Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-18
Confined from First Page. }

I'm. THIS is notn1ng 10 tne tapestry III
Mrs. Keith's room, ma am, if You would
like to see it!' And she led me across the
corridor to a room exactly opposite my
own. which was hung with tapestry in
remarkable state of preservation.
was much struck by it, and rather glad
also to find that should not sleep alone
in this rambling. dreary-looking old man
sion, though Mrs. Keith, feeble and aged,
was small protection; and ! learned that
only she and occupied this part of the
house. the servants sleeping in another
wing.
(Which think mistake of my lady's,"
said Mrs. Wheeler, ''seeing that her plate
Jewels are all here; and until now, Miss
Corbould, she has selpt here alone ever
since Mr.. Keith's death"
''Her plate and jewels here" / ex-
claimed thoughtlessly, glancing around
the room, in which could perceive only
a small wardrobe and chest of drawers.
"Yes, a'am. in closet behind the
tapestry" and parting two of the pieces.
she uncovered an oak paneling OF rich
carving which il seemed shame to hide.
! then perceived that the tapestry hung
from wide embossed ledge little below
the top Of the room, leaving a hollow
space between it and the wainscot. My
eyes, following the ledge, perceived three
brass wires above it running about the
room, which struck me as unusual-in
modern houses bell wires are generally
concealed; but made no remark on my
discovery Mrs. Wheeler then led me
back to my own room, and, after had de-
clined her civil offer to unpack for me, left
me.
found my new home quite endurable,
though very dull and monotonous. My
aunt was great reader, and also loved
books. One of my duties was to read to
her, and as she selected good works and
discussed them cleverly afterwards my
task was pleasant one. She was herself
unable to take exercise out of doors, as
breathing the cold air Of Winter brought
on bronchitis with her; but she moved
about the room, and could walk to her
chamber and occasionally up and down
the corridor, leaning on my arm.
She rose at about 10 o'clock but break
tasted early and generally took walk in
the park before an early dinner. On
prayer mornings in the week, as well as
on Sunday, managed to walk to church,
though the distance was considerable, and
/ was often late. The doctor called &C.
casionally, and so did the rector-a very
pleasant, cheerful man of about forty, and
a bachelor.
grew quite fond of aunt Helen, al
though could not shut my eyes to the
fact that she was parsimonious. Every
detail Of housekeeping was most carefully
looked into by her, and our table was OF
the plainest kind. A joint-eaten redressed
in many ways till it was finished-the SIM
plest and cheapestof pudding. stale bread.
(house-made, however, and weak, home
brewed table-beer constituted our daily
diet. But there was enough to eat, and
my healthy young appetite was satisfied
by plain food. Ny aunt seemed pleased
that was happy and contented, and did
her best to amuse Inc by repeating old
stories and the gossip of her early life,
when she had mixed in the world and
known many distinguished people of an
earlier day.
Mrs. Wheeler was also very attentive
and civil TO me; but somehow / never
could either like or trust her. She was a
very white looking woman of about sixty.
with very gray hair and eyebrows, and
faded blue, furtive eyes. which never
looked steadily at one. Aunt Helen told
me that her housekeeper had had great
sorrow, which had prematurely silvered
her hair and given her complexion its sin
gularly gray tinge. Her only son had
been wild and wicked, had been the COM
panion Of poachers, and in a midnight fray
had killed keeper, for which, having
been taken and tried, he was sentenced to
some years of penal servitude. His moth
err, who dotted on him, had never recovered
the sorrow and shame of his trial. For
this, of course, pitied her; but the man.
ner in which she encouraged my aunt's
foible of saving and the servile fattery she
offered her disguised me. She tried flat
terry on me at first, but without success. /
was too well aware of my own lack of
beauty to accept her recognition of my
charms.
had been two months nearly at Boar
hunt, and January-cold, slecty. damp
and dreary-was upon us. But | gener-
ally managed to get run into the park
before dinner. Without the fresh air thus
obtained, could scarcely have endured
the close room which my aunt never
changed, and in which / spent the whole
of the other part Of the day. But one
morning, when about to dress for my
walk to weekday service, found that
boot-lace Of my only pair of walking
boots was broken. On seeking for anoth-
er, discovered that ! had none left, and
] ran down to Mrs. Wheeler to ask her if
she could lend me one.
Although nominally housekeeper, she
had no room of her own--"it saved fire."
she said. ito live in the kitchen;' and
thither proceeded The door was shut
/ opened it, and was about to profler my
request, when she advanced rapidly, stood
exactly in front of me. so as to prevent
my entering, and asked in a nervous, irri-
table manner what wanted. | told her,
and she at once assured me that she had
no doubt Mrs. Keith could give me one
and then she nearly shut the door in my
face She had not, however, prevented
my seeing the figure of man sitting in
the chimney-corner, who for one instant
had turned very evil-looking face in my
direction.
was rather surprised at her having a
visitor, as had often heard her declare to
my aunt that she would never admit one
and | ascribed her manifest agitation to
to my detecting her in the act of her re-
ceiving "a follower as she would have
.asA