Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-04-26


curious, wizened, almost craven ex-
presssion, which Just bordered on be-
ing sinister. Twas only a girl at the
time, and knew nothing of physiog-
nomy, but, instinctively, felt sense
of uneasiness as met her keen gray
eyes, which seemed never to rest for
moment, to wander about as ii at
the bidding of an uneasy spirit,
though her demeanor was otherwise
curiously calm and self possessed.
"1our room is not ready yet, but
it will be presently, she said, when We
had greeted each other; you can
dress here. We have few friends to
dinner tonight. Your parents are
well, hope"
"Your parentsl' and this in allu-
sion to her own sister, whom she had
not seen for years! Her greeting-in
fact, her manner, everything about
her-was perfectly polite, butstrange-
ly cold. Eyes, | replied, "they are
all quite well, thank you"
"1ou can come down stairs when
you are ready" she continued, as
she stood before the glass, giving
the last touches to her toilet.
DINNER will be on the table in
about twenty minutes. | had
better go down-they will be waiting
for me-" saying which she lett the
room.
A curious woman, thought, when
she was gone; and, altogether, l did
not care much about her-perhaps,
| also, was tlesorry that, against
the wishes OF my parents, / had come
to the Willows Mt all. When came
into the drawing room | found q
party of about dozen people as
sembled there. There were, besides
my aunt and an elderly German lady,
who was a relative of her late hus-
band, the clergyman of the parish
with his wife and two daughters, the
local doctor-a good looking young
man ofaboutsix or seven and twenty;
the squire and three or four Others,
who, like myself, were staying on
a visit at the house. Dinner
passed very pleasantly. We had
music and dance when the gentlemen
came up stairs. Altogether | en-.
ioyed myself very much, and it was
past midnight when we arose from
the supper table. One thing | did
notice almost unconsciously during
the evening, and this was strange,
absent. and at the same time search
| ing expression which sometimes came
upon Aunt Judiths face. 1t was as
though she were looking at or for
something which was Invisible to
everybody else.
| Well, when supper was over, and
those of the guests who were leaving
the house had taken their departure,
/ went with Aunt Judith to her bed
room, ito see" she said, whether
Sophia had got my room ready yet. :"
Sophia was waiting for US when we
entered the room, and my aunt
and she Immediately began to
talk in German. What they were
saying could not tell, as did not
understand the language; but some
how, from their manner or the tone
of their voice, it seemed to me as II
they were discussing something which
they did not want me to KIND w about.
"My dear, ] am sorry the room |
had intended for you is not ready
yet. 1t will be ready tomorrow, but
for tonight you must sleep in an
other room"
Here Sophia said something in
German, and after moments pause
Aunt Judith said, as ii in answer:
''The blue room. Yes, my dear, =
she continued, speaking to me, 1T is
an old fashioned room. but very
comfortable. Sophia, will show you
to it. Good night, dear"
Again the curious look had no.
ticed before came over her face as ]
left the room with Sophia, who
walked before me with candle.
We went mp flight OF stairs that
led to to a part Of the building which
seemed to be but little used. At the
top of these stairs there was a long
narrow passage, the walls of which
were lined with oak panels. When
we got to the end of this passage We
turned to the right and went n few
yards down another and similar pas
sage, until the servant opened &
door that led into a spacious bed
chamber.
Having put the candle on the man
telpiece, and laid my travelling bag
which she carried with her, on thu
floor, she looked curiously round th,
room, and then, when she had bidder
me good night. went out and shu
the door. / felt very nervous as
looked about the apartment, which
} seemed to be in an uninhabited par
of the large house, and wasfurnished
/ thought, in an antique and rathe
grewsome manner. The lofty walls
} paneled as they we're with wood paint
ed blue, contrasted strangely with tn
} heavy silk window curtains, which
were ola dark rod color, and with ole
portraits in oil that hung in massiv
oak and ebony frames. The chair
and tables were all cumbrous ant
old fashioned, and, as to the bed, i
almost frightened me to think o
, sleeping on it, so vast and gloom,
i did it look with it's huge canopy ant
: / aaTn bar curtains