Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-08-29
SAVED.

Miss Violet, will you give this letter
to Mrs. Maltby 2''
l had my hands full of drawing ma
terials, bnt l received the letter, and
continued on my way to Mrs. Maltby's
drawin groom.
"a. The drawings were little studies l had
made while down at the seaside, where
j had spent my Vacation,-made for
Mrs. Maltby,-to whom 1 had been
companion for year,-and Mrs. Malt
by had been interested in them, saying,
Touch them up bit, Violet, and i
will get portfolio for them and keep
them" l usually sat with her in her
dressing-room through the mornings,
and thither now repaired to touch up
the drawings, while she sat with her
slippered feet on the fender, embroider-
ing with purple and crimson woods.
l gave her the letter, and went to a
low seat in the deep bay-window. l
sharpened pencil, and then happened
to glance toward my companion.
Her face was ashy white. Her pro-
file was turned toward me. In its ir-
regularity and pallor it looked like a
face cut in stone. But had never seen
it look SO sharp and deathly.
The letter was clenched in her hand.
had brought her bad news.
Twas shocked, but silent. l tried to
remember what 1 knew of her family
relations. She was handsome black
haired woman of fifty, who had been
early widowed, and returned to her
fathers house. Her parents were dead.
Her mother had died in her infancy,
and she had been the mistress of Red
burn ever since. It was not long, how
ever, since her fathers decease She
had never had a child. She had no
brothers or sisters whom l had ever
heard of. l could not surmise what had
happened.
l saw her burn the letter, and she
then rose and left the room.
Afterward guessed whom that COM
munication was from.
A week passed. They were quiet
and comfortable, but rather monoto-
nous weeks at Redburn. But, though
young, 1 was less restless than most
girls. l was not unhappy with Mrs.
Maltby. Only sometimes l wished for
a little change.
1t came-a most startling episode.
We had company to dine-Mrs.
Maltby's lawyer and personal friend,
from New York. l was dressing her
hair, as sometimes did, for she liked
my arrangements, pronouncing them
artistic. Suddenly, without knock or
warning, In0 OOOr was nunR open, ana
young man walked in.
/ felt Mrs. Maltby start under my
hands. 1 myself was frightened, the in,
truder looked so bold and reckless.
He was very handsome, but he look.
ed to me TO have been travelling long, OF
to have come out of some revel. His
linen was soiled, his long, clustering
hair unbrushed, his eyes bloodshot, vel
his appearance was singularly attractive
/ had never before seen SO high breC
and graceful man.
MS. Maltby did not speak to him
He ses ted himself before, and not fal
from her, however.
"Go on, Violet" she said.
Certainly, Let the young lacy pro
ceed," he said quickly. "What 1 have
to say need not interfere with her EN-
ployment. l understand that she j
your companion and confdant, though
have not had the pleasure of meetin,
her before"
The last sentence appeared to hav'
been quite mechanically spoken, for h
had fixed his eyes fercely upon Mrs
Maltby's face, and seemed to see onl.
her. went on, pinning up the braid
of her hair as l had been bid, but m,
hands trembled. l could not see he
face, but l think she met that lool
steadily.
You refused me-" he said, in a ia
different tone from that in whicl
he had at first spoken,-low and cor
centrated.
Certainly" she answered.