Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-14
MIDNIGHT FOOTSTEPS.


length and depth and fierceness of
which would have astonlshed a
Londow hou, ebolder. The elder
lady-and she was very old,
but as brisk IA a bee-sat at a
large waiting table, and turned
over numerous papers by the
light of the wax candles that
stood near in heavy silver candle
sticks. The younger lady, and she
was closely approaching fifty, was
busily engaged with long roll of
flannel, from which she was cut
ting petticoats for the poor. Any
winters evening for two years
past the widowed Mrs. Crosby and
Miss Dorothy Grimble, her nj ece,
might have been found similarly
employed, the aunt ruling her
large estate with firm hand from
that writing table, and the maiden
niece organizing the feminine
charities of the house.
"Scandalous! That fellow Smith
in trouble again, and can't pay
his rent. Soon see about that idle
rascal!' muttered Mrs. Crosby.
"Only a fortnight till a club
day; wonder If these petticoats
will be ready for the WON en-"
murmured Miss Dorothy, anxious
ly.
"Send them up to the school,
house; they can be made there
"They are making new SUPPLIES
for the choir; can't do both"
"Bah! Supplies indeed! Pet
icoats are much more use; and
Pm sure that poor miserable rec
tor is as much at the mercy of
those women as if he wore a petit
coat himself"
swell, Aunt Crosby" remon-
strated Miss Dorothy, ''you can't
erpect a man to know all that
woman gent rally looks after"
"He ought to, if he hasn't got a
woman to help him. How do l
know all about what man gen.
orally looks after !"
At this moment the door was
thrown open, and the old butler
announced the rector of the par
ish. @ fn Ef.E-E
Mr.. Preedy was very quiet,
mild-looking man, upward of fif-
ty. He entered nervously, for he
was always uncertain, until he had
been greeted, whether his power
full parishoncr, Mrs. Crosby, in
tended to snap atrhim or pat him
on the back (metaphoricalty). He
now received her gracious shake
of the hand with sense of pure
qualification. f@
Don't let me disturb you; was
Just passing-hem, ali ~
And then the sentence died
away in an almost inaudible whis-
per of a self-evident fact, namely,
that he had Cooked in"
"Quite right, sit down; I'm
busy, but Dolly will talk to you"
Very uneasily he approached
ODDLY" and seated himself on
one side of the large work bias ket,
his hands meekly folded on his
knees, and his eyes resting in
fond admiration on the heaps Of
flannel.
always busy, always useful"
he murmured.
Miss Dorothy's maiden hand
twitched; and she cut the flannel
in wrong place.
Excuse me-" she said, rising
in some confusion. II forgot to
leave out some medicine for Mrs.
Brown. l will return immediate
ly."
The door had just closed when
the rector murmured audibly:
Admirable woman! Invalua-
ble!'
"Ah?' said Aunt Crosby sharp
~ turning round, and the light
from the fire made her spectacles
CLEAN as she sat with raised pen,
"Gid you speak,
"No-I, ah-merely was think
ing-ah-whata loss Miss Dorothy
would he ~ you-if-ah, she was
to.-leave you!'
"B.ess mew responded Aunt
Crosby, in a tone of slight con-
tempt, mo need to trouble about
that till she talks of going"
mo, no; very true, madam.
You have such an amusing way
of putting things!' and he vet :
tured on little nervous laugh,
from which he sobered down SUI
pernaturally next minute, "Per-
haps-ah-she might marry"
t'What is the idiot driving at ?"
said Mrs. Crosby to herself, irate
at SO many Interruptions. Marry,
did you say % she inquired aloud.
"Well about five-and-twenty years
ago Dolly was a well looking
young woman. Still, she might
marry now, and so might l. for
the matter of that, ifany one ask
ed me. Take look at the paper,