The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-02-19
S a Y E Di

Miss Violet, viii you give this let.
ter. to Mrs, Maltby ~
had my hands. full of drawing ma
terIals, but / received the letter and
continued on my way to Mrs Malt
by's drawing-room.
The drawings were little studies
had made while down at the seaside,
where had spent my vacation-made
by Mrs. Maltby, to whom / had been
a companion for yeaf--and Mrs.
Maltby had been interested in them,
saying :: "Touch them up bit, Yio-
let, and viii get portfolio for them
and keep thenl.2 I usually sat with
herin the mofnings ia her dressing
room, and thither repaired TO touch
up the drawings, while she sat with
her slippered feet on the fender, en-
breidering with purple and crimson
gave her the letter and retired to
low seat in deep bay-Window. ]
had sharpened a pencil, and happened
to glance toward my companion.
Her face was asby white. Her pro-
file was turned towards me- In its
irregularity and palIor il looked like
face cut in stone. But ] had never
seen it look so sharp and deathly.
The letter was Clenched in her hand
It brought her bad news.
was shocked but silent. tried to,
remember what knew of her family
relations. She was a 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 Redburn ever since. 1t was not
long, however, since her fathers de-
cease. She never had a child. She
had no brothers or sisters whom had
heard of. l could not surmfse what
had happeRed.
- saw her burn the letter, and She
rose aud left the room.
Afterward l guessed whom that
communication was from.
A week passed. They were quiet
and comfortable but rather monOto-
nous weeks at Redburn. But, though
young, I was less restless than most
girls. l was not unhappy with Mrs.
Maltby. Only sometimes l wished
for change.
It came-a startling episode.
We had company TO dine-Mrs.
Maltby 5 lawyer and personal friend
from New. York. was dressing her
hair, as | sometimes. did, for she liked
my arrangements, pronoancing them
artistic. Suddenly without knock or
warning, the door was flung open and
young man RValked in.
/ felt Mrs. Maltby start under my
hands I myself was frightened, the
intruder looked so bold and reckless.
he was very handsome, but he
looked to me to have been travelling
long, or to have. come out of some
reVel. His linen was soiled his long
clustering hair unbrnshed his eyes
bloOdshot; yet his appearance was
singularly attractive. had never be-
fore seen so high-bred and graceful
man. s., s5 IS
Mrs. Maltby did not speak to him
He seated himself in front and not far
from her, hewever.
7n $50 on, Violet" she said. 4a
ftCertafnly, Let the young lady pro-
ceed with her task" he said quickly.
What have to say need not inter-
fere with her employment. j uDder.
stand that she is your coTnpaniOn and
confident, though have not had the
pleasure ofsmeeting her before.s
The last sentence seemed to bequite
mechanically spoken, for he had fixed
his eyes ffercely upon Mrs. MaItbv's
face, and seemed TO see only her.
went ON pinning up the braids of hel
hair as had been bid, but my hand
trembled. / could not see her face,
but ! think she met that look steadily
i'leYou refuse me,H he said, in fai
different tone from that ia which hi
had frat arOlyen--lnvv aud concantpa
ted.
@Certainly,n she answered.
aDo you want my blood upon pou
hands p he exclaimed. asst
4 washed my hands clear of yol
long ago." she answered composedly
"Long ago. he repeated, and
wave of emotion that was inexpIica
BILE to me, passed over his face. The