St. Landry democrat., 1884-01-26

the donorp'
g Indeed I was =
'.Thank you. Will you always 81
think of him-of meg
My surprise was too great to frame
an immediate reply Besides, his
manner embarrassed me. 1t inferred
so much more than the mere words
/ danced with him more frequently thar
with any one else, and found q new
and strange attraction in his presence
On returning from the ball | told my
kind host and hostess of the telegram,
and of my determination to start fol
England on the morrow.
Lady c. looked grave when she
read the message.
"You might have saved a few hours
/ dear, -,7 she said.
''Only very few. And then should
have missed the most delightful expert
ence of all my life!' 1 answered, fer
vently.
ssBut it was a case of life and death,
my child" she added, gently. And
felt she had given me reproof.
My trunks were soon packed by JUS
tine, who accompanied me to England.
Sir Charles c., as my legal guardi-
an, also insisted on going with me, and
late on the following night we were
driving through the moon1ess darkness
of country roads to Crowsnest. A
stately housekeeper met us in the hall.
miss Northcote, you come too late, y
she said, and there was more austerity
than sadness in her tone. 'My dear
mistress died three hours ago. If you
had left Paris last night you would have
been in time. My lady had a. commu-
nication she desired to make to you.n
.sWhatwas it?" | asked, in much dis
tress.
THAT no one viii ever know in this
world, was the answer. And I felt
from that moment as though Mrs. Ste
vens was my enemy.
Sir Charles c. remained at Crows
nest until after the funeral. Then. in
vain, he urged me toreturn with him to
Paris. was bent on remaining a few
weeks longer in the quaint old-fash-
Toned house, which now to all intents
and purposes was mine. With the ex-
ception of one bedroom in it, descrip-
ton of CroWsnest is not necessary to the
development of my tale, but to describe
that is imperative. This room had
tlken my fancy from the first. 1t was
long and large and low; the walls pam
eled with cedar-wood. On the panels
hung framed tapestry pictures, the work
of past generations of Northcotes. The
ceiling of cedar-wood, with curiously
carved Tafters, made the walls look even
lower than they were A time-mel-
lowed square of Indian carpet covered
the center of the cedar floor on which
stood the bed-of the same wood and
richly carved raised on dais. There
were two windows; that nearest the
bed, bay with diamond panes, the
hanging similar to those of the bed. of |
rich brocade with faded |
pink satin Innings. On the side of the |
bay window nearest the bed was fixed |
a modern gas bracket, which struck me
as a strange anomaly and the only in
congruity amid the antique surround |
lngs. 1t was in this chamber my step
mother died, but utterly devoid of all
superst:tious weakness / decided to
occupy it myself. No sooner had my kind
guardian left Crowsnest than told Mrs.
stevens of my intention, whereon she
looked troubled, urging various reasons
Why | should not do so, none of
which appeared to me Of any weight.
At last she said: 1T was Mrs. North
oote's wish that that room should not
oe used. She died in it. y
''And do you suppose am so foolish
IS to be afraid to sleep there on that
lccount?" I asked.
:" 1t is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Northcote. NV late
mistress entertained the fancy, and if
rou had seen her before she died it is
ny belief she would have given you her
easons herself. As it is h
AS it is, Mrs. Stevens" I answered, ]
eeing that she paused, irresolutelv, 81 i
m now mistress here, and have set my
cart on that particular bedroom. Have
prepared, please, forI wish to occupy
at once
!" As you viii, " she said, indifferent
7. But as she turned away caught a J
ocular look on her face, which per- t
lexed as much as it annoyed me. NV {
elongings were promptly removed into {
ne coveted room, my maid, justine, /
occupying a small dressing-room adj !
'ining, but to which there was no \
trough communication The first :
ight Of my taking possession of my /
eW quarters was close and oppressive, I
nd remember waking to find the i
,ent of the cedar-wood slightly over s
oWering. About midnight [ rose; |
my way across the floor with l
itficulty, for the room was almost in
,tal darkness, / opened the nearest j
indow. The next night. before JUS +
ne left me, I desired her not to turn q
le gas quite out. Three nights later I
rain woke with sense of faDguor and c
II IL 49, -. =