Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-05-12
SAVED.

lCCUCl W MID. 4ldlCDy.
l had my hands full of drawing
materials; but received the letter
and continued on my way to Mrs
Maltby's dressing-room.
The drawings were little studies
had made when down at the seaside
where I had spent my vacation;-
made for Mrs. Maltby-to whom ]
had been companion" for year
and Mrs. Maltby had been interested
in them, saying "touch them up a
bit, Violet, and 1 will get portfolio
for them and keep them"
l usually sat with her, in her dress
lng-room, through the morning, and
thither l now repaired to touch up
the drawings, while she sat with hel
feet on the fender, embroidering
with purple and crimson woods.
l gave her the letter and went to a
low seat in the deep bay window.
sharpened a pencil, and then happen.
ed to glance toward my companion
Her face was ashy white. Her pro
file was turned toward me. In its
regularity and pallor it looked like a
face cut in stone. l had never seen
it look SO sharp and deathly. The
letter was clenched in her hand. ]
had brought her bad news.
was shocked, but silent. l tried
to remember what I knew of hel
family relations. She was hand
some, black-haired woman of fifty
who had been early widowed and re
turned to her fathers house. Hel
parents were dead, her mother hav
ing died in her infancy, and she had
been the mistress of Redburn Hall
ever since. 1t was not long, how
ever, since her fathers deceasc. She
had never had child. She had nc
brothers or sisters whom | had ever
heard of. | could not surmise what
had happened. She burned the let
ter, and then she rose and left the
room.
Afterwards I guessed whom that
communication was from.
A week passed. They were quiet
and comfortable but rather monoton
Gus weeks at Redburn. But, though
young, l was less restless than most
girls. l was not unhappy with Mrs
Maltby. Only sometimes I wished
for little change.
1t came-a most startling episode
We had company to dine, Mrs
Maltby's lawyer and personal friend
from town. | was dressing her hair
as l sometimes did, for she liked my
arrangements-pronounced them az
tistic. Suddenly, without knock OIL
warning, the door was flung oper
and young man walked in.
felt Mrs. Maltby start under my
hands. 1, myself, was frightened
the intruder looked so bold and reck
less. He was very handsome; but
he seemed to me to have been travel
ing long, OF to have come out Of
some revel. His linen was solled
his long, clustering hair unbrushed
and eyes bloodshot. Yet his appear
ance was singularly attractive. l had
never before seen so high-bred ano
graceful a man.
Mrs. Maltby did not speak to him
He seated himself before and not fal
from her, however.
eco on, Violet" she said.
"Certainly, let the young lady pro
ceed with her task" he said quickly
"What l have to say need not inter
fere with her employment. I under
stand that she is your companion and
confident, though 1 have not had the
pleasure of meeting her BEFORE
The last sentence appeared to have
been quite mechanically spoken, fol
he had fixed his eyes fiercely upor
Mrs. Maltby's face and seemed to see
only her. l went on, pinning up thu
braids Of her hair as l had been bid
but my hands trembled. I could no
see her face, but I think she met tha
look steadily.
"You refuse me-" he said, in fal
different tone from that in which he
had at first spoken, low and concen
trated.
"Certainly," she answered.
"Do you want my blood upon YOU
head?" he exclaimed.
81 washed my hands clear of yo,
long ago." she answered composedly
"Long ago." he repeated; and ;
wave of emotion that was inexplica
BILE to me went over his face.
Then he was silent. l don't know
why, but from that moment / pitiet
him. He got up, and commenced
walking the floor.
81 tell you, Winifred, I must have
this money" he said. II must have
it, and tonight, tonight" he repeat
ed.
Mrs. Maltby was silent. caugh
a glimpse Of her face. Flint was no
harder.
"Let me have it, Winifred," hi
said, pausing before her. "And
promise you it shall be the last time.
Cho -, n IL 40 ,.o,,1xy