Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-03

she heard a sound she would be with
me in moment.
The instant she was safely gone, l
turned to Ellis, desiring her in the first
place to close and lock the door; and
IN the second, to prepare foreman with
me until morning; for | was so I'M
hinged by the circumstance, ..trifing
though it was, that to be left by myself
was out of the question.
Ellis mad 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: ELLIS, |
have my own suspicious; but We must
do nothing until we are sure. Mean
while, you must have 4 bed made up
in this soom. and we must watch
Miss Burke?" whispered Ellis.
q" Yes" [ replied; :" it was she who
tried my door,"
"Well, ma'am," confded Ellis, Il
have been downright afraid other this
sometime back-civil spoken though
she is. But what could she want at
your door,"
"That 1 do not know. but we may
find out"
By dint of blanket off my bed, and
sundry shawls, Ellis was made comfort
able 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 ten months that still remained OF
my husbands absence
Tired and unnerved, met Miss Burke
at breakfast, and we spent our morning
husband whilst she walked restlessly
about the drawing room, constantly ask
ing me how | was, an inquiry for which
[ did not feel SO grateful as | might
have done under other circumstances.
Lunch came, and afterwards Miss
Burke, who was usually most unwil-
ling to go out, asked me if could spare
her for the afternoon, as she wanted to
60 to see a sick friend.
Certainly" Ireplied, 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 consciousness that some one
was leaning over me with their face III
close proximity to my own. [ felt
rather than saw them; so close were
they to me chat their lips seemed almost
touching my own, and as | sprang ur
[ came III violent collision with-my
companion.
Miss Burke Y | exclaimed, indig-
nantly, but / could say nothing more
for, after all, the crime of leaning over
me was not of deadly nature, though
coupling it, as | instantly did, with my
previous suspicious, [ felt not only
extremely angry but considerably
alarmed
"Iwas afraid you were i'll, dear Mrs
Conyers. [ do hope [ have not dis
pleased you" she proceeded in de
precating tone. " [ did not mean tC
offend you
cit is of no consequence" | answer
ed, rising from the sofa; "but please dc
not do SO again. I am nervous and
easily startled"
The circumstance was then tacitly
dismissed, and we got through the even
ing very fairly. [ rather looked for
ward to a safe night, for l knew Ellis's
bed was in readiness for her. | said
good. night a little earliers than usual to
Miss Burke, but did not inform he1
that l had indited an epistle to her
friend, the Rev. Mr.. White, to ask fol
further particulars as to her antece-
dents.
heard her come up to her room
and when her door closed feeling Of
compassion came over me, for [ fancied
[ had not only unjustly suspected her
but been very cold in my manner
which she had evidently felt Ellis
came after | was in bed, and in a short
time | had oral evidence that she was
slumbering, it made me feel secure, al
all events, though I was certain that
should dream of all kinds of unearthly
things if the snoring went on all night
Nothing happened to alarm us, and
next morning in q subdued and anxious
voice, Miss Burke hoped [ had not
been disturbed, and that Ellis had kept
me from feeling nervous-this last re
mark very reproachfully.
About twelve o'clock when we were
sitting in the drawing room, Ellis came
up and told me that a gentleman want
ed to see me on business, but would not
give his name. Probably about some
subscription" [ observed; "perhaps !
had better see what he wants. .
Without a suspicion of what awaited
me, L went down stairs, and on entering
the dlning-room encountered a short
and red-faced man, who, bowling pro
foundry, asked if [ was Mrs. Conyers
On me replying in the affirmative, he
continued: May ask what establish
ment you have?"
[ must have looked astonished, as he
exclaimed:
Il am detective police officer, mad
am, and my business here will, I am
afraid be an unpleasant one"
Indeed ?" [ calculated, " In what
way?"
" From information | have received /
believe you have person under your
roof who is wanted on very serious
charge. must ask your permission to
summon every one in the house in this
room. Ihave taken precautions to pre-
vent any one leaving it, and if you will
kindly accede to my request, [ shall get
over a painful duty as quickly as posi-
ble."
If my lips had been capable of utter
ance, the words they would have formed
would have been Miss Burke" but |
said nothing | 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.
Summon the servants, Ellis [ said;
" and-and-ask Miss Burke to come
down stairs" 1t was almost like a
dream to me, seeing my four domestics