The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-21
NUMBER 2 MELROSE SQUARE.
A STORY IN TWO CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER I.

SAA1h1 4A11s 4s
! am asked to state as clearly as posi-
bic why l gave up the house in Melrose
Square, Bloomsbury, as suddenly as 1
did, and what happened there. The
landlord says that I had given it bad
name, and prevented him lowing to GER
tain paragraphs which have lately ap-
peared in one of the daily papers) from
letting it to another tenant. This is why
I have been called upon to make this
statement, and will do so accordingly
as briefly and exactly as possible. II the
landlord be further hurt by 1t, l can not
help it Had been allowed l would
FAR rather have avoided ever saying or
thinking anything more on the subject.
TO me it is still an irrepressibly painful
lne.
\ first entered Number Two Melrose
Square rather late in the afternoon of
November Is, 1873; that is, Just about a
year ago. 1t was a furnished house,
taken for me by friend who was slight
,gy acquainted with the landlord. She
tthad also, on his recommendation. engaged
For me temporary servant, and it was
ehis woman who opened the door for me
Qss alighted from the cab at it.
\ She was not pleasant t-looking person;
Seand remember my first impression Of
5she house was that it looked dark and
tcheerless, and not 90 inviting by any
dmeans as my friend had described it to
VINE. She, however, had seen it on a
bright morning in October, when the
tssun was shining and the leaves were still
%uddy on the trees. while l was entering
1T under the treble disadvantages of twi-
pight, soaking rain, and and sky low
oand dense and sooty enough to suggest
sits being compounded of nothing but
sexhalations from the river of black mud
which lined the streets and made the
TTpavements foul and slippery on every
1side. No house could look pleasant un-
Ider such circumstances, and had not
scome to London for pleasure, but for
qhard practical work. l had undertaked
athe translation Of a book which necessi-
stated my constant vicinity to the British
Museum for ut least six months, and the
rhouse in Melrose Square was at once 50
iconvenient for the purpose, and SO ex-
eceedingly-I had almost said ridiculous
ly-low rented that it seemed as though
! it had been left empty specially for my
accommodation. 1t would have required
something more than little outward
dreariness to damp my spirits on my first
arrival.
Inside it was rather more cheerful.
The entrance hall, it is true, was dark
and narrow; but Mrs. Gathers, the SER
| want, had lighted bright fire in the
dining-room, and the tea things were al
ready set out ON the table. l began to
think that the woman's face belied her
character, and that l should not have to
suffer for want of attention, at any rate;
although sat down to tea in pretty
good spirits, and afterward wrote letter
10 brother John, with whom l had been
staying ever since I let the cottage after
our mothers death. 1t had been a long
visit-not too long for him, l hope; but
Mrs. John was fussy in her kindness
would make visitor Of me, and fdget
if shut myself up for an hour with my
writing. On the whole, l had rather
looked forward to my being my own
mistress again. This evening did not
mean to do anything, however. The
Journey from the North had been as long
and firing as such journeyings always
are, and I hardly felt equal to getting
out any occupation, while in the room
where was sitting there was certainly
nothing to interest me or amuse my
thoughts.
1t was medium-sized apartment, with
rather dingy red Turkey carpet, furni
ture in the orthodox brown leather and
mahogany, a wall paper Of dull orange
striped with maroon. There were one 0,
two very bad oil paintings, and an en-
craving, representing Judas casting
down the thirty pieces Of silver il
the Temple; bookcase in one corner
but locked, and with no key in it, and
over the chimney-piece mirror covered
with yellow gauze. have particular
objection to guiding covered up with
yellow gauze anywhere, or at any time
but in this case the glass was covered al
well-a precaution as senseless as it wal
\ hideous; and ! made up my mind to re
move the eyesore on the morrow. Fol
that night | was too lazy, and about
I o'clock rang for Mrs. Gathers to bring
my candle that l might 60 to bed. She
\ went upstairs with me. 1t was rather .
winding staircase, and my bedroom wal
I on the second floor. / had to pass tn,
u drawing-room landing and window
Z little way above, just where the stair
3 took curve. ..s-1l
remember looking through this win
dow and trying to discover what view i
had, and being disappointed because tn
gloomy blackness Of the night withou
only gave me back vision OF myself re
l tlected in the glass, with Mrs. Gathers
i decidedly unprepossessing features lit
tie in my rear. For the moment, indeed
! l fancied there were two Mrs. Gathers
on rather, second head little belo,
hers; but of course that was only fla,
in the glass, and l laughed at myself fo
the momentary idea that this secon'
head had been more like an old man tina