Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-19

for you to give me promise, which,
trust, you will not refuse"
ssWhat is it, dear aunt? l will try
grant it if I cam
Lady Maud smiled again. On her deatl
bed, she was wonderfully lavish with ht
smiles.
''You can easily grant it, Roland" sf
answered; 'but perhaps you will think
foolish?''
Roland Cavel knelt down by the bedside
in the very place where Janet had knelt.
| s'Say on aunt" said he. "How can
think anything foolish which you sa
now?''
Lady Maud was pleased. She put OF
her hand, and rested it on her nephew
head-a strange familiarity for one VII
had always been SO cold.
'sPromise me-" said she, in low, hes
tating voice, ''that you will not look upo
me when am dead"
\ NssMy dear auntv' exclaimed the youn
man.
"Do not ask me why, Roland; promis
me?''
"Certainly I will!'
sAnd will you write your promis
DOWN."
ssThat will if You wish!''
"Well, then, write it now. Sister Clar
has pen, ink, and paper. Write it quickly
it will give me peace
seThere is no reason why you should nc
write it," whispered Sister Glare, as sh
laid the necessary materials on a smal
table, before the young man-"none what
ever. The dying often have strang
whims, and the desire of Lady Maud
one. Write it quickly, and sign you
name"
"What shall write?" said Roland.
For answer, the Sister took the pen ou
of his hand and scribbled on the paper
81 swear I will not look upon Lady Maut
Weldon when she is dead, since it is he
DESIRE"
And then Roland signed it, and the.
put the strange document into Lady Maud
hands.
81 cannot read it, she mumured
breathing with difficulty; ''but is it al
right, Clare-all right?"
eyes, it is all right" replied the Sister
repeating the words that had been writer
aloud.
Lady Maud heaved a sigh of relief
Then she said, "Thank you, Roland. Kis'
me and go-kiss me for the first and thu
last time. Perhaps I should have beer
more affectionate towards you, but coulG
not! You must forgive my GOODNESS, ant
ask Sister Clare the reason when l an
gone"
Aunt" replied Roland bending ovel
the bed, and embracing the dying peeres:
warmly, 'don't speak so! 1t grieves me
I shall not get over it for long time.'
'tAnd don't you look at me so!' replied
Lady Maud, by a great effort covering hel
face with her hands; IT cannot bear it
You remind me of some one knew long
long ago. Glare, Glare! take him away
cannot bear it!''
sWhat does it mean?" questioned Ro
land Cavel's eyes Of Sister Clare as plainly
as if they were speaking.
For answer, Sister Clare motioned hin
| 70 Ioo xa fho ,oou,
II am afraid the talking has been tot
much for my Lady, she said, in excuse.
eyes, too much" repeated Lady Maud
in low, drowsy voice. 81 want to sleep
Read me to sleep, Clare.'
Ten minutes later, Lady Maud fel
asleep, and she never woke again.
CHAPTER II.
During the next two days the inmates o
darkened Weldon Hall naturally movet
about with soft footsteps and spoke in lov
voices, making every effort to keep as Quie
as possible out of respect for the dead; bu
the hustle attendent on the preparation
for ga grand funeraf' often made them for
get the solemnity of the occasion. No ex
traordinary incitement to action had eve
occurred in the lifetime of the mistress
monotony and silence, were naturally ex
cited They ran against each other il
every direction, hindering rather than ad
vancing the progress of the work in hand
The bousekeeper-poor, worried creature
maintained order with the utmost diff
Guilty, and in the effort she often though
her own wits we're about to desert her.
Mary, very pretty upper-housemaid
came tripping along stone corridor witt
full plate-basket hanging on her arm.
"Well Mary" said the housekeeper
swhat are you going TO do with that?"
"John wants it, ma'am," she answered
pleasantly. "He said the silver was to b
cleaned"
"That silver is cleaned, child. Canno
you see?" replied the worried manager.
''Why, yes, ma am; now that you poin
it out, I can," answered Mary, carryin,
the corner Of her apron to her eyes. "I'v
taken the wrong basket, I do declare
Poor mistress! I'm thinking about her 8
much, scarcely notice what am doing
She ran back to the pantry from whicl
she had come, and found the butler, will
whom she had been gossipping, still there
He was her sweetheart.
"Ah," cried he, hast lily corking bottl
which had just been applied to his lips il
the hope that its contents would assuag
the melancholy of. his soul; chow yo1
startled me, love!'
"Did I?' replied Mary, restoring tn
plate basket to its place on the shelf witt
thud which made all the forks an,
spoons demonstrate at her violence wit
metallic voices. s'Did l? You should no
be doing anything you are ashamed of, ant
then you would not have been startled"
sT wasn't startled, not in the least,
answered the butler, coolly; 'but a corps
in the house naturally makes one a littl
nervous"
sIt does-it does, indeed, Richard" as
sented Mary, rubbing her eyes violentl
with her apron. "It was all owing to tina
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