The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-23
BETSEY BLI|EN.

earn my own living if anybody can"
Miss Blivcn was tall, erect and com
posed. She had seen the world, and she
wasn't afraid of it.
"But to think of Bliven going out
as hired grill" said Mrs. Midget. s
feeble, pink eyed little women with
chronic catarrh and detected sniff1e, who
had been born Matilda Bliven and at
tached superstitious respect to the name.
whats the odds?" said Betsey.
"Tve got my living to earn, and I mean
to earn it. Now you, ''Tilda, with o
compassionate glance at the pink-eyed
aristocrat, you're made to work without
any wages. Just for the satisfaction oi
being called Mrs.
And Betsey picked up her bag, shoul'
dered her umbrella and stalked out to
meet the stage, whose rumbling wheels
were beginning to sound upon the road
like distant thunder.
Miss Bliven had visited Boston in
telligerce bureau, and there they had OBJ
tanned for her the address of a house in
the northern part of the State wher, a
reliable girl was wanted in the capacity
of table waitress and chambermaid.
tWagesl" demanded Betsey.
"Fourteer dollars" replied the gen.
tlemanly man who stood smiling behind
the desk.
"Privileges7" questioned the young
woman.
IA whole day to yourself every month
and every other Sunday afternoon" re-
piled the man.
"Any other girls kept3" asked Miss
Bliyen.
.sFour," said the man complacently.
"Humph!" commented Betsey. Fam
"Well-rather," admitted the man.
And the situation is very lonely, and
so"
sT don't care anything about that, "
interrupted Betsey. ''Id as soon keep
house for hermit, or 60 on q desert
island. 'I'm not very young, and I've
no followers. Let me see-Grand trunk
railroad to Black Gorge, stage coach to
Bleak Hall-yes, I've got the directions
all written down"
And Betsey paid her fee. took her
card and creaked out of the room in a
pair of brand new calfskin boots.
Miss Bliven travelled comfortably. She
carried her lunch in splint basket, and
ate comfortably on the road she beguiled
the tagging hours with newspaper, and
was not very tired when at last the con-
ductor flung open the door and yelled
out "Black Gorge" at the top of a
stentorian pair of lungs.
And Miss Betscy found herself stand
ing on the platform, surrounded by dark
pine woods.
"W here's the stage?" she exclaimed.
'Lady for Bleak lIall7" demanded an
insinuating voice close to her ear.
And the next minute she found her
self lifted politely into c'ose, dark
wagon. with leather. cushioned seats.
"Wtere are the others2" asked the
driver.
"What othcrs2" said Miss Bliven.
"Two gentlemen who were with you. "
"Thcre were none," said Miss Bliven.
'I came alone"
"Alone," said the driver, glancing un-
easily around. call the way from
Boston?"
"Yes, all the way from Boston!" said
Miss Betsey. little impatiently. 'Why
shouldn't I% You don't suppose
needed keepers, do you?"
"Oh, no, maam; certainly not, y
promptly responded the man. as he
climbed into his scat and took the
reins.
He drove circumspectly, along g
lonely road, Miss Bliven observed, up
to the very door of a great dark stone
house. hcdged about with fuuera!-look
ing spruce and cedars, as Betsy could
discern in the star-sprinkled darkness,
and narrow door was opened.
I've brought her," said the driver tc
a respectable looking man in black,
whom l'etscy at once concluded to be
the butler, ''all alone"
"Alone! bless my SOUL" cried the
man. II hope you didn't have any
trouble2"
"Nonc in the least" said the driver.
"She's as quiet as lamb"
"Well, never" said Miss Bliven.
"Do they take me for raging ioness,
Iwonder. /
In an instant her arm was drawn
through that of the respectable man in
black, and she was conducted along O
dark, stone-paved passage, lighted only
by swinging lamp which hung above
their heads.
"yery polite they are here, I must say, ,
thought Miss Betsey to herself
But the idea was scarcely formed in
her mind when she found herself pushed,
gently, but suddenly, into small, stone
paved room with circular walls, windows
high above her reach, and the scanties'
allowance of furniture that she had evel
seen in her life. And. to her amazement,
the polite butler was accosting hel
throug gh grated doorway, as if she were
avid criminal.
'Eh" said Betsey, "what's this3 Lei
me out, will you?"
"Quiet, ma'am, quiet. There's !,
DEAR" said the respectable parsonage,
"You will have some supper directly il
only you will compose yourself"
"But I want to get out" said Betsey,
rafting at the door.
Quiet, quiet, qui-etr' shouted tht
man. Don't, pray, excite yourself"
"What on earth is the meaning o
this2' said the bewildercd woman from
Maine.
Now, pray be calm" said the butler
"Quiet-ouiet, that's the way"
'But l won't be quiet" said Miss
Betsey. "I'll tear the walls down. II
shout for help. What have done tt
be shut up like prisoner or a mad
womanl"
"Gently, gently, urged the respect
able man in black. "Jonas, I'm afrait
you'll have to bring the straight jack
et!"
"The-s straight jacket2" Miss Blivcl
dropped down on the little stone bencl
that was screwed against the wall, as i
bullet had struck her, Was it possible
that they believed her to be mad2
'Stop!" said she, trying to calm tn
wild, inccssant beatings of her heart
Don't put On that thing. I will b
quiet"
There's dear soul" said the man il
caressing accents. as if he were reason
ing with q fractions infant. ''It:s
great deal the most sensible thing yo'
can do"
"But there's some mistake here,
pleaded poor Betsey, on whose brow, II
spite of the chillness of the night, grea
drops of perspiration had broken out
"l'm not mad"
s'No, no." said the man. "Of cours
not. You shall have some tea directl,
and slice of dry toast, and"
'Bronson," called out clear. distinc
voice, "you're wanted! Where are you
What are you doing?"
sI'm with the new patient, sir" an
swered The respectable man. She