Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-04
ONE AWFUL NIGHTS WORK.
London Saturday Review.

l=VJt l|:.tbx8&2GH-Y une luce oI u CIR
\-MsA SSecaN- J of Is; next morn
VXi2&SYN/ ing left my room
- with hair as gray
V as it is now,
though forty-two years have passed
away since then.
In one night an awful horror struck
me suddenly with the weight of scores
of years.
My father was n Mr.. Marriott, n
ship broker, who lived in Russell
square with his family, consisting of
my mother and four children of
whom was the eldest. One MORN
ing, in the December of 1912, while
we were sitting at breakfast, my
mother said, as she finished reading
a letter which had just been delivered,
Its from Judith. She wants Ellen
to go and stay a month at The Will
lows. But do not like the idea.
She never even called on us when she
came back to England last summer.
Besides, we have known almost moth
ing of her for years past"
"Ohl | should like immensely to see
Aunt Judith" / cried.
"But you have never seen, and
don't know anything about her." re-
piled my mother. at is nearly ten
years now since | saw her, and she
didn't leave very pleasant impress
sion on my mind. had not seen her
of course, since was II child, but, as
l have often told you, there was
something curious and weird about
her that was not to my liking. In
fact, she did not seem like a sister of
mine"
Aunt Judith was my mothers ell
der sister by fifteen years. When she
was about twenty she married q
German baron who was Il professor
In n university. Why it was nobody
knew, but some two years or so aft
er her marriage Aunt Judith became
very apathetic as regarded her rela-
tions in England, and butrarely cor
responded with them.
Her husband, the baron and pro-
lessor, died about three years before
the time of which Ispeak. Mourning
cards were unknown in those DAYS;
still she might have sent a word to
inform her sister of her bereavement.
To our great nstonishment, it was
only from friend who attended his
funeral that we heard, casually, that
he was dead and that she was q wild
Ow.
Well, both my father and my moth
er were unwilling to let me go to The
Willows: my mother, because she had,
or seemed to me to have n prejudice
against her sister; my father, for no
reason that l could make out, except
that he echoed my mother. At all
events, | overcame their opposition
at last, and started, one fine, or
rather gloomy. morning-for the
clouds were dark and heavy.
l remember, as left London-for
The Willows, q mansion in Warwick
shire which had been left to my Aunt
Judith by my grandfather. Travel
ing was slower in those days than it
is now, and it was notuntil 6 O'Clock
in the evening that l drove, in the
numbering coach which conveyed me,
up the dreary carriage path which
led to The Willows.
Aunt Judith had only returned to
live there during the past six months,
so | was not surprised to find the
place in very untidy state. Such,
at least, was my impression from
what | saw through the darkness of
the evening.
Things, however, seemed to change
for the better when we drew up to the
house itself. Itwas a great struggling
building, which stood for more than
a century, and was cold and forbid
ding to look at from the outside. But
from the windows, and what | could
see of the hall, it seemed to be well
lit, warm and well appointed within.
A female servant same out to meet
me as the coach stopped at the door.
"Mlle. Marriott" she inquired, in
n German voice, as | descended.
YES" | replied.
"Ahl your aunt would like well to
see you," she said. 81 shall take you
to her. She is dressing for dinner
l followed her upstairs, and into II
large bedroom. Standing before n
glass at the end of the room wns q
tall woman whom, from the descrip-
ton had heard of her, l immediate
ly recognized as Aunt Judith.
Her figure was very erect, almost
majestic, but her face puzzled me.
The features were very regular. and
clearly drawn. There was in them n
considerable amount OF power, and
yet, what / could not understand, n
curious, wizened, almost craven ex-
precision, which just bordered on be-
ing sinister. Twas only n girl ut the
time, and knew nothing of physiog-
Monty, but, instinctively, l felt a sense
of uneasiness as met her keen gray
eyes, which seemed never to rest for
u moment, to wander about as if at
the bidding of nm uneasy spirit,
though her dcmeanor was otherwise
cnriously calm and self possessed.
Your room il not foady yet, but