The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-23

which was in the shadow, caught sight
of Miss Burke, who was leaning on the
mantelpiece in the full light of the gas,
which burned on either side of it, regard
ing me with a stealthy and searching
glance, which instantly observed, but
had sufficient sense to take no notice Of
The expression in her large black eyes
haunted me for days, and caused me to
say good night to her on the landing,
and, in addition, to lock my door, n pre-
caution / had never before thought Of
taking.
One night shortly afterwards 1 awoke,
fancying / heard movement outside my
door. My room was perfectly dark, and
L was convinced some noise had suddenly
awakened me. L listened intently, al
most too terrified to breathe, until 1
heard most distinctly the handle of my
door cautiously turned. An almost death
like horror seized me, and for an instant
L was absolutely rigid with terror but
the spell was broken by another audible
effort to open the door, and the hall
clock striking three, which made me
spring up in bed, seize the matches, and,
with trembling fingers, attempt two or
three times to strike light. AT last l
was successful, and the welcome blaze of
the gas which lit gave me courage to
call out boldly: "Who is there" But
no answer came. pulled my bell vigor-
ously, and in a few minutes heard steps
approaching, and Ellis welcome voice
asked if / was i'll.
"No, Ellis, not ILL., said, "but ter
rified, " as L unlocked the door and adj
mitted her. "Some one tried my door
not five minutes ago"
"Tried your door, ma'am surely
not !" calculated Ellis.
Yes, Ellis !; I am certain of 1t, and il
has given me such shock. / cannot be
left alone again.
"What is the matter, dearest Mrs.
Conyers2" exclaimed Miss Burke, who
appeared in my room just as L had made
the last remark to Ellis.
81 have been frightened" answered.
"but do not disturb yourself, Miss
Burke it was probably nothing"
=" 1t could not have been anything, OF
1 must have heard it," she said, half to
me and half to Ellis.
Pray, do not trouble yourself, / re-
sponded l am only sorry you got up
at all. :"
She staid for few minutes, but get
ting no encouragement to remain, re-
! turned to her own room, assuring me if
she heard a sound she would be with me
in moment.
The instant she was safely gone, !
turned to Ellis, desiring her in the first
place to close and lock the door and in
the second, to prepare to remain with me
until the morning ; for was so unhinged
by the circumstance, trihing though it
was, that to be left by myself was ont of
the question.
Ellis had been with me ever since my
marriage, now three years, and had been
well known to my husbands family all
her life, consequently, | felt | might
trust her, so l said ELLIS, have my
own suspicious but we must do nothing
until we are sure. Meanwhile, you must
have bed made up in this room, and we
must watch -
Miss Burke 2" whispered Ellis.
" Yes, | replied "it was she who
tried my door z"
"Well, ma am, "confided Ellis, 81 have
been downright afraid of her this some
time back-civil spoken though she is.
But what could she want at your door 2
"That L do not know ; but we may
find out"
BY dint of blanket off my bed, and
sundry shavls, Ellis was made comfort
able for the rest of the night on the sofa,
and l returned to bed, not to sleep, for i
was thoroughly upset, but to lie and
] x,,O,,Iap 1Axt- Il 20, IL
the ten months that still remained of my
husbands absence.
Tired and unnerved, L met Miss Burke
at breakfast, and we spent our morning
in very silent fashion. / wrote to my
husband whilst she walked restlessly
about the drawing room, constantly ask
ing Inc how / was, an inquiry for which
L did not feel so grateful as might have
done under other circumstances. Lunch
came, and afterwards Miss Burke, who
was usually most unwilling to go ont,
asked me if / could spare her for the
afternoon, as she wanted to go to see a
sick friend.
Certainly" / replied, glad to get rid
of her. About four o'clock l lay down
on the sofa in the inner drawing room,
and must have fallen asleep, for L heard
no one come into the room, but L awoke
with the consciousness that some one was
leaning over me with their face NJ close
proximity TO my own. l felt rather than
saw them so close were they to me that
their lips seemed almost touching my
Own. and as sprang up came into vio-
lent collision with-my companion.
4" Miss Burke !" l exclaimed, indig-
nantly, but L could say nothing more,
for, after all, the crime of leaning over
me was not of deadly nature, though
coupling it, as 1 instantly did, with my
previous suspicious, felt not only ex-
tremely angry, but considerably alarmed.
:" was afraid you were i'll, dear Mrs.
Conyers. / do hope L have not dis
pleased you, she proceeded in depre-
eating tone. CT did not mean to offend
you.
cit is of no consequence, an
swered, rising from the sofa "but
please do not do so again. am nervous
and easily startled"
The circumstance was then tacitly dis
missed, and we got through the evening
pretty fairly. rather looked forward
to q safe night, for l knew Ellis's bed
was in readiness for her. L said good
night a little earlier than usual to Miss