The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-06-02
THE HOUSEKEEPER'S TALE.
The Trouble Brought By a Jealous,
BIack-Eyed Woman.

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Lee, I have lived with |
them long time; years before Miss Una
was born. | was maid to Miss Agnes
Lander before she married the squire. I
was with her when Miss Una was born,
and | was with her, poor thing, when
she died. All, me! Miss Una was six
years old then, and my poor lady made
the squire promise to keep me for the
child; she knew I'd be mother to her.
When the squire married Miss Beatrice
Howe knew we should have hard times,
for she was proud piece, just as proud
as she was handsome; though I'm sure
never saw any beauty in her bold
black eyes. She hated Miss Una right
away | knew it the minute saw her;
] never could think what made the
squire marry her, with her naughty
WAYS and evil black eyes, The way the
men came around her made me sick and
the old squire jealous; it served him
right for he should have known she
only married him for his money, but
men will be fools where there's q pretty
face.
''When Miss Una was sixteen her
father died, leaving her the richest heir
ess in N. The stepmother got but
third of the property, and that only
as long as she was single. Well, marin,
I'll never forget the day young Alex
Linwood came to the Hall. 1t seems
he knew Mrs. Ainsley when she, was
Miss Howe. Since her marriage he had
been on the continent, and of course
when he came home he called to see her,
although not knowing her husband was
dead. | had been busting in the par
Tor, and was standing behind the cur
tain when he came in. You know what
a handsome man he is now, and at that
time he was no worse-looking. Madame
was standing in the center of the room
when he came in; when she saw him
she gave him little cry, and met him
with both hands outstretched, her whole
face lit up till she looked really pretty
1t was easy to see she loved him, for she
took no pains to hide it. He was very
much surprised at the 'squire's death.
and seemed very sorry. He was not
long there when Miss Una rode
up to the Hall; she always
loved her horse. .Dismounting, she
went into the parlor, not know
ing any one was there. I never saw
her look so well. Her habit was of
dark-green velvet, and fitted her to per-
fiction; her cheeks were rosy from the
cold air, and her eyes shone like blue
y diamonds; the green plume of her hat
contrasted well with her golden braids,
for you know Miss Una's hair was
much lighter then than it is now.
saw the look of admiration on the
young mans face when Mrs. Ainsley
introduced them, and also saw look
of hatred on madam's face. Alex Lin
wood remained to dinner, and after
that | heard playing and singing. 1t
was fully ten o'clock before Alex went
home.
"He came very often after that, and
even Mrs. Ainsley saw how much he
loved Una; he seemed unable to exist
without her, and but shorttime passed
before my darling told me they were
engaged. One night in summer Alex
and Una had been walking in the gar
den, and | was watching them from the
arbor, where l sat to catch the cool air.
The moon was so bright that I saw the
glances of love Alex gave Una. At last
ne babe her goodnight, holding her so
long in his arms, and kiss
ing her SO often, that / thought he'd
never let her 90; but he did at last,
gazing after her till she was out of
SIGHT. He then walked on; the arbor
was near the gate, so that he'd have to
pass me. He was very near, when all
at once Mrs. Ainsley stepped before
nm; she caught his arm and said
lhoarsely: oh, Alex! do you really love
That doll-faced girl so much2 She can
never love you as do / loved you be-
lore my marriage, and when you went
away l knew You did not care for me,
so married Squire Ainsley. I never
was happy. for still loved you, and
When the squire died and yon came
nome, | thought that then you would
surely love me. O, Alexl let her 90 and
love me, love met She then knelt
down, and sobbed bitterly. Even l felt
sorry for her. Alex. Linwood's noble
i&ee was very sad. as he said gently:
a., Mrs. Ainsley, | ann very sorry for
~ $ | hardly dare think how | should
ieal # Una did not love me; you say
net her go" l can not; she is my
very life, the only one | ever loved. 1
%55 you say no more. l pity you from
my heat, but have no love togive.
lie raised her hand to his lips and
&sed on without another word.
heard her mutter:
HE shall love me; if she were dead
her words filed me with alarm, and
atef that watched her and Una close
y all l could discover was, that every
ny my darling grew weaker and paler,
b b',tu Alex begged her to see doctor,
gut She always said she did not feel sick.
called Doctor Grey one day when
QUIZ, l.,