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

1
had greeted each other; "yod car
dress here. We have q 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, but strange
ly cold. EYES," l replied, "they are
all quite well, thank YOU"
you 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. l had
better go down-they will be waiting
for me-" saying which she left the
room.
A curious woman, thought, when
she was gone; and, altogether, / did
not care much about her-perhaps,
also, was alittle sorry that, against
the wishes OF my parents, | had come
to the Willows at all. When l came
into the drawing room | found a
party of about a dozen people as
sembled there. There were, besides
my aunt and an elderly Germenlady,
who was q 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 ofabout six or seven and twenty;
the squire and three or four others,
who, like myself, were staying on
n visit at the house. Dinner
passed very pleasantly. We had
music and dance when the gentlemen
came up stairs. Altogether l en-
| iOyed myself very much, and it was
past midnight when we arose from
the supper table. One thing l did
notice almost unconsciously during
the evening, and this was a strange,
absent, and at the same time search
ing expression which sometimes came
upon Aunt Judith's 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 l could not tell, as l did not
understand the language; but some
how, from their manner or the tone
of their voice, it seemed to me as if
they were discussing something which
they did not want me to know 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 if in answer:
"The blue room. Yes, my dear"
she continued, speaking to me, lit 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 l
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 few
yards down another and similar pas
sage, until the servant opened a
door that led into spacious bed
chamber.
Having put the candle on the man.
telpiece, and laid my travelling bag,
which she carried with her, on the
floor, she looked curiously round the
room, and then, when she had hidden
me good night, went out and shut
the door. l felt very nervous as l
looked about the apartment, which
seemed to be in an uninhabited part
of the large house, and was furnished,
| thought, in an antique and rather
grewsome manner. The lofty walls,
paneled as they were with wood paint
ed blue, contrasted strangely with the
heavy silk window curtains, which
were of dark red color, and with old
portraits in oil that hung in massive
oak and ebony frames. The chairs
and tables were all cumbrous and
old fashioned, and, as to the bed, it
almost frightened me to think of
sleeping on it, so vast and gloomy
did it look with its huge canopy and
somber curtains.
1t is not easy to get to sleep at
once during the first night of ones
stay in strange house, especially if
anything has happened to make the
mind uneasy and suspicious. For ~
long time lay awake wondering at
the curious look l had seen on Aunt
Judith's face, and shivering now and
again, as | thought how far away l
was from the rest of the household.
If were to be taken su ddenly i'll, or if
anything were to happen to me dur
ing the night, what could | do? There
was a bell rope in the room, but had
forgotten to ask Sophia whether it
communicated with bell, and, if SO,
whether there was any one to answer
my ring. Isolated as l was in this
large and gloomy chamber, my
mind was agitated with vague fears,
md tpf h i %xxv<