Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-26
MISS CRIMME'S ROMANCE.

At the extreme end of the main street,
in quiet New England town, there
was a low, rambling stone house. A
portion of it was overrun so with vines
that some, of the windows were quite
hidden. There was all aroundit small
space of ground thickly planted with
trees. Miss Jane Grimme lived in the
house, and had lived there for many
years. Before, her mother had lived
there also long time, and when the old
her daughter took her place at the head
of the house, and so strongly did Miss
Jane resemble her mother, that when
the latter passed away, things went on
exactly as ever, and it seemed as if
merged into one person, SO that people
called her Mrs. Jane or Mrs. Crimme.
Miss Jane was far from being hon.
~ person; through the traces of time
and suffering might easily be seen the
remains of past beauty, but hardened
and so sorrow stricken, that great fear
fell on the little maid, Elizabeth, when
ever she appeared.
Elizabeth wasl the maid of-all- work,
and living defiance to those rules
which arrange certain harmony be-
tween people and their names. Having
been taken from some asylum or charity
school, and being much astonished at
everything differing from her past asso-
ciat1ons, her face had acquired chron-
ic look of utter amazement, somewhat
ightened by pair of perfectly round,
large black eyes. Her general appear
ance was rather remarkable, too, on ac-
L
else of her own taste in matters of dress.
which was not altogether above criti-
cism. Her favorite post was at win
dow commanding something of view
of the main street, at which, at short
intervals, during the entire day, she
was to be seen leaning her chin on her
two hands, and her elbows on the win
dow ledge, with the prominent portions
of her face pressed fiat against the
glass, which practice had not improved
the regularity or form of her features.
At the least noise she vanished as
though the earth had swallowed her,
the fact being that she dropped herself
on the floor and crawled to the scene oil
her duties, as though the window alone
was to be feared by allowing her to be
seen.
Miss Crimme was really kind and
gentle, but Elizabeth could never quite
accustom herself to the tall figure, anC
severe, sad face of her mistress.
Miss Crimme's mother had first com,
to the town many years before, quite
alone. Her peculiarly of attending ex
clusively to her own affairs, and leaving
those of her neighbors alone, had a
first naturally of course, excited curl
osity and suspicion, but as years passed
on, and nothing occurred to feed ths
one or keep alive the other, they die
out, and the old lady was spoken O.
with respect and left entirely to herself
Even the arrival of her daughter, O.
whose existence many were ignorant
some years after her removal to thu
town, caused but little remark.
Miss Jane was then a handsom,
woman of about twenty three. It wal
said she came from abroad; indeed, sew
eral stories were set afoat, but soo1
we're forgotten for some more interest
ing subject of gossip. She was quie
in her manner, and very retiring ant
reticent, as If under restraint, at first
but this soon grew to habit. Shortl,,
after her coming, her mother was takel
Ill, and from that time never left he
room, except to be carried to her las
resting-place.
From the time of her mothers Hines
Miss Crimme assumed the head of Tia
house, and, as I once before sale
seemed so like her mother in her way
and appearance, that she was Gale
Mrs. Crlmme, and the old lady herse
was forgotten some time before sh
passed away.
Elizabeth was seated, one afternoon
on the back of chair at the kitche
window, greatly absorbed in the occs
sional passing by of a pedestrian, whe
violent knock at the door caused he
to drop instantly on the floor. She n
NAMED there some moments, entire]
forgetful of her duty to open the doc
At a second knock she trembling
went to the door. This she CAREFUL
secured with chain, to prevent its b.
ing opened more than about four niche
and opening it, and placing as much {
herself as was possible In the opening
she said: g Please come in, ma'am
utterly UNCONSCIOUS of the impossibilii
ofsany compliance with her request.
It was the postman.
seen the postman at the house befor
and was consequently greatly alarme
as well as amazed.
GA letter for Mrs. Crimme."
And he left in the hands of tx
trembling and still terrified maid
small note with postmard OF the cit
on it, and sealed with black.
1t was some minutes before she suf1
GENTLY recovered to close the doc
Then she carefully wiped off the letts
on both sides with her apron, and fol,
ed it up in that article of dless, went
Miss Crimme's door.
She knocked timidly.
The clear even voice eff Miss Grimm
came in reply: g.
"Come in u
Elizabeth opened the door CAREFUL,
AID squeezing heaself in, shut it
hastily, as though she We're afraid Il
OCCUPANT might escape.