Smyrna times., 1875-08-25

distinctly the handle of my door cautionsI,
turned. An almost death-like bo,ro,
selzed me, and for an instant was ALSO
luteiy rigid with terror; but the spell wa.
broken by another audible effort to open
the door, and the hall clock striking three
which made Inc spring up in bed. saizc
the matches, and, with trembling fingers
attempted to or three times to strike q
light. At last | was successful. and the
welcome blaze of the gas which lit gave
me courage to call out boldly: Who is
thereT But no answer came. pcaled
my bell vigorously, and in a few minutes |
heard steps approaching, and Elliss wei,
come voice asked if was i'll.
No, Ellis, notill, said, "but terrified. =
as unlocked the door and admitted her.
"Somc one tried my door not five minutes
ago"
Tried your door, lna'am? surely not p
calculated ELLIS.
Yes. Ellis; am certain Of it, and il has
gwen me such a shock. cannot be left
alone again"
What is th" matter, dearest Mrs. Con-
yeiS?' exclaimed Miss Burke, who a,pcarcd
in my room just as l had made the last re,
mark to Ellis.
II have been frightened" I answered
but do not disturb yourself, Miss Burke:
it was probably nothing"
. 1t co'|/ not have been anything. or
Inv. i. :.
and half to Ellis
" Pray, do not trouble yourself" | re,
spondcd ; 81 am only sorry You got up at
ALL"
She staid for few minutes. but getting
no encouragement to rcmain, returned to
her own room, assuring me if She heard n
sound She would be with me in a moment
The instant she was safely gone | turned
to Ellis, desiring her in the first place to
close and lock my door; and in the second.
to prepare to remain with me until the
morning, for was 50 unhinged Ly the cir
cum>tancc, triiiing though it was, that to
be left by myself was out Of the question.
Ellis had been with me ever since INV
marriage, now three years. and had been
well known to my husbands family all hi.
life, consequently felt ! might trust her.
50 ! said: CELLS, have my own suspicious:
but we must do nothing until we are sure
Meanwhile YOU must have bed made IN
IN this room, and we must watch"
Miss Burlc?' whispered Ellis.
my door"
" Wen, ma'aln," confdod Ellis, 81 have |
been downright afraid Of her this sometime
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 on my bed, and sun.
dry shawls, Ellis was made comfortable for
the rest Of the night on the sofa. and
returned to bed, not to sleep. for | was
thoroughly upset, but to lie and wonder
how was ever to get through the ton
months that still remained Of my husbands
absence.
Tired and unnorved met Miss Burke
at breakfast, and we spent our morning in
a very silent fashion. wrote to nv L1is.
band whilst She walked rcstcssly about the
constantly asking me how [
was, an inquiry for which did not feel 50
grateful as ! might have done under other
Lunch came, and after
wards Miss Burke, who was usually most
to 90 out, 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 lay down ON the
sofa in the inner drawing-room, and must
have fallen asleep, for heard no one come
INTO the room, but awoke with the con.
'clousness that some one was leaning over
me with their face in close proximity TO nv
own felt rather than saw them; so close
we're they to me that their lips seemed
almost touching my own, and as sprang
up ] came into violent collision witL-mv
1
Miss BurlIe!" | exclaimed Indignantly.
but | could say nothing more, for after all
The crime of leaning over me was not of a
leadly nature, though coupling it, as |
instantly did, with my previous suspicious,
felt not only extremely angry but con-
'iderably alarmed.
was afraid you were i'll, dear Mrs.
Jonyers. do hope | have not displeased
you" she proceeded in deprecating tone.
. did not mean to offend YOU"
" 1t is of no consequence" l answered. I
rising from the sofa, but please do not do
50 again. am nervous and easily startled" {
The circumstance was then tacitIy dis.
missed, and we got through the evening
pretty fairly. rather looked forward to
safe night, for | knew Ellis's bed was in
readiness for her said good night a {
little earlier than usual to Miss Burke. but
did not inform her that had inditcd an
epstle to her friend, the Rev. Mr.. White,
10 ask for further particulars as to her