Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-07-09


heart, and even if she could have found any
excuse for leaving, she could not bear to think
ofit. So she firmly resolved that nothing
should cause her to reveal herself. She would
keep constant watch over herself. and he should
never know that his houskeeper was under
thirty-fve.
Well, she was introduced into her duties, one
Of which she found was to preside at the tea
board. This was pleasant, particularly as I'M
der her ancient guise and as a dependant, Mr..
Marshall condecended to be very sociable, and
finding her companionable he prolonged bis
meal and conversation, till soon this hour
became the most interesting of the day to him
as well as to her.
Everybody likes to talk to good listener,
and Mr.. Marshall had travelled and read much
descriptions of men and things He was
not slow to discover that he had an cxtraordin-
ary housekeeper, so the tea hour gradually
lengthened into the whole evening, audit was
not long before it was her constant habit to
spend the eveningin the library, with her sew
ing, while he talked or read to her. She was
not sufficiently well informed about house
keepers position to sec the absurdity Of a gen.
tleman devoting his evenings to her entertain
ment, and being accustomed to being treated
like lady, it never occurred to her that it was
anything unusual Meantime, he was en-
gagged in a new-to him-study.
Now, the orthodox way of bringing about
the catastrophe of a story would be to bring
down my hero with some malignant disease,
have all the servants fly, and his housekeeper
nurse him through a dangerous illness, to be
rewarded, Of course, with his hand-what was
left of it-when he was able to sit up. But
the facts will not bear out such poetical fc-
| tion.
Annies love of truth and honor had been
waging continual warfare all this time with
her dread of a. the world" and poverty, two
| grim and horrible monsters to unprotected
womanhood, and it was not until a year had
rolled around, that power and truth gained the
victory. Annie in her serious mcditations in
her room finally resolved that She must seek
cause for leaving this home, which she sorrow
/ fully admitted to herself was becoming too
pleasant for one who must fight with d" the
world" for her bread The catastrophe hap
pened in this wise: One evening Annie went
into the library, where Mr. Marshall sat read
| ing the papers, with heart and mind, and was
fully nervcd up to her duty. lie looked smil-
inc at her as she appeared; and as she sank
il.o chair, quite unnerved By that look, he
began himself:
Mrs. Bronson" he said, laying down the
paper, and seating himself in his easy chair
would you mind leaving off that horrid wild
ow's cap? I'm sure you have plenty of hair
and it is so suggestive Of dead aud buried
perfections, that it is painful to me-"
The color came and went in Aunies face
She tried to speak, but somehow she felt chok-
cd 1t was hard, when he sat there so pleas
ant and genial when the world was so cold and
hard, and his protection so dear-yes, that was
the word-that was the frghtful thought, that
brought back strength to her voice, and she
said hastily: Mr.. Marshall, | must leave
YOU"
al tell you won't have It, Did you not
promise to stay two years, and have not per-
formed my part Of the contract?'
She came now and stood before him. Mr.
Marshall, have deceived you"
Have you?" he said smiling: what
about? the price of tea or some peccadillo Of
the servants"
About myself" she went on hurridly.-
" I'm not middle aged, for ! am but twenty
two, aud am not respectable" because
have decended to deceit I'm not "weak
eyed she dashed the spectacles TO the
floor" nor DO | admire this cap which she
tore off, and with it her comb, letting down her
abundant hair around her white and quiver-
ing face "There," she went on, the crimson
coming into her checks, and the tears into her
eyes thus strip oil all disguise, then can
walk out Of this house in honesty" and she
turned to 60.
"Stay," he cried tell me who you arc, you
witch
Il am Annie Bronson, the widow Of Henry
Bronson"
Henry Bronson! the notorious?"
Gambler" she said firmly. "Hc made
my life torture for six months, and then
killed himself" She hesitated, al married
against the wishes of my friends Of cource,"
she went on in q low tone, and I wa: too
proud to return; I had little money: Isought
employment for six bitter months before saw
your advertisement and"
"And then" he interrupted, you thought
Of a harmless little deception by which you
could procure home"
"Mr. Marshall, she broke in, "I thought
you had a family. should never have ven
turcd to come here but l expected to find a
Mrs. Marshall, to whom could confess my
self, believe me-"
"I Dc" he said, earnestly. But when you
got here, and found was not SO happy as to
have a family, you could not bear TO go out
into the cold again. Was that it Annie 2" lie
asked tenderly.
/ an 7 was ,yeak-as am now " she sid