Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-23
NO. 225.

invitingly up before the fire.
Not very suddenly" answered Thomp-
son. ''He was not so very well for the
last year. He changed very much, sir,
very much indeed"
WAS he happy in his married life" l
asked hesitatingly.
The man shook his head.
Il have lived with the old squire nigh
upon thirty years." he answered slowly.
Il never thought to see him take anything
| to heart rs he did his wife's coldness. It's
not for me to say anything to prejudice
you. sir, or Ia seem to be sitting in iudg-
ment upon them as are my betters; but
you viii be able to judge for yourself.
Mr.. Give. pretty soon, though even you
could never quite Judge of her rs one who
has lived with her and seen her SO much
can do"
was silent for a moment. This wSs
all strange and unexpected news to me;
and. though Thompson was privileged
individual, and knew all the family mat
ters as well rs the family itself, did not
quite like TO discuss my new aunt and her
faults with him. Seeing did not care 20
pursue the subject the old man dropped
it, and after my hasty toilet was complet-
ed | went into the dining room for dinner.
was too full of curiosity and anxiety TO
do anything like justice To the ample re-
past spread before me. My mind was
dwelling on the circumstances of this mar
riaye. and marvelled much how it had
come about, for my uncle had always pro-
fessed to be confirmed woman-hater,
and nothing was further from my thoughts
than that he should have become Bene-
diet ut his time of life.
II am ready to go to the library now,
Thompson" remarked, us pushed my
chair aside from the table. ''Havc you
told Lady Helen | should like to see
her?n
YES. sir" answered Thompson grave
ly; land she is quite prepared to receive
YOU
"When is the funeral to be ?" | asked
The day after tomorrow, sir"
And who else is here beside me ?''
The Misses Noble and old Mrs, Clay
ton are coming. tomorrow. sir. No one
else is here yet. You remember them,
suppose ?,
think of the two sour old maids who. on
the plea of third or fourth cousinship,
used to haunt Silverdesne at periodical
occasions. Mrs. Clayton was my aunt.
She and uncle Graham had invariably
quarrelled whenever they had met. She
lived about twenty miles from Silverdesne.
Altogether we shall be acharming fami-
ly party" thought TO myself; 81 repre-
senting the only male element, and hav-
ing to stem the torrent of feminine antag-
onism rs best ! can" The conclusion OF
these thoughts lett me at the library door.
Thompson oponed it softly, and announced
me with pompous ceremony;
"Mr. Give Graham"
A tall, elegant-loohing woman in
sweeping dress of black velvet advanced
toward me. bowed. but she extended
her hand. and said in a clear, cold, high
bred voice: 81 am pleased to make your
acquaintance, Mr.. Graham. / have heard
of you often"
mentally wondered how or from whom
she had heard of me, but | took her hand
and looked with wondering admiration at
the fair. cold face, whose very beauty was
less striking than its expression of pride
and firmness.
Then she motioned me to seat and be-
gan to converse have no very distinct
remembrance of what she said only
know that her voice Jared on my ears
with positive discord. | am peculiarly
ScUSItlNt W tfls LbneS OI women voices.
like them to be low and sweet and we'll
modulated, but Lady Helen possessed
none OF these charms. So harsh and cold
it was that found myself wishing again
and again that she would keep silence,
and not disturb the picture that she made
as she leaned back on her low chair with
the fire CLEANS lighting her perfect face
and masses of raven hair. "A wonder
III, II tt
with something unsatisfactory about her.
| wonder what could have made her mar
ry my uncle"
But could not very well put that ques-
ton to her. so | WAS oblige to conjecture
all sorts of reasons for so strange and un-
congruous an alliance.
81 was under the impression that
should see another lady here, remarked
at last {; "a ward OF my late uncle'
"Oh, you mean Sylvia Leigh she
said. coldly. No; she will not come
down stairs tonight. DO you know her !?
Have you ever seen her?'
81 have NOT had that pleasure. hear
that she has lived here some years now :;
but. as you are probably aware, my uncle
and never correspond; consequently
am quite ignorant of his affairs"
| were you sHrprlseu 10 near Oh MS
death ?i' asked thc widow coldly.
"Yes,'' answered, little embarrassed
at her apparent Indifference. ale looked
so well aud hearty when | last saw him,
and suppose never counted on the DIFF
ference that the passage of years would
make to him. feel old myself when
look around on everything here. | was
quite boy when last | came to Silver
desne."
Yes, know she said hurriedly.
.'Did my unce speak Of me to you?'' /
asked in. surprise.
A slight flusiS stained her clear creamy
skin.
"Oh, yes-latterly. I think he would
have asked yot. to visit us if this-unfortu-
nate--illness hid not put all such ideas
out OF his head.
All throughout that sentence ] found
myself struggling against some distrust
OF the woman who spoke it--that she was
false at heart; that could place no reli.
ance on what she said
In vain l tried to shake of the feeling
it recurred again and again. was afraid
she must thiEk me excessively stupid and
u1entertaining, for conversation tagged
Iamentcdiy batyeen ma and every nou