Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-13
CHAPTER XII.

went to my room very quietly for
fear of waking Mona. 1t was calm
night. but as I entered the room my
candle went suddenly out, and l fam
cied I heard a slight sound of human
breath blowing it. The room was very
dark for the fire was out and not a ray
of moonlight could penetrate the tight
ly closed blinds. / was somewhat
frightened and began timid search
for the matches on the mantle piece,
and in passing my hand over the vari-
GUS articles thereon l knocked over a
china ornament, which fell into the
fireplace. just as this happened I
heard noise behind the screen and
turning was in time to see the dim out
line of u tgure pass out of the room
through the still open door. I was
faint with fear and could not move for
few moments. Then 1 searched
further for the matches without sue
cess. 1t was out of the question to
think of disrobing without a light, so l
determined to conquer my fears and go
down stairs and procure matches
which, ! reflected, should be sure to
lind in the kitchen, So l CROPPED my
way down the back staircase, where 1
had never been before and opened a
closet door. Tho moment 1 did so I
heard sound on the floor which I
knew was the rash of myriads of black
beetles, and as I would rather face a
dozen people than feel under my foot
the ''scrunch" of ono black beetle I
shut the door quickly,
Tho only thing left for me was to
grope my way through the passages to
the hall whore 1 knew the exact posi-
ton of tho match box which stood on
the hall table.
Having got safely to the bottom of
the staircase without seeing or hearing
any thing. was creeping along the
passage when caught tho first faint
sounds OF voices. stopped, then went
on again softly, while tho sounds be-
came palmer, I found that they
proceeded from Mr.. Rayner's study,
the door of which I had to pass. I dis
covered by the thin thred of light it let
out upon the passage that this door
was ajar, at the Same moment that
recognized Sarah's voice. She was
speaking in a low sullen tone, and, as
I drew nearer, I was arrested half
against my will by words which seemed
to apply to myself-:Against the stupid
bahy=faee Of q Chit hardly out of the
nursery herself. Governess indeed!'
| Ills that all you have to say?" said
/ AAA. AC1s VOL AO"S Du0 AA AAS SOANSooS
most cutting tone.
| THAT s-that's all I have to say"
said Sarah, with o choking sound in her
voice.
The woman was evidently unhappy;
I almost pitied her,
"Then the matter is easily settled.
You can CO."
II can 60! go! Do you know what
you're sayingP Do you think you
could replace me as easily as you can
sucn as here"
"That Is my affair. You wished me
to choose between the services of an
underpaid governess and those of an
overpaid servant. have chosen"
"Overpaid! My services overpaid!
Ny services can't be overpaid!' she
Kissed out.
'As long as you joined discretion to
your other undoubted good qualities,
paid you according to that estima ate.
Now that you let yourself be swayed
beyond all bounds of prudence by
tritling feelings of jealousy and spite
like foolish girl, your value runs
down to that level YcA are no longer
. girl, sarah, and your position is
changed In many ways since then, in
most for the better. Ii you can not ac-
cept the change quietly. you had bet
ter 60"
And you would let mo go-for n
iew-comerp' said tho woman passion
stely.