The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-03
lowed the matter to drift away from my
memory altogether.
"Well, did you engage her?" I asked.
U0n tho whole thOnpht T had hnt-

|
tie money she may chance to have.
told her to come tomorrow and get {
little used to the house. Did | d.
right ?"
~ am inclined to think you did," wa
my reply, "Best to have the strange
ness over as soon as possible"
but there's one thing / am sure vol
won't like" said Mary, after brie
silence.
"Well, what's that P"I asked.
"She wears spectacles."
"Horrorm was my rejoinder.
"Blue ones"
"WorSe and worse!"
Il knew just how you would feel
but she has very pleasant eyes undel
them, and she thinks she may soon b,
able to dispense with them altogether.
"Then I will endeavor to endure the
inhiction with the best grace l can
How does she look ?"
THAT'S q woman's question, and
shah't answer" said my wife, laughing
"However, will say that she is tai
and fair, with blue eyes, blue dress anc
a blue veil"
blue seems to be the prevailing
COLOR" I said; and there the conversa
tion stopped, tea being brought in.
On the following day / came home tc
company. In other words, / was intro
duced to Miss Campsted. and by stealth
took an inventory of her charms, for the
lady was rather good-looking. She
wore small, plain cap and the blue
spectacles aforesaid The hair, pu
smoothly bacl:, showed ripples on the
surface; the features were small anC
regular, but at first / was not pleased
with their expression, though | could
not have told why.
The dominant thought with me was
that Mary could rest, and, with mind
wholly at ease, give herself up to the care
of her little ones for season.
For few weeks things went on as
smoothly as I could desire. The coffee
speedily improved in color and flavor
the tea was delicious. Little entrees
made their appearance which before oul
circumstances had not seemed to war.
rant. The table was always in order
even Mt times decorated with flowers
and the work was well done, and rs il
performed by some invisible agency.
Harry, she is positively a treasure,
said my wife to me, one evening, after
we had retired to our room. " have SC
much more time. now, to attend to baby
and the children. Miss Campsted is an
admirable manager, and she has some
very nice-looking people to visit her."
HAS she many visitors?" asked
II thought she talked as if she were &
stranger here"
Now and then one richly dressed,
almost too richly" my wife added, in q
hesitating voice. But then we don't
visit, and really know nobody. She has
q brother, too"
"A brother!" 1 cried, more and more
surprised. "She told me she had no re-
lations here"
"Well, he wasn't here till yesterday,
when he returned from California.
caught q glimpse of him us he went
down street-and he is really majestic
looking man."
"Oh, this will never do" said, i'm
patiently. 1--WE are not rich, but there
is considerable silver in the house. and
some little gold in the way of watches
and chains, which are. besides, valuable
rs heir-looms. l don't like the visitors
Il don't like the brother"
Now you are suspicious and un-
kind" said Mary. Il would trust her
with everything in tie house, even my
husband" she added, laughing. "And
though she calls herself middle-aged, land
perhaps she iS--some women wear sc
well-she looks almost like young girl
with her cap and spectacles off, and her
hair dressed differently. You will see,
for I have persuaded her to dispense
with both tomorrow"
Tomorrow presented Miss Campsted
as o young lady of perhaps twenty-five
or three-not year older, according tC
appearance-an yet yesterday she looked
forty.
The ripple in her hair ran TO q cur,
now. The spectacles gone, disclosed
beautiful eyes fringed with long. soft
lashes She noticed my look Of sur
prise, and smiled us she said:
Il have worn caps since was thirty
but your wife has persuaded me to leave
them off for while. Do you, too, tl.ini
it an Improvement"
Il certainly do," was my reply, fol
1 hate caps and abominate spcctacles.
"What a fright | must have appeared
in your eyes, them" she said, sweetly
which speech necessitated Il compli
mentary answer, and made me feel eX
cessively silly.
Her brother dined there one day. HI
was u heavy. handsome. well-read fel
low. apparently young and very clever
would you object to my brothers
presenceat dinner to-day?" soon became
a regular form ofrequest.
What could 1 do? Her brother was
good company, played the piano. violin
and flute with skill, talked well, and al
most before knew it, I was supporting
him rs well rs his sister.
His conversation entertained me, and
though my better judgment protested
against the encroachment, still Iallowed
it until it was impossible to say no.
Mary occupied herself more and moro
with the children, who continued ailina
and nervous. Gradually she withdrew
herself from our circle on the plea O
work Cor the little ones, and one thiEs
and another, all Of which excuses I al
lowed to convince me. UnconsciouslS
began to look forward to the plcasan
after-work hours.
Miss Campsted read, sang and player
equally well. Always she deferred tt
my judgment. sang my songs, read frou
my favorite authors. Her brother wa:
equally ready to talk. or to add to th'
amusement of the evening.
l became accustomed to this interest.
ing partnership. Sometimes Mary stole
in to sit with us a while, and then stole
out again.
knew she was not my Mary as O
old, but laid it to ler cares. Nor die
l notice that her eyes grew languid, hel
movements slow; that she seldom smiled
that her merry, silvery laugh never rans
out as of yore.
l did not dream that she was fast be
coming prey to insidious disease.
"Your wife is not WE'LL" said Mis-
Campsted, on one occasion. "She de
votes herself too constantly to he
nursery cares. I often beg her to le
me assist her, or take her place for ;
while, but she will never allow me
She does not do herself justice, do yo,
think? A wife had better forget he
children than neglect nearer ties"
"What do you mean, Miss Camp
sted?" asked, turning toward her.
Something in her manner in he