Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-08

unreasonable and childish.
But it gained ground in spite of
myself; and one night as | was
standing by the lookin glass in my
bedroom, which was in the shadow,
| caught sight of Miss Burke, who
was leaning on the mantle-piece in
full light Of the gas, which burned
on either side of it, regarding me
with stealthy and searching glance,
which | instantly observed, but had
sufficient sense to take no notice of.
The explession in her large black
eyes haunted me for days, and
caused me to say good night to her on
the landing, and in addition, co lock
my door, precaution l had never
before thought of taking.
One night shortly afterward 1
awoke fancying l heard a move
ment outside of my door. My room
was perfectly dark, and was con
vinced some noise had suddenly
awakened me. / listened inteutly,
too terrified to breathe, until | heard
most distinctly the handle of my
door cautiously turned. An almost
death-hke horror seized me, and for
an instant l was absolutely rigid
with terror; but the spell was brok-
en- by another audible effort to open
the door and the hall clock striking
three, which made me spring up in
bed, seize the matches, and, with
trembling fingers, attempt to strike
= light. At last | was successful,
and the welcome blaze of the gas
which l lit gave me courage to call
out, boldly: Who is there? but no
answer came. l pulled my bell vig-
orously, and in a few minutes /
heard steps approaching, and Ellis's
welcome voice asked if l was i'll.
No, not i'll, l said, but terrified, as
| unlocked the door and admi tied
her Some one tried my door not
five minutes ago.
Tried your door, ma'am? surely
not! calculated Ellis.
Yes, Ellis, l am certain of it; and
it has given me such a shock. can
not be left alone again.
What is the matter, dearest Mrs.
Conyers? exclaimed Miss Burke, who
appeared in my room just as | had
made the last remark to Ellis.
have been frightened, an
swered; but do not disturb yourself,
Miss Burke, it was probably moth
ing.
1t could not have been anything
OF must have heard it, she said,
half to me and half to Ellis.
Pray, do not trouble yourself, l
responded, am only sorry you got
up at all.
She staid for a few minutes, but
getting no encouragement to remain,
returned to her own room, assuring
me if she heard a sound she would
be with me in a 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 to
remain with me until morning; for |
was so unhinged by the circum-
stance, trifing though it was, that
to be e-left to myself was out of the
question.
Ellis had been with me ever since
my marriage, now three years, and
had been well known to my hus-
bands family all her life, conse-
quently, l felt that l might trust her
so l said: Ellis, | have my own
suspicious; but we must do nothing
until we are sure. Meanwhile, you
must have a bed made up in this
room, and we must watch
Miss Burke? whispered Ellis.
Yes, l replied; it was she who
tried my door.
Well, ma'am, confded Ellis, l
have been downright afraid of her
this some time back-civil-spoken
though she is. But what could she
want at your door?
That l do not know; but we may
find out.
By dint of blanket off nv bed
and sundry shawls, Ellis was made
comfortable for the rest of the
night on the Sofa, and returned to
bed--not to sleep, for was thor
oughly upset-but to lie and won
der how l was ever to get through
the ten months that still remained of
my husbands absence.
Tired and unnervsd, / met Miss
Burke at breakfast, and we spent
our morning in very silent fashion.
| wrote to my husband while she
walked restless about the drawing
room, constantly asking me how l
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 unwiE
ling to 90 out, asked me if Iseo0ld
spare her for the afternoon, as she
wanted to go to see sick friend.
Certainly, replied, glad to get
rid of her. About four o'clock | lay
down on the sofa in the inner draw
ing-room, and must have fallen
asleep, for heard no one come into
the room, but l awoke with the con
sciousness that some one was lean
ing over me with their face in close
proximity to my own. I felt, rather
than saw them; so close were they
to me that their lips seemed almost
touching my own, and as / sprang
up l came in violent collision with
my companion.
Miss burke! l exclaimed, indig-
nantly: but l could say nothing
more, for, after all, the crime OF
leaning over me was not of deadly
nature, though coupling it, as in
stantly did, with my previous sus-
picions, l felt not only extremely
angry. but considerably alarmed:
| was afraid you were i'll, dear
Mrs. Conyers. | do hope l have
not displeased you, she proceeded
in deprecating tone. l did not
mean to offend you.
1t is of no consequence, answered,
rising from the sofa; but please do
not do so again. l am nervous aud
/