The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-09-21
TIE SECRET.

"Buthowi is it that you know more thar
the rest of the world?"
u was there when il happened, " Miss
Arto quietly replied, but to this day
thew have not the slightest suspicion that
Miss Artois is an acquaintance.
Belle Hampton opened her eyes wider
thar ever.
eWhato on earth de- ou meth, BlancleY"
she exclaimed.
'fOnly that twas there as parlor-maid,
Miss Artois coolly responded, her haughty
eye sweeping the magnificent width OF
the handsome conservatory through
which they were saantering.
nAs parlor-maidr' echoed Belle, upset
ting a rare exotic as she hastily turned to
look at her companion.
"a parlor-maidi What woald mamma
say?"
At this a little rippleof laughter parted
Miss Artois' handsomely curved lips.
But the next moment she said grayely:
'.You need not tell her. | am in the
confessional to you alone, remember"
and then she commenced abruptly.
''When the world said | was rusticating
among the Yorkshire hills ] was playing
parlor-maid at Red Moor. Wherefore?
That is my secret.
1.-The three old ladies at Red Moor re-
minded me more of three little sprltes
than aught else. When properlydisguised,
aproned and capped ! was presented for
their approval. But, fortunately for me,
their keen, bright eyes rested favorably
upon me, and with my good star thus in
the ascendant | entered upon the some
what promiscuous duties assigned me.
az had not been in the house three
weeks before | discovered that it concealed
mystery.
'.The discovery was made in this way.
One night, after restlcssly tossing for
houis with an aching face, | rose, intend
ing to 60 down to the library fire.
II softly crossed the upper hail, always
kept dimly lighted, and was about pro
ceedine downward. when the weird sight
of old Mrs. Vassar (the eldest OF my three
mistresses) suddenly arrested me.
'~'Instinctiyely | paused and gazed. She
wa standing with her back toward me III
dark, narrow angle OF the building, at
the extreme end of the hall, her splendid
waves of snowy hair floating in wild dis.
order over her blood-red dressing gown
sweeping far behind her. But the spell
binding me was broken by what appeared
to be her sudden disappearance through
the solid wall.
"tStraneer' I exclaimed under my
breath. The servants told me that part
of Red Moor was fearfully haunted, and
consequently, had been walled up and
rendered wholly inaccessible.
s4Of course / was curious; but | returned
to my bed and fell asleep.
"a month later / was p~assingalong one
of the many narrow winding corridors in
which the house %abounded, when at a
sudd|enturning, / came uponthc Old gray
headed butler, bending under the weight
of a large tray filled TO overlooking with
all the luxuries of the season.
"'Jasper!' l ~involuHtarily exclaimed,
'wherc in the world are you taking that
repast? Eyerybodyin the house has been
served
''Silent and motionlcss he stood gazing
at me in blank dismay. The next instant
there was a soft rustic OF silk and the old
housekeeper's voice rang sharp and stern
from the other end Of the corridor:
i" jasper. attend to your business.
Myr;t, come here!' adding still more
steruly, rs ~obediently approached, and
do you attend to yours, girl. What brings
you here at this hour
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1ut ttItOa; taol-o3 a.