Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-04
1alfs aud Sketthfs.
IN FLASH. =

:
| handsome woman. She was very tall and
very angular, with long thin face, the
most remarkable feature of which was a
Roman nose of commanding proportions.
| But as she had one of the kindest hearts
in the world. her paucity of good looks
seemed matter of trifing moment to
those who had the privilege of knowing
her well. 1t was at my request that, some
TWO or three years before her death, she
wrote out the following narrative of an
actual occurrence in her early life. put
the manuscript away at the time. and did
not come across it again till the other day.
| On looking over it once more. it seemed
to me not unworthy of being transcribed
| for wider circle of readers than that
comprised by the writer's immediate
friends and acquaintance.
| You ask me to 90 back i'm memory
(begins my aunt) to what seems to me
now like period of remote antiquity.
when !, Barbara Waldron, was "a years
of age and nv sister Bessie years young
er. and endeavor to put down in writing
the little story told you by word of mouth
few days ago.
! You must know. then, that in those far
| off days nv sister and | were keeping
house for our brother John. who at that
| time filled the position of steward and
land agent to Lord Darlington. The house
we lived in was pleasant but somewhat
lonely residence. about half a mile from
/ the little country town OF Lovensheld.
/ The house suited US for several reasons.
! In the first place, the rent was low in the
next, large walled garden was attached
to it, in which Bessie aud | spent many
| happy hours and in the third place. there
was a side entrance to Darlington Park.
| by which my brother could take short
cut to the Hall whenever he had business
with His Lordship or His Lordship had
business with him. Our household was
small one, and besides ourselves
comprised only Mary Gibbs. a middle
aged woman and her niece, girl of six
teen. Johns horse and gig were looked
after by a young man by the name OF
Reuben Gates, who did not, however,
sleep on the premises. An important
part of Johns duties was TO receive and
pay into the Levensfeld bank the rents
due from the farmers and other tenants of
property held under Lord Darlington.
One such tenant was certain Mr.. Shilli-
to, a corn and seed merchant, who was
noted for his eccentricities 1t only in keep
ing with Mr.. Shillito's aggravating way
of doing business that he should never paw
his rent at the time other people paid
theirs that he should always pay it in
gold and notes, instead OF giving a check
for the amount, as he was quite in posi-
ton to have done, and that he should
make point of bringing it himself, in
stead OF naming time when my brother
might have called upon him; and finally,
that he seldom arrived with the money
till after banking hours.
We come now to certain autumn eve
ming, Kitty had just brought in the tea
tray. 1t was growing dusk, almost too
dusk to see clearly without the lamp, but
Bessie and liked to eGonomize the day.
light as much as possible, especially now,
since the long winter nights were so close
upon us. John had come in for cup of
tea. This evening he was going to drive
Fover to Nethercrott. some ten miles away
dine there with some friends, and stay all
night. After dinner there was to be a
dance. and | was not without my suspi-
cions as to the nature of the attraction
which was taking him so far from home,
although he laughingly pooh poohed the
soft impeachment when challenged him
with it. John was in the act of putting
down his cup and saucer, when we heard
a noise of wheels outside, which present
" came to a stand outside the house. He
or rssed the room and peered through the
window.
"lt's old Shillito, come to pay his rent.
he remarked a moment later 1.-TWO
hours after banking time, as usual. What
a nuisance he is ~ He went down stairs,
and about ten minutes later we heard Mr..
Shillitos trap start off. Presently John
came back. Ninety pounds. all in gold
and notes" he said. ''Ive had to lock it
up in my desk till morning"
| may remark that iron safes for the
custody of money and other valuables
were by no means so common in those
days, especially in out-of-the-way country
/ places. as they appear to have since be-
come.
but the money will be quite safe in
! your desk, won't it John ?" asked Bes-
| sic.
"Sate enough without doubt, seeing
that no one but ourselves knows of IFS
presence there. Only, as a matter of bus.
mess. should prefer to have had it in the
tbhClS Vi IoSCDllN
1.-The old fellow was half-seas over. as he
generally is; and have no doubt, with
so many houses of call by the way, that
he will be soaked through and through
before be reaches home. | wonder if he
goes to bed sober night in his life ?"
A few minutes later John kissed us and
babe us good night. Bessie and | weni
to the window to see him start; but BY
this time it was nearly dark. He waved
his whip at us as soon as he had settled
himself in his seat, then he gave the reins
little shake Black Beryl's heels struck
fire from the stones as she prsng forward
the gravel scrunched beneath the wheels
and moment later the shadows of even
ing had swallowed up horse and gig ant
driver. My sister and pulled down the
blinds and drew the curtains and rang fol
Kitty to bring in the lamp.
The evening passed after our usua
quiet fashion. We worked a little anC
read little and played some half dozer
duets. and chatted between tunes. till the
clock pointed to halt-past ten. at which
hour we generally retired for the night
My last duty every evening was to &c
the round of the house and satisfy
myself that all lights were out. that the
fires were safe, and that all the doors anC
windows were properly secured. Wher
this duty had been duly accomplished 10
night the drawinO room laun uas a vt;p