The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-10

Something in the splash of those rain
drops made me feel very much like crying
and when my guardian took my hand anC
congratulated me, looked up and tried t.
smile, and the sun tried for moment t.
break through cloud, but the smile an(
the sunbeam died together.
Soon after, we arrived at our now com
mon home, and were met at the door by
the housekeeper, grim-looking female
who had evidently entered the house on it
natal day, and had no intention of eve
leaving it again alive.
Internationally, at once made her ny
eternal enemy by passing her without !
greeting | saw peculiar glance pass be
tween the two, however, so / was prepared
to use some policy and smile as sweetly al
l could when my husband introduced mt
to her some few minutes after.
One look about the hallway was suflcien
to allow me to take in every point; th'
stairway turning to the east from the lower
end; the statue at the foot of it that helC
light in its right hand which it tried tt
shade with its left; door at the very lower
end seemed to open into library; anC
round to the west Of the entrance way was
door which supposed opened into the
parloF; but on the wall of the east side
there was no door, and, while looking al
this place, / said, in surprised manner
"Why, how strange:
s'What is so strange ?? said Frau Stable
with sinister look In her eye.
"Why," faltered 1, II think it very
strange that there is no door in this wall
knowing as I do that there must be a room
there"
"Well, it's my opinion that the less you
pry into things in this house the better
you'll please the man you've married, and
with many an ominous muttering the ole
creature limped out to some part of the
house unknown to me then.
looked inquiringly at my husband, but
he had evidently been so occupied in hang
ing up his coat and in smoothing down his
oily hair that he had heard nothing of the
strange conversation.
That night, you may well fancy, was a
sleepless one. The wall without door
haunted and terrified me, and before morn
ing | was as nervons regarding this wing
on the east side of the house as was the
wife of Bluebeard about the forbidden key
At daybreak | arose, and, dressing my,
self in soft, bright-colored wrapper, went
down stairs and opened the front door. Il
was not yet seven o'clock-cOld, dark and
wet; but my curiosity was forcing me al
most against my common sense; and l held
my skirts up high above the wet steps, and
picked my way round the muddy pathway
to where could see the outside wall of the
wing. [ stood on tiptoe and pulled the
vines aside from several places, but could
see no door, nor any windows; and [ went
shivering into the house more mystifed
than ever.
Opening the door into the parlor I went
in and found long, dreary-looking room
furnished in black hair CLOTH. Between
the two front windows was an oid-fashioned
pier glass, in which I saw myself at full
length. For the first time in my life did
not care to look at myself My face was
too long and colorless to please me, and my
eyes had dark rings under them which ]
did not like; but my soft cashmere dress
which fell in loose folds on the floor, pleased
me, and | turned and walked down the
room, looking back over my shoulder
pleased as a child to see my train sweep
the floor behind me.
But, alas while smiling at myself, and
not observing my footsteps, [ stumbled
over hassock and fell from my high dig
nifty in heap on the floor.
looked up from my humble position
Just in time to see John Finger, his thin
lips set in scornful smile. My youth and
spirits seemed suddenly to die within me.
When I had once more come to my
senses and regained my dignity, I went out
into the hall and followed my husband tc
breakfast
A weary weary meal was partaken of
seasoned with no word, no smile, and when
soon after, he put on his overcoat and hat
and went out of the door, [ trembled, and
felt my old fear return, and realized that
nv forebodings had come true-I was or
the G'other side" of that heavy door with
not even my intimate friend of other days
to comfort me.
Finding myself alone, 1 instinctively
turned to the wall that seemed to have en-
tered into nay life SO strangely. [ do moi
know why | did it, nor why l was disap
pointed at the silence which greeted the
act, but | placed my ear close to the parti
tion, wondering what l should hear
Perhaps l am dwelling too long upor
the small particulars concerning my sub
ject, but I wish to impress any one who
may chance to read this with the mystery
of this wall as deeply as l was impressed
myself, as that is the only way l have o
making you sympathize with me in my
dream concerning it.
Lonely, with nothing to do, determin
ed to look about the house. | had from
childhood filled it with romances in imagi
nation, but how unrOmantic found it all
A lumber room full of old and uninterest
ing furniture, all placed about in stiff anC
uncomfortable manner, the bed in its par
ticular corner, the one which in every room
originally intended for sleeping purposes
suggests the bed. The bureau, of course
stood between the windows. The archi
tect, when he planned the house, had evi
IDENTIFY said, as he worked, 'I must leav,
space here for bureau, there for wash
stand, some chairs might be placed here
and one particularly large one over there.
And so had the whole arrangement of tn
house been carried out from end to end.
[ went dolefully down under the SHADOW
of the statue in the hall, and cried m.
lonesome little self to sleep.
[ did not wake until l heard my HUSBAND
at the door; then jumped up, and once
more felt the curl of his under lip to m,
very marrow, and knew instantly that fol
the second time in the first day of my mar
ried life 1 had proved myself in his eye
unworthy the dignity of my position.
At last another meal time arrived, and
went to the table spiritless and dishearten
ed. Every one thinks his trouble tn
greatest on earth; and, indeed, why shoulc
he not, since he is the sufferer? And S,
thought that there could be no position
more dreary and pitiful than mine. Th,
very thought of my situation humiliatec
me. Why had | so meekly submitted t.
this wish of my dead parent? Why had
this man, whose nature seemed actual,
Shiny with this stagnation, wished to hav,
so young and inexperienced creature a