Daily Republican., 1888-08-28
= uURSOUs oOmrANIOH.

~~s-SA-E SN't
OF the leglons that applied l cannot
attempt detailed description. BY the
afternoon / was thoroughly exhausted
and had made up my mind to see no
more, when, just as 1t was getting
dusk, my servant came up to the
drawing room and informed me that
such a nice looking young lady was In
the dining-rooln; quite the incest that
had been yet.
''Ask her to come up stairs, then,
Ellis; but do not admit any one else,'i
| replied; and the next minute the
drawing room door was thrown open
by Ellis, and Miss Burke" an
nounced.
She was dressed in mourning, and,
even in the dim light, was, could
sec, pale faced, rather handsome girl
4 of about four and twenty.
Nothing could be more satisfactory
than her letters Of reference, and after
reading them carefully by the light of
the FIRE, raised my eyes toward my
visitor, whom found regarding me in
the most eager manner i'm aginable.
"They are most kind letters" l
said, land as far as references go,
am sure could not do better Your
duties would be very light-it is really
only for the sake of companionship
that require any one, as | do every
thing for myself, but l have been very
lonely since my husband went away"
l can imagine it," responded Miss
Burke, sympathizlEgly. 81 should do
my utmost to cheer you" -...
You are very kind to say So" |
answered. g..
'Should we agree as to terms,
when could you comer'
Tomorrow II you permit me, re
Iplied Miss Burke. II am in lodgings,
and the expense is 80 great, should
only be too glad to give them up-I
am very poor" she added in low
tone. ----
A fortnight slipped away. and in
my weekly budget to my husband l
gave most charming accounts of my
companion, which our every day in
tercOurse seemed fully to confirm
But about the third week someth ing
l could not explain made me take Il
dislike to her. | had not been very
W ell, and her kindness had been IN
Iemitting; consequently, felt almost
angry with myself for indulging in a
feeling which could not help &C
knowledging was both unreasonable
and childish.
But 1t gained ground in spite of my.
fself; and one night as l was standing
by the looking glass in my bed room,
which was In the shadow, / caught
sight OF Miss Burke, who WAS leaning
on the mantlepiece In the full light Of
the gas, which burned on either side
of 1t, regarding me with steady and
searching glance, which l nst0ntly
observed, but had sufficient sense to
take no notice of. The expression in
her large black eyes haunted me for
days, and caused me to say good night
to her en- the landing, and, in addition,
to lock my door, a precaution | had
never before thought OF taking.
One night shortly afterward IaWoke,
fancyiug | heard a movement outside
the door. My room was perfectly
dark, and was convinced some noise
had suddenly awakened me. lis
tened intently, almost too terrified to
breathe, until l heard most distinctly
the handle of my door cautiously turn
led. An almost death like horror
seized me, and for an instant was alb
solutely rigid with terror; but the spell
was broken by another audible effort
to open the door and the hall clock
striking three, which made me spring
up In bed, seize the matches and, with
trembling fingers, attempted two or
three times TO strike light. At last
was successful, and the welcome blaze
of the gas which | lit gave me courage
TO call out boldly, who is therel"
But no answer came. / pealed my
bell vigorously, and in few minutes
heard steps approaching, and Ellis.
welcome voice asked If were i'll.
"No, Ellis, not III, said, "but ter
rified," as unlocked the door and ad
mitted her. Some one tried my door
not five minutes ago"
Tried your door, ma'amp surely
mot" calculated Ellis.
Ellis had been with me ever since
lmy marriage, now three years, and
had been well known TO my husbands
family all her life, consequently | fell
| must trust her, 80 said: "Ellis,
have my own suspicious, but we must
do nothing until we are sure. Mean
while you must have bed made up in
this room. and We must watch"
miss BurkeH" whispered Ellis.
EYES," replied; sit was she who
TRIED my door"
Tired and unnerved, l met Miss
Burke at breakfast, and we spent oui
informing In very silent fashion.
Iwrote to my husband while she walk
led restlessly about the drawing room,
Iconstantly asking me how | was, an
Inquiry for which | did not feel sc
Igrateiul as | might have done under
Iother circumstances. Lunch came and
alterward Miss Burke, who was usual.
ly most unwilling TO go out, asked me
lii could spare her for the afternoon
as she wanted to go and see a sicR
friend.
Certainly" l replied, glad to gel
rid of her. About O'Clock lay down
on the sofa in the inner drawing rom,
land must have fallen asleep, Tor heard
no one come into the room, but
IaWoke with the consciousness that
some one was leaning over me with
their face in close proximity to my
Town.
| felt rather than saw them; 80 close
were they to me that their lips seemed
almost touching my own, and as
lsprang up l came into violent contact
lwith--my compaIiors
mMiss Burke.n | exclaimed indig