Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-11

brought up in that kind of atmos-
phere-excitement, false hopes, and
disappointment.
Married, I dare say" supple
mented Tom. "And put a bullet
through the fellows head, and then
has taken up with one or two others.
"Yes, yes" Betty dropped her voice
to an awe-struck whisper. "She act
ually showed me the photograph ola
friend of hers who she said was in
for five years-in tsuch dreadful
wordD for bigamy. In prison at
Leavenworth."
why don't you get rid of her?'
cried Tom, briskly. "She's a beastly
cook; know that"
But in spite of her questionable an
tecedents the mistress heart went
out to the maid with the same in
stinct which had prompted her at the
east to visit dingy tenement-houses
and pauper wards in hospitals. There
was a responsiveness, an affecsionate-
ness, about the cook to the attrac-
ton of which Betty succumbed. Be-
sides, the girl was pretty, with slen-
der rounded figure, and brilliantly
bright hazel eyes, a fair, pure skin
and soft golden brown hair. These
charms increased after she had lived
a decent quiet life with the Marshalls
or two or three months, and a GER
tain haggard look disappeared.
To be sure, she had been a little off
her head for the last week or SO. She
had looked in the morning as though
she had not closed her eyes the night
before; she had returned to former
habit, which had yielded to Mrs.
MarshalPs expostulations, of going
about until high noon her head tied
up. $50 fearfully uncheerful," COM
planned Betty. Moreover, she was
peevish and fretful. There was alto
gether an air, unmistakable to the
housekeeper, of uncertain tenure OF
Office about her, which struck chill
to Betty's heart. This young lady
was as welded to present ways as u
cat. All change had a vague element
of terror for her.
Hence it was with sense of relief
that she remarked that her Mary
was aroused from her apathy and in
difference by the fact of Lieut.. Mar
shall's unexpected orders. She was
as communicative as possible, pleas
ed at having hit upon subject OF
interest. Still she kept recurring to
the strong impression that Mary was
an odd creature. She had forgotten
something, and went back to the
kitchen Unexpectedly. There stood
Mary in the middle of the room, her
clenched slender fist pressed against
her temples, her bright dark eyes
gazing out before her with fixed in
tensity of concentration; poised on
her small arched feet as though about
to spring. she suggested an alert,
trapped creature at bay. What an
uatamed, problematical girl, and
what a mixed civilization had pro-
duced her! Meantime all well-bal-
anced house-keepers will agree that
Mrs. Marshall was most unfortunate
in having such an unsuitable cook,
were she ever SO devoted to the re-
generation of humanity.
Dusk was gathering about the post
when Mrs. Marshall betook herself to
the front door and looked up and
down the line OF quarters and across
the parade-ground and wished for
Tom. A man came rapidly down
tine plank walk, paused, and address
ed her.
"Does Mrs. Escadero live here?"
1t was a second before Betty re-
membered that that was the elegant
name of her cook" Eyes, the does. u
Can l see her? I'm brother o.
hers"
Betty looked up with pleased inter
est. A lamp was lighted near by al
the moment, and brought out tn,
complications striking face, and which
was also strikingly like Mary's. He
seemed quite boy; younger thar
Mary; or perhaps it was the express
ion. He had quick, bright, boyisl
smile that flashed upon Betty befor,
he moved into the shadows of the
porch.
II will call your sister, or yon car
look her up yourself if you choose
Through that gate; the kitchen is al
the end of the yard. You will fine
her there"
THANK you, ma'am," said the
young fellow ,anddisappearedthrougf
the gate.
Afterward some friends came in
and there was a game of whist, fru
gal, impromptu supper followed. A
friend offered to stay all night if Bet
ty was nervous at being left alone
but this she rejected and scorned tn,
notion of tear. Nor was she in tn,
least afraid; it was part OF her Greco
that a soldiers wife should have {
stout heart. She made pretense o
closing doors and windows for tn,
night, saying all the while in he
heart that it was a waste af strength
to take these precautions in plac,
so carefully parolled. Finally sh'
went out into the kitchen to say {
last word to Mary. She found tn,
kitchen deserted. A lamp wa
burning high, the flame blown abou
in draught from the open door
She closed the door and looked about
her. Another door led upstairs to q
loft adjoining her own room; it occur
red to her to shoot the bolt, whic
was on the outside Some one might
slip in and up while Mary is out" Or
her way upstairs she laughed at her
self for having done this. How silly
of her the holt could he sliDDed bach