Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-03-30
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thing PARTICULAR
ssWeI. nv lady" answered Wharton, de-
lighted to be able to impart piece OF freshly
CLEANED news, "Margery, the scullery maid,
has Just come up from Owenson's cottage,
and she saws they're II dreadful way therel'
"What is the matter?" asked Lady Fairfax
mov;ng her head so suddenly that the half
plated braid was ierked out OF Wharton's
hands.
son. nv ladv!" cried the maid, ST beg your
pardon-I hope 1 didn't hurt you"
sNo, not was nothing; tell me what you
were going to say"
eyes, my lady-well, you see they've been
havin' the typhoid fever in Yarrlck, and some
way it get into the iail--and Owen Owenson,
the poacher, my lady, you know-he was one
of tue first as took it, and he's dead!'
''Dead! is he? Poor Mary!" cried Lady
Fairfax with genuine commiseration.
eyes, my lady, it was awful sudden like, and
they say she's welinigh craZed. But old Els
peth, she don't say word-she just sis snd
looks straight afore her, our Mary says us
fearsoma to see her, and she, as you may
say, nigh upon hundred years old!'
Lady Fairfax started up.
81 must go and see them, Wharton"
The maid elevated both her hands in the
air.
''Oh, my lady, not to-night-and the frost
in the air, and the park as dark as Egypt. Sir
Rov would be very much vexed. my lacy. 4"
room into the drawing rooms, whore the air
was filled with summer warmth-and The per-
fume of newly-cut roses and heliotrOpe,
which filled the vases on mantel and bracket
while the waxed lights shone softly along
he walls low. clear fire burned in the
CRATE, and Lady Fairfax stood an instant,
gazing into its red embers.
81 wish Roy would come," she murmured.
"Griffiths," to the old butler, who at that
moment made his appearance to light the
corridor, sis the drawing-room clock right?'
''My lady, it is eight o'clock-will it please
your ladyship to have dinner served? think
my master must have been unexpectedly de-
tanned.
81 will wait for Sir Roy" ....
Lady Fairfax's tone was so decisive, that
Grlffiths left the remonstrance he was pre-
pared to hazard entirely unspoken, and re-
tired with an obsequious-
ssAs you please, my ladyl"
Left to herself, Lady Fairfax took up book
and began to read, but her thoughts wand
ere away from the printed pages, and she
found it impossible to govern her attention.
Half an hour afterwardW Wharton came in with
a little tray, containing a few choice morsels,
which she had carefully culled out with spe-
ciai eye to her mistress tastes.
II told you | would await Sir Roys coming
Wharton" said Lady Fairfax, somewhat
sharply
lOUS III IONs Dub IL ISL u wei 10 YOU
to be so long without eating. Try bit of
the broiled birds wing, my lady, and drop
Of soup, and then you can have Your dinner
with Sir Roy after wards, just the same"
Lady Fairfax could not help smiling as she
took the wineglass from Mrs. Wharton's
hand, and sipked a little Of the crimson
fluid.
you all treat me like a child, Wharton, !"
she said, that must be cOaXed and humored
into obedience"
''No my lady, certainly not said Whar-
ton deferentialiy, but any one will tell you
that long fast isn't noways good for the
stomach, and If SIR Roy should be deta ned
away all night"
He will not be-" said his wife, positively.
"No, my lady-to be sure not, but then
there's ne telling nothing about hours when
it's business that's ia the question, and Sir
Roy ii be ali the better pleased when he
hears you've eaten q morsel, my lady"
And Lady Fairfax, accustomed to be domi-
neered over in mild way by Wharton, ate
and drank, with u docile obedience to orders.
The clock struck nine, as Wharton Was re-
placing the dishes Of painted china on the
tray, preparatory to removing them-and,
breaking suddenly and sharply on the silverl
chime of the little bell, another sound made
Lady Fairfax start to her feet, with white
face, and clasped hands-the report of a
gunl
can have happened?"
'sDear NE, my lady," answered Wharton,
philosophically, "lP5 nothing on earth but
them wearying poachers again. I doh'G know
what Morrison Is about, not to keep a sharp
er eye on 'eml"
Lady Fairfax went to the window AND
strained her eyes over the moonlit slopes of
the lawn.
'sIt's no use Iookin, my lady, said Whar-
ton, "they're down in the woods, and you
can't see thing. Sir Roy will be dreadfully
put out when he knows the old business il
goin' on again: don't see the use OF paying
lot of game-keepers, for my part, il they
don't d no goodl"
And Wharf n carried her tray out again,
after she had seen her mistress safely seated
once more IN tie satin cushioned chair by
the corai-red shine Of the fire.
BLESS and save my soul" CALCULATED Mrs
Wharton, as she opened the door, and little
Scotch terrier rusheL IN, sits Sir Roy's little
FIdo. And what can have sent him back
here, without his masterl Here, FIdol FIdo
what's come to the animal?"
For, instead of responding to her cali with
his usual jealous delight the dog skulked
past her, with low howl, and ran down
stairs!
"Wel, I newell" cried Mis-. Wharton.
She was advancing to close the door, when
d white figure ghded out of the dark obscu-
rity of cluster Of weeping frs, and stood
shivering in the square of moonlight on the
stone pavement, directly in front of the
doorway.
''Why, it's Mary Owensonln cried Mrs
Wharton, recognizing the pale, drawn face
of the new-made widow. Aud whatever
brings you here at this time Of night, Mary2
CUme in-you're as cold as ice, and you
tremble ike leaf. And-bless mel" cried
Mrs. Wharton, reco ling with a shudder.
your hands and your dress are smeared
with bloodl Them poaching fellows hain't
hurt you, have they2 or did you slip down on
the icel Speak, child, can't you, and tell me
what happened your"
Mary Owenson stared vaguely at Mrs
Wharton, as # she were 10 king into space
Nothing has happened" she answered,
speaking IN strange, unnatural voice. SIT
was Gods Justice and | was only the tool in
His hands!"
''For mercy's sake, what are you talking
about ?" shrilly demanded Mrs. Wharton.
"Do come in, and don't stand ike luny-
though, to be sure" addet Mrs. Wharton,
hall to herself, 81 hadn't ought to be cross
with her and she half frantic, as one may
say, with her trouble"
Mary Owenson made no opposition to the
gentle force with which Mrs. Wharton drew
her in--but as she entered the lighted hail.
she looked down at her crimsoned fingers
and bedabbled dress with shudder.
''Biood!" she muttered Yacantly, ''bIood
IL y dS IL SuOull DS-DIOoC- Tor D1OOOl NO
as Mrs. Wharton was leading her toward the
door of the servants hall, Il won't go in for
all the people to stare at me, and ask me
Questions, and whisper among themselves, as
If was mad. l think be going mad" she
added in a half whisper, which chilled the
very, blood of the lady's maid; s'but won't
be stared at ! Not yet, at least!"
''Then como into my room-that's good
creature" coaxed Mrs. Wharton.
"Who are your" demanded Mary, looking
at her with vacant gaze. "Oh, remember
now-and remember why came I wanted
'em to know how 1t came about. The bloody
cross, you know-theyll find it on his fore
neadl'
Whose forehead ?" exclaimed Mrs. Whar-
ton, fairly mazed and bewi dered. ''Who'n
find it? Mary Owenson, you are crazy, sure
enough"
Tue poor young thing nodded her head.
81 know it." she said: ''but it was that
drove me mad! l had all my senses unit! hp
came riding down the hill, as gay and gallant
as if mans hfs wasn't on his soul Well.
well, it's evenhanded Justice, after all-they