The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-24


easily seen. "You would not be angry
with the child for that; she could not
help it, dare say. l can dine without
it. You don't know me, Mrs. Will
liams," he continued, coming a step
nearer where she stood, still looking at
me with deadly glitter in her eyes.
was trying which one of the knives was
the sharpest.
"Well," said the gentleman, "you
may know me to be Edward Winstanely,
but you don't know that / married your
daughter, and brought her home lady.
| never meant to act the villain with her.
We were privately married, but while the
old gentleman lived it had to be kept Sc
cret, and we knew you would not keep it.
This is why 1 come to-day to surprise
you; but you will come to Winstanely
Park to give us your blessing; you are
not going to faint 2"
She had staggered back against the
wall, her white lips set, fnd her eyes
growing CLASSY. He and 1, and half a
dozen of the servants, whom my scream
had brought in, to help; but she pushed
us away with desperate effort, darted
up stairs, and we heard her lock herself
in her own room. The whole house was
terribly frightened. What Mr.. Win
stanely thought, do not know, but he
asked me no questions, and never
seemed to suspect anything about the
spilled soup. He left note for Mrs.
Williams, and went of with servant
little before sunset. We all went about
our business, for work never Stacked in
that house on any account, and the eve
ning's coach was expected. Just be-
fore it came, Mrs. Williams bell rang,
and the housemaid said she wanted me.
When came into the room she was sit
ting at the desk, looking like herself
again, but her face was still white, and
she had her long knitted purse full of
guneas in her hand.
Mary" said she, "you are a good
girl-take this and go home-I'll take
care that you get no blame"
"I want no money, madam" said l,
"but I'll go home if you will let me,
father and mother"
She held out tho purse once moro, and
then pointed to the door, but could say
nothing; it must have been hard pull
for her proud spirit. L got out of the
room as quick rs l could, threw on my
hat and cloak, and got into the coach as
soon as it came up, leaving trunk and all
behind me.
My father and mother were nightly
surprised when it set me down at their
door in Chatford, inst as the clock
struck twclve-they were still more as
tonished when l told them what had
brought me home. My father first
called me brave, good girl, and then
advised me not to be proud about it,
because it was the work of Providence,
and we were bound on all hands to keep
( such q STORY quiot about Farmer Dick
sons relation. The story was kept be-
tween me and them; but my home COM
ing got wind, and Farmer Dickson came
in great hurry to know why Mary had
left her good situation. My mother
would not have reflections cast on her
child, so she told him in the parlor,
and what he said don't know, because
the door was fast shut; but he came
out rubbing his hands and clapped me
on the back, saying: "You are fine
girl, Mary, and if Harry don't finish
that business, I'll make you to be Mrs.
Dickson myself"
l think l have not much more to tell
Harry did finish the business. There
we're some people in our village that
never got over the wonder of it; but l
am proud to say the Dickson family did
not lose by me, for, ten years after Mrs.
Williams died in her inn, and left
property in equal shares between me
and her daughter, Lady Winstanley.
She had never gone to the park but
once, and then she would neither eat,
drink nor sleep in the house, but saw
her daughter and her grandson, now
heir to the estate, and then went
straight back to the Golden Sheaf She
never took another girl to stay with her,
AID what she said about my leaving,
never heard. The maids had story
among them, and they always stuck to
it, that I went on account of something
that came down the chimney, and
frightened Mrs. Williams out of her
senses. They said one thing, which l
am inclined to think might be true
that she never liked to make eel soup
after, nor cared to look at red pepper.