The Penn's Grove record., 1885-06-27

eyes, following the ledge, perceived
three brass bell wires above it running
round the room, which struck me as
unusual-in modern houses bell-wlres
are generally cOncealed-but | no
remarks on my discovery. Mrs. Vince
Ter then led me back to my own room,
and. after | had declined her civil ofer
to unpaCk for me, left me
l found my new home quite endur-
able, though very dull and monotonous'
My aunt was a great reader, n L also
loved books. One of my duties was to
read to her, and, as she selected good
works and discussed them ~cleverly at-
forwards, my task was a pleasant one.
1 grew quite fond of Aunt Helen, al
though | could not shut my eyes to the
fact that she wa parsimonious. Every
detail of Housekeeping was most care
fully looked into by her, and our b
was of the p~lainest kind. A JOINT
eaten re-dressed in many ways TILL 1t
was inIshed-the simplest and cheapest
of puddings, stale bread homemade
however), and weak home brewed table,
beer constituted our daily diet. But
there was enough to eat, and my healthy
young appetite was satisfied by plain
food. My aunt seemed pleased that |
was happy and contented, and did her
best to amuse me by repeating old sto-
ries and the gossip of her early life,
when she had mixed in the world and
known many distinguished people OF an
earlier day,
Mrs. Wheeler also was very attentive
and civil to me; but somehow l never
could either like or trust her. She was
a very white looking woman of about
sixty, with very gray hair and eyebrows
and faded blue, furtive eyes, which
never looked steadily at one. Aunt
Helen told me that her h~ousekeeper
had had a great sorrow, which had pre-
maturely silvered her hair and given
her complexion its ~singulaIly gray tinge.
Her only son had been wild and wicked
had been the companion of p~oachers,
and in a midnight fray had killed a
keeper. for which, having been taken,
and tried, he was sentenced to some
years of penal servitude. His mother,
who dotted on him, had w recovered
the shame and sorrow of his trial. Fol
this, of course, l pitied her; but the
manner in which she encouraged my
aunt's foible of saving and the seryile
flattery she offered her disguised me.
She tried flattery on me at first, but
without success. | vas too well aware
of my own lack of beauty to accept her
recognition of my charms.
| had been two months nearly at
Boarhunt, and January-cofd, sleepy
damp and dreary-was upon us. But
[ generally managed to get a run out
into the park before dinner. Without
the fresh air thus obtained, | could
scarcely have endured the close room
which my aunt never changed, and in
which l passed the whole of the other
part of the day. But II morning
when about to dress for my walk to
weekday service, l found that a boot
lace Of my only pair of walking-boots
was broken. On seeking for another, |
found that / had not n left, and |
ran down to Mrs. Wheeler to ask her
if she could lend me one.
Although nominaIly a housekeeper
she had no DON Of her own-''lt saved
a fire." she said, ito live in the kitch-
en-" and thither l proceeded. The
door was shut; L opened it, and was
about to proffer my request, when she
advanced rapidly, stood exactly in front
of me, so as to prevent my entering and
asked in a nervous, irritable manner
what | wanted. l told her; and she at
once assured me that she had no laces,
but that she had no doubt Mrs. Keith
could give me one; and then she nearly
shut the door in my face. She had not
however prevented me from seeing the
| Er,,ra NF n mon uitttnn in tho nh1nnnau-
corner, who for one instant had turned
a very evil looking face in the direc-
ton.
l was rather surprised at her having
a visitor, as | / had often heard her de-
clare to my aunt that she would never
admit one; and l ascribed her manifest
agitation to my detecting her in the act
of receiving "a follower" as she would
have said. However, 1 fastened to
beg a lace of Mrs Keith, who smilingly
assured me that she had long since
ceased to wear lace boots or to possess
laces. | could not therefore go out.
She advised me as a substitute for out
of-doors exercise, 10 run owe the old
house.
sit is of great size" she said, "and
will take many steps to.traverse, and it
may amuse you to explore the many
hooks and corners, though l cannot
promise you the excitement of a ghost
or a mystery to discover. 1t Is a COM
monplace old rambling house."
Pleased at the idea of exploring, l
set off at once, taking a turning she
had described, lower down the gallery,
and finding a perfect nest of chambers
on that floor. They were all furnished
but the furniture was dusty, damp,
mouldy and falling into decay. A flight
of stairs at the end Of these rooms temp
ted me to ascend higher. The upper
story was still more ramblin aud full
Ter of passages, steps, hooks, and cor
ners than the n below; and | began
to think that l might lose myself in
such a labyrinth, and that l had better
return, when on opening a door and
stepping into another of these deserted
chambers, | tripped over something,
and, looking down, perceived a rough
strong pair Of mems boots just under
my feet. L was greatly astonlshed,
especially when, on CHANGING round the
room, | perceived the signs of recent
occupation. The bed had been slept in
and was not yet made, and the CRATE
contained the embers of a fire. Who
could have slept here and been INDUCED
in a fire. a luxury which even Mrs
Keith did not allow herselfP The
Wheelers and the general servant slept
in the wing yer the offices. Who
could he dwelling here unknown to
/ Aunt Helen?
Whilst l still stood wondering, l
heard heavy steps approaching; and,
not liking to be found where l was, |
darted forward, opened another door
which l hoped led from the room-and
found myself in a large low closet
with a small window in it. l had shut
the door after me before l perceived to
what the egress led, and l was about to
open it and go out again, when l heard
a mans footsteps in the chamber, and
thought it better to remain where |
was, A harsh voice said
"The gal will have all the money
now, you may be sure, mother. There
,,ouit no mora than a nilfrv H~ffu-nOupd