New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-20

my existence as an INJURY 10 Miss MuckleWOfth,
though She has really endeavored to like me,
and has succeeded in being merely passivey hos
tile since the announcement of our engagement.
| fear | must still he thorn in her sidc-for
Miss MucklewOrth, besides being her friend and
near neighbOr, s-as she eXplained-"a power
in the land by reason of her riches, and | am
only poor officers daughter, though my family
is quite as old as the IIawkesworths
II will carry the spinning-whcel-you girls can
take the picture down to the bower at once and
we will settle where they are to stand when the
room is done This from Arthur, whom | have
left all this time in the attic.
wait till have them dustcd,7 from Sarah,
in a tone of horror
Handkerchief, and then requests her TO take il
away and fetch him clean one as he did not
want any servants bOthering up there. And by
this means get rid of Sarah for three whole
minutes! At the end Of that time she returns.
and. laden with the jctSam and ilotsam of cen
turtles we make our way 10 the bower which is
to he my own especial sanctum in wears 10 come
We enter a long, narrow room with a very high
oak wanscOt, having at the far end a window
with latticcd panes, looking out on a graveled
terrace. The bower is built over the dining
room.
Round the bay window goes cushioned win
dOw-seat, which Arthur thinks the most comfort
able lounge in the house we all rest here for
few minutes, and then begin dragging about the
spinning wheel, which is finally fitted into an
alcovc. Next we place the portrait of the family
derelict in varions lights regard her with
evcr-dcepcning interest, and for half second
find myself wondering if she could have fed from
the shrewd nips and pecks of any former Sarah
llawkcSworth down the broad road 10 destruction
But no. The more steadiastly ! look nj her
the more j sec good faith and uprightncsS appear
ing in every line Of the face.
She shall have place Of honor straight
over my writing-table, Arthur. in sign that
intend 10 take her under my mighty wing and DO
my best TO find out what became Of her VINO
knows that | may not succeed in clearing away
the cobwebs Of few centuries from her reputa-
tom"
So we arrange our articles Of bigotry and
virtue greatly to our satisfaction and then
Arthur and SIT down in opposite corners Of the
windOw-scat. and / rather wish Sarah would Join
MlIy downstairs; but she has no intention Of
leaving MS 10 enjoy our city Of refuge. On the
contrary she Is bent on improving our minds
both by prccept and example. and seating herself
in rrsolute manner the stilTcSt chair she can
find, she begins 10 do some Russian croSS-stitch
in red cotton all along the edge Of a clean white
toilct-cOvcr. in my humble opinion quite spelling
the look of the snowy material
Il like 10 employ my tine" she begin
h Rut never ends her speech. for in pulling out
her nccdlcful OF req cotton with great energy She
manages To drop her thimblc
Arthur Jumps up hastily, and rather heavily
doing So tTeads on a loose board. which moves
with n creak under the carpet, and nearly throws
Inn down. The floor is covered with a dinay
old Brussels-datc, early Victorian; it is nailed
down all round the skirtinr board. 50 that the
evil cannot Immediately be remcdicd.
This must be seen 10, Sarah when the room
is done up. II is a regular man-trap. ! don't
want ilol 10 bicak lcr neck Jhc minute Shc comes
home
Sarah looks exceedingly cross
The beard has been loose for years, and You
never remarked il before. ! suppose necks'
lreproachfullyl were not supposed to be SO
brittle"
Il wish your tongue were not so Tough re-
! hate family rccipIocities, having never been
used 10 them Looking round desperately for
something pleasant 10 talk about, observe
curious mark, like n finger pointing downward
Immersed A. he "a Glass bicIl urf,
What is this curious mark ?" | ask. looking up
Arthur and Sarah exchange meaning glanccS. /
feel myself growing hot and cold by turns, and
wonder what uncomfortable topic | have started
now? The fatcs seem against m" this afternoon.
My dear child says Arthur with mock solcn-
all our family skeletons begin 10 feel
quite afraid Of you. This is The boss Of
terrace below has been dug up again and again
by supcrstitious members Of the family in hopes
of finding the bones, but with no result what
ever"
1t is not a subject for laughter or light con-
versation, Arthur. You know perfectly well that
whatever is done to the window the inccr-marks
always return to the same pane. We are ac-
"Oh. don't mind me :" I cry. inclined by this
time almost Ia apologize for existing.
You are precisely the person that is 10 be
minded, cries Arthur, ringing the bell and order
lng hot water, soap, Soda iannc IS ana brushes al
libitum. And we soap and scrub, ana sponge and
dry at that pane. inside and ont TIL Ne are tired
with the unique result Of bringing the downward
pointing fnccr-Dark into still stronger relief.
without doubt il is no accidental thing, but
sign fr9ush with mcaninS. Has the dininc-room
below been examined? ! ask.
d" Yes and the explorers were rewarded by tie
discovery Of several nests OF mice and dead rat {;
after that the planks Of the dining-room floor were
replaced, and enterprise fell asleep
Then they have never looked under this floor ?"
NO, not in my day; but, by Jovc Dot, its not
half a bad idea"
81 have no doubt proper search has been made
though do not remember II. do not suppose
Eva is the first person who has thought Of such i
very simple and evident place 10 look in as the
hoorng-rcht under the hnger-mark.
We both hasten 10 assure Sarah that this time
She is in all probability rght-doubtleSs the same
idea struck everybody who has given the uncanny
matter a thought Moliidcd by This fatt"ry, she
goes downstairs - make afternoon tea, which
She wisely never allowed servant 10 touch.
As soon She is gone ! say 10 Arthur, with
curious kind Of SILVER running down my back, II
there is anything in the air | feel convinced II
will unfold itself 10 me: nobody c3n possibly be
more mat;cr-of-fact than ! am in my waking
moments, but To- make mp for it dream
You SEER cries Arthur Incrcdu lousy, |
should soon have expected 10 hear a kitten lay
claim ia second sight Pray, did you see me IN
the class last All liallows Evc?"
No ! didn't but saw myself looking exactly
like somebody clSc-and wondered. why, IL was
you. Of course
The next morning was the last Of my visit 70
Hawkcsworth as Eva Howard Everybody was
country houses 50 often prccedes the departure
OF a guest 10y early tram
II was only when I had taken my scat by
Arthur's side in his doccart, and he was rapidly
driving ne toward the station, that found an
opportunity OF telling him what | had drea'"ed
that night.
drcamt ! was sitting in the Ladies Bower,
inst as we were doing yesterday. when suddenly
/ heard the lost bride calling. Eva, Eva, come
10 me- ] looked around and listened, but "ou!d
not discover where her voice came from. Finally
| tossed down Il coin that was lying near at hand
in hopes that it might fall in the direction from
which the voice proceeded; II rolled near the
window seat, Just where yOu trod on that loose
board. ArthuT-and then something woke me.
Ny dear Dot You have been telling me me
u,crcst tumble Of the events Of tho day that ISM
worth calling a dream said he IN his most
euncrior manner, which was Just the least bit IKE
Sarah's. and consequently grated Oh my nerves.
am going 80 write it down in your pocket
bool, all the same ! returned, taking the rclI6
yyIiIc he hunted II various pockets for the tiny
volumc. wherein wrote down NY vision in rather
y spidcry manner. owing to the rolling OF the
,yLrols and returned il 10 him again with Sigh OF
relief as if the act Of recording The q rcal had
i,ylf my mir