The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-07-06
The Morristown Gazette.
MSS oyINGroN PLAYS ACrREss.


maid, a FrenehwomAn, called Julie Mainte-
non, assisted her to undress, and drew the
giIken curtains round her luxurious couch.
She offered to sit up with her mistress, or
read her to sleep, but Miss Maud dismissed
her. -
"You are very good, Julie, she said, with
that affabIe gentleness which characterized
her manner; ''but am very ILL rest is all
Julie Maintenon placed the shaded night
lamp upon its alabaster stand and softly left
the room,
No sooner had she done so than the silken
curtains were dashed aside by two small
white hands, and Maud Ovington sprang
from her eouch.
at is impossible to restT she exclaimed;
EI can take no repose until l know all!
How long the hours are, and how many
weary moments must pass between this and
midnight
She took the night-lamp from its pedestal
and passed into the adjoining apartment
which was the dressing-room, in which she
had received the man William a few nights
before.
She locked tbs door Of the chamber,
lighted the wax tapers upCn the toilet table,
and seated herself before che looking-Rlass-
She unlocked email caSket, which, among
other elegant and costly trinkets, adorned
her dressing table From this casket she
transparent fluid, which she poured into
tiny crystal basin. Then, with her two
slender hands, she pushed her rich golden
hair away from her forehead and, twisting
it into one tight knot, fastened it at the back
of her head.
''Now for q transformationg' she muir
INJURED, as she contemplated herself in the
glass.
She dipped a sponge into the dark fluid
in the basin and passed this wet sponge
lightly over her beautiful face. As she did
so, her delicate skin changed from the hue
of alabaster to dark, sallow tint-such an
is seen in the complexion of an Indian.
When she had completed this change, she
opened drawer in her toilet-table and took
from it o wig OF wavy black hair. She drew
this wig over her own yellow tresses. and
fixed it firmly upon her head. This change
in the color of her hair and complexion
made her an utterly different being to the
lovely Mapd, whose beauty had made her
the belle of the previous season.
Witha eanlels-hair pencil she painted her
eyebrows and laSheS OF the same hue as her
false hair; then, rising from the toilet-table,
she went to wardrobe, from which she
took some shabby garments of rusty mourn
ing. She dressed herself carefully in these
garments, among which there was widows
cap.
when her toilet was complete, she ex-
cheval glass.
My father would pass me in the street
without recognizing mel" she muttered
A fire burned brightly in her bed-cham-
Der. She returned to this apartment, leaY-
ing the door of the dressing-room open, and
seated herself close to the hearth.
1T is eold!' she muttered, land I shiver;
but do not fear. I will go through with
brother Georges plan to the endr'
The OrmOlu time-DiecA in the adjoining
room struck ten.
1.-TWO hours to waltz murmured Miss
Ovington.
She listened to all the noises in the large
house. She heard every step in the cOrTi-
doris and upon the staircase without, as the
family retired to rest.
Before eleven o'clock all was still.
A little after eleven, cautious hand
knocked at the door of the dressing-rOom.
Maud Ovington flew to respond to that
mysterious summons. She opened the door
and admitted the servant William; but the
man recoiled as he looked at her altered
face. lr. s.t
''What is this?" he exclaimed; sand where
is Miss Maud?'
She laughed low, silvery laugh. and put
her finger on her lip.
"My disguise must be indeed ccmpletaF'
she said. 81 am ready. Is ell safer"
''Quite safe, madam. The servants have
been in bed half an hour"
"And my father"
she went to his room at ten o'clock"
LEAD the way then; I am ready"
She fastened the door of her bed-chambeR
upon the inside, but she removed the key Of
her dressing-roOm door and locked it upon
the outside, afterwsrd putting the key in
her pocket. 8 X - - ~
The servant William walked before her
along the carpeted corridor till he stopped
before q small door. This door opened
upon the servants staircase, which they
both deScendeCk 81 asa = X f-r > t-
AT the foot Of this staircase they found
themselves in 3 narrow passage, at the end
of which Was & low wooden doorway, lead
ing into the street.
William locked this door behind him,
after having passed out into the street with
Miss Ovingtoh. fs-'s
''You are very cautious, William OBJ
served She. ssSsEE 81 E-
Thanks, madam. am glad you appre-
ciate my services" replied the man, as he
mounted the steps leading from the base
ment
This man did not speak like an ordinary |
servant His Pronunciation was correct.
He spoke like person who had been toler-
ably educated. .-.
He conducted Miss OVington through two
or three narrow streets, and out on to Broad |
way, where they came to q coach stand, |
upon which-Were two or three vehicles
which did night duty, were stationed. He !
selected the pIainest and darkest of these; |
and, after having given some directions to |
the driver, opened the door and handed |
Hiss Ovington into the vehicle. -e-
He then took his place upon the box be-
side the driver. r
The man drove rapidly through the streets |
till lie reached the ferry, where he was COM |
PEELED TO wait for a boat. The boat was |
-, holF Oft
we're on the Brooklyn side.
After traversing several dark streets, the |
coach stopped in one darker and narrower /
han any of the others at the direction of i
William Gorton, the servant.
This man opened the door of the vehicle /
and assisted the occupant to alight upon the
dirty pavement.
ave will walk the rest of the way to your
sick brothers house, he said, in voice
which was loud enough to be heard by the
man upon the box. .s'Flhe coach will wait
for us here"
He paid the coachman the fare from New
ssYou will wait here for an hour, he said
i'snd you will be we'll paid for your time
Now, madam = be added, offering his arm
10 Miss Ovington.
She accepted it with anill-concealed snud-
der, which was not lost upon William
Gorton.
s.You are very proud, madam" he said, in
a low. deliberate tone; ''but you are obliged
10 accept my aid, and, for the time, we are
equals"
He turned into 4 dark, narrow court,
which wound sinuously, like some brick and
nortAr serpeRt, behind the dismal streets
leading down to theriver.
Thessir Vss sitting end pestiferous. The
ARK roofs of the honses in this close alley
unaar1v &oRched each oth@. The buildings
Ieve ahabby snd diIapitsteA; but late - il
vas lights bVSAed hess Aad siege in ths
AnGy giAdows.
Villa GogtOA ntopp@d sAddenly befoEs
a aight o. broken StoAs stags, haaing down
q . low doorway SGn4 dseBw A@a9 the earth.
sThis m tha houss.S 10 cid; follow
ne" l.-lA.L--