Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-20
Mrs. Rayner to leave the ground aoor

Fl expect you will have no difficulty In persuading. her to leave her own rOOm," the letter went on, ssbut am SO anxious about her, for it seems to mo she has looked palcr than ever late- ly, and 1 feel so sure she would be bet ter on higher floor, that beg you, dear Miss Christie. to use all your pow CTS of persuasion to induce her to move. Tell her that it is only for a time, that she shall go back to her own room as soon as the weather is warmer again; tell her wish it, tell her any thing you like to affect hen I have great trust in your diplomatic powers,
 little madam, and anticipate the hap
 piest results from them in this instance.
 l have given Sarah orders by letter to
 prepare the big front spare-room."
 was delighted with this letter; it
 made me for the moment angry with
 Mrs. Rayner for her persistent ignoring
 of his kind feeling toward her. She
 was always supposed to be attached to
 her room on the ground floor. and MT.
 Rayner wrote as if it would be difficult
 to persuade her to move. But had
 two powerful weapons in her husbands
 loving letter and her affection for Hai-
 dee. and resolved to use them we'll. l desired very much to see Mrs. Ray
 ner alone, and after dinner 1 went out
 to my seat in my ''nest" for little
 while to plan some method for meeting
 her. While I was there 1 saw Sarah
 come out and take the road for Bea-
 consburgh with black bag in her
 hand. I asked Jane where she had
 gone, who replied to the station. to buy
 some groceries. This was my chance.
 put on my galoches, for 1t was very
 wet in the grounds. and I went past
 Mrs. Rayner's window singing softly
 to attract her attention. My rIse sue
 ceeded, and just as pulled one of the
 branches aside Mrs. Rayner's pale face,
 peared at the window. I smiled and
 offered her some flowers. motioning
 for her to open the sash. This she
 reemed reluctant to do. But stood
 my ground until at last she put a hesi-
 tating hand upon the fastening, When
 tho window was just a few inches up
 said, opening upon point where
 knew we had sympathy:
 "Sarah has gone to Beaconsburgh.
 l saw her of. 1 hope she will be Q
 very long time."
 Twas right. She opened the win dow, which was a little above the level of my head, more confidently; and saw that it was barred inside. ''Haidee is SO much better to-day,
 Mrs. Rayner, 1 think she might como
 down stairs for q little while to-mor- row into the drawing-roonl, if we mako
 9, good fire there. She is very anxious about you"
 "Glve her my love-" said Mrs. Ray nor, with faint smile. II could not do her so much good as you have done." There was plaintive cx- pression of help!essness in these words which touched me. "Thank you, Miss Christie"
 , ''Wouldn't you be more comfortable ) in one of the rooms upstairs while the fogs last?" insinuated, slyly, T ''D;d any one tell you to say that to ) mc?' she asked, in a whisper. , II told MT, Rayner, when I wrote,
 that we had slight fog here on Tues
 day night, and this morning I had a { letter saying that he thought it was ~ bad for you to sleep on the ground floor when the mists had begun to risa t high, and that he had told Sarah to I prepare the large front spare-room for = you.'
 Q Instead of looking grateful for this
 proof of her husbands thoughtfulness, . she became agitated, and at last her i agitation grew almost uncontrollable- V it looked like fear.
 @ ''At last-at last! have been here
 too long," she gasped,
 1 thought that the effect of her nerv- Il aus temperament of making her leave l. the room against her will would out l. weigh any physical good tho change 0 might do her. The wild look was com ], Ing into her eyes which 1 had seen 0 there twice before. so sand gently: ''Of course MT. Rayner would not wish you to go if you did not wish it. v But she shook her head, and, put e ting her face between the bars to be closer to me, she said, in a low broker s voice:
 r Do you know what his wishes meat Y when Sarah carries them outp' Il Il stood looking up at her, appalled, q Her terror was so real that it infected [. me, and for the moment almost shared '- the poor lady's mad belief that there n was a conspiracy against her. But he1 v nextwords restored me to my senses. Il Are you against me, too?" sh' II asked, piteously. II always though = you were; but then you were kind t, T my child-and 1 don't know whom t. :" trust!"
 "You may trust me. dear Mrs, Ray 'f ner, indeed," said l, earnestly. " k would not have suggested your leavin!
 your room if had thought 1t woul' ,,s cause you so much pain. Indeed. die not know you were so much attached 1- to Ii"
 e Miss Christie,' she said at last '' "you have influence in this house. If
 may trust you, give me this proof-ge - one days respite, Let mo stay in m " own room till-to-morrow." 5. Her voice sunk till l could hardl .f :. catch the last words.
 d II will try," said I, softly. "And h oh, Mrs. Rayner, shall tell Sam t "a take the dead leaves away in a wheel 70 barrow?'
 e1 No, no, leave them-never mind,
 said she hurriedly. "You must be il .. the water You will catch cold, Go n ,S Heaven bless youE
 ,t She shut down the window in