Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-11
CHA PIER VIII,

You are getting pale again, my
dear child,' said Mr.. Rayner to me the
very next morning. I'VE must find
some means of bringing those most be-
coming roses back to your cheeks
again. You work too hard ut those
srl1-imposed evening tasks, l am
! afraid
"Oh, no, indeed l don't, Mr. Rayner.
am getting very lazy; l haven't done
any thing for two or three nirhts.'
he fact was that | had felt too Ian
Guld even to sit down and write, and
had wasted the last two evenings list
lessly turning over the pages of a book
| had not read.
"Ah, then you want change of air!
Now how to give it you without letting
you go away-for we cant spare YOU
even for Il week! You will think me Il
magician if | procure you change of
air without leaving this house, won t
YOU, Miss Christie? Yet l think can
manage it"
l laughed at these promises; but the
very next day L met workman upon
the staircase, and Mr.. Ravncr asked
me myst"riously at dinner whether
had seen his familiar spirit about, add
ding that the spirit wore paper cap
and dirty artisan S suit, and smclt of
beer. That spirit pervaded the house
for two days. | met him in my room,
measuring my bcdstead; in the passage
carrying rolls of wall paper, and l
heard the sound of heavy boots in the
turret above my room. On the even
ing OF the fourth day, while I was
quietly writing in the school-room after
tea, MIR and Mrs Rayncr and Hardce
T.. n and t,I -
procession upstairs, up the narrow
winding turrrt-s;aircase that had SO
often wanted to explore, and opening
the door of the one room the turret
contained, Mr.. Rayncr. in a short but
elaborate speech, begged to install me
as the ''imprlsoned Princess of the Ell.
chantcd tower
l gave Il cry of delight 1t was an
octagonal room, the four sides which
overlooked the marsh containing each
Il window. while in one of the other
sides was 4 small fireplace with a
bright fire burning. The carpet was
new, the wallpaper was new; there
were two eaSy-chairs, one on each side
OF the fire, a writing-table and Japan
csc screen, besides the furniture of my
old room. 1t looked SO bright and so
pretty that my eyes danced with pleas
ure at the sight, and | could not speak
while Mr.. Rayncr explained that now
l should be high and dry out of the
damp, and he expected me to become
red-faced and healthy-looking immedi-
ately-and that | was to have fire
whenever l liked now, and one every
day when it began to grow colder
Il don t know what to say. l don't
know how to thank YOU" said l,
almost panied by the extent of the
kindness showcred upon me-
l tried to include Mrs. Ravner in nv
thanks; but She hang back almost I'M
graciouslv, and seemed to have been
drawn into this demonstration against
her will. She was the last to leave the
room, and just before going gave me a
keen look from her great eyes and
said:
Are you not afraid of sleeping so
far from every one? Or do you prefer
it?"
mo, don't prefer it. But there is
nothing to be afraid Of, is THEREOF I |
shyly.
She glanced tow:rd the door, and,
SAYING hurriedly: 90. no, of course
not! | hope you Will be comfortable,
Miss Christie she left the room.
Afraid! No, of course | was not
afraid: | never had minded sleeping
away from every body else wished /!
Mrs. Rayner had not put the idea into |
my head, though. But l was too happy
in rly new abode to trouble myself with |
idle fears. | found that, by opening.
out my screen i'll II particular position.