The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-08-28

be left by myself was out 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 said CELLS, have my own suspi-
cions; but we must do nothing until we
are sure. Meanwhile, you must have a
bed made up in this room, and we must
watch"
"Miss Burke ?" whispered Ellis.
eyes," replied; 'it was she who tried
my door"
"Well, ma am" confded Ellis, 81 have
been down right afraid of her this some
time back-civil spoken though she is
But what could she want at your door?'
"That do not know; but we may find
out"
By dint of blanket off my bed, and
sundry shawls, Ellis was made comfortable
for the rest of the night on the sofa, and
returned 20 bed, not to sleep, for l was
thoroughly upset, but to lie and wonder
how l was ever to get through the ten
months that still remained Of my husbands
absence.
Tired and unnerved, met Miss Burke
at breakfast, and we spent our morning in
a very silent fashion. l wrote to my hus-
band while she walked restlessly about the
drawing room, constantly asking me how
was, an inquiry for which l did not feel
so grateful as 1 might have done under
other circumstances. Lunch came, and
afterwards Miss Burke, who was usually
most unwilling to 60 out, asked me if
could spare her for the afternoon, as she
wanted to 60 to see sick friend.
Certainly" replied, glad to get rid of
her. About four o'clock 1 laid down on
the sofa in the drawing room, and must
have fallen asleep, for heard no one come
into the room but l awoke with the con-
seriousness that some one was leaning over
me with their face in close proximity to
my own. felt rather than saw them; so
close were they to me that their lips SEEM
ed almost touching my own, and as
sprang up came in violent collision with
my companion.
"Miss Burker' 1 exclaimed Indignantly,
but could say nothing more, for, after all,
the crime of leaning over me was not of a
deadly nature, though coupling it, as in
stantly did, with my previous suspicious, l
felt not only extremely angry, but consd-
erably alarmed.
81 was afraid you were i'll, dear Mrs.
Conyers. l hope 1 have not displeased
you," she proceeded in a deprecating tone.
81 did not mean to offend YOU"
1t is of no consequence I answered,
rising from the sofa; "but please do not
do so again. l am nervous and easily
startled"
The circumstance was then dismissed,
and we got through the evening pretty
fairly. l rather looked forward to a safe
night for knew Ellis bed was in read-
ness for her. l said good night a little
earlier than usual to Miss Burke but did
not inform her that 1 had indited an epis-
tie to her friend, the Rev. Mr.. White, to
ask for further particulars as to her ante
cedents.
l heard her come up to her room, and
when her door closed, a feeling of compass
sion came over me, for fancied l had not
only unjustly suspected her, but had been
very cold in my manner, which she evil
IDENTIFY felt. Ellis came after l was in bed,
and in short time had oral evidence
that she was slumbering. 1t made me feel
secure, at all events. though l was certain
l should dream of all kinds of unearthly
things if the snoring went on all night
Nothing happened to alarm us, and next
morning, in subdued and anxious voice,
Miss Burke hoped l had not been disturbed,
and that Ellis had kept ME from feeling
fully.
About twelve o'clock, when we were
sitting in the drawing room, Ellis came up
and told me a gentleman wanted to see me
on business, but would not give his name.
Probably about some subscription" /
observed; "perhaps 1 had better sec what
he wants.
Without a suspicion of what awaited
me l went down stairs, and on entering
the dining room encountered a short and
rather red-faced man, who, bowling pro-
foundry, asked if 1 was Mrs. Conyers. On
my replying in the affirmative, he con-
tinued: "May I ask what establishment
you have?"
l must have looked astonished, as he
explained:
81 am detective police officer, madam,
and my business here will, am afraid, be
an unpleasant one"
"lndeed;" Iejaculated; sin what way? ?"
From information 1 have received,
believe you have person under your roof
who is wanted on very serious charge.
1 must ask your permission to summon
every one in the house into this room. l
have taken precautions to prevent any ones
leaving it, and if you will kindly accede to
my request shall get over painful duty
as quickly as possible"
If my lips had been capable of utterance,
the words they would have framed would
have been " Miss Burke" but said moth
ing; l merely rang the bell, which Ellis
answered so promptly, felt certain she
must have been behind the door, ready to
protect me, in case of an emergency.
"Call the servants, Ellis" l said "and
-and-ask Miss Burke to come down
stairs"
1t was almost like dream to me, seeing
my four domestics walk in; and then-sus-
pecting nothing-came Miss Burke.
SCOT you at last, sir" cried the detec-
tive making an agile dart toward my COM
panion.
"Not without some trouble coolly re-
sponded his prisoner, whose courage was
apparently quite equal to the occasion. In
my widest moments had never dreamed
of SO desperate denouement, and the dis
covery perfectly paralzed me with horror.
1t was too dreadful to realize that l had
harbored wretch of man in woman's
al A..