tering my
bread in manner that fairly transformed
the knife into dagger. Yet the moment
she broughtit to me, all the afFectation dropp-
ed, and no mother could have been more
naturally tender. Evidently, with all her
nonsense, she was kind hearted
1t took but one day to find that we had
secured perfect treasure. Her cooking
was exquisite enough for the palate of an
epicure; she was neat to a nicely, and
soon found her punctual and Trustworthy
Her attention to myself was touching in its
watchful kindness. Sometimes when the
pain was very severe, and l could only be
suffering and helpless, her large hands
would smooth my hair softly, and her voice
became almost musical in its low murmur-
ing of poor child" | think her large,
strong frame, and consciousness of physical
superiority to ME in my tiny form and help
less state, reused all the motherly tender
ness In her nature, and she lavished it up
on me freely
| often questioned her about her former
places discovered to my utter Amusement
that she was never in theatre, never saw
OF read a play, and was entirely innocent of
novel reading.
L had become used to her manner, and
no longer feared she was insane, when one
evening my gravity gave way utterly, and
for .he first time laughed in her face She
had been arranging my bed and self for
the night and was just leaving the room
holding in one hand an empty pitcher aud
in the other my wrapper. Suddenly a
drunken man in the street called out, with
a yell that really was startling, though by
no means mysterious.
Like fash, Mary struck an attitude
One foot advanced, her body thrown slight
~ forward, the pitcher held out and the
wrapper "oNCu aioilJ SHC CilCu Out III Il
voice of perfect terror
Gracious heavings What hideous
screams is those 2
Gravity was gone. | fairly screamed
with laughter, aud her motionless attitude
and wondering face only increased the fun
Go down, Mary, or you will kill me = |
gasped at last.
Apparently unconscious of the cause of
my mcrriment, she went slowly from the
room, waving alternately the pitcher and
the wrapper.
To see her flourish the dust brush would
strike terror to the heart of the most daring
spider; and no words Of mine can describe
the frantic energy with which she punches
| pillows, or the grim satisfaction on her face
at the expiring agonies of spot Of dirt she
rubs out of existence. The funny part of
All is her perfectly stolid Inconsistencies
OF doing anything out of the way.
Harry found out the explanation. She
had lived for ten years with retired ac-
/ trCss and actor, who wished to bury the
knowledge Of their past life, and who new
er mentioned the stage. Retaining in pri-
vate life the attitudes and tones of their old
1 profession, they had made it a kind Of sport
to burlesque the passions they so often i'm
itatcd, and poor Mary had uncousciously
fallen into the habit Of copying their pecu.
/ liarites. When they left for Europe she
found her way into the intelligence Office,
where Harry secured her. Long, long, may
she remain Our CAL