The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-11
THE THIRD MAID.

ing and roaring with delight at its resist
less power; the rain came kissing down in
large drops.
Our hotel was situated on an eminence
overlooking the town; and as we slowly
assembled to it in our cab, we thought,
"Wcll, we must not be surprised to find
our intended abode for the night has van
ished."
However, presently we stopped in front
of building which looked substantial
enough to withstand anything, and in
answer to our drivers application to the
bell, the door was promptly opened by q
smartly attired porter. He was closely fol-
lowed by person full of smiles and hows,
who posted himself in the doorway ready
to receive lis.
All at once there was terrific bang, as
though forty-pounder hal been fired to
welcome our arrival, and he of the smiles
and bows was hurled headlong against the
muddy wheel of our conveyance by the
slamming to of the large door. My wife's
bonnet blew off and tuggcd hard at its
mornings; the light In the porch was OK
tinguished, while the wind seemed to give
a shrek OF triumph ut the jokes he was
playing upon u.s. Here we were, then, In
total darkness and exposed to the drench-
ing rain. However, half TIN hour after
ward all our discomforts were forgottenas
we sat down to an excellent dinner la
carte.
Next morning was abroad very early,
looking for lodgings. Fortune seemed to
smile upon me on this occasion, for scarce
ly had l. proceeded fifty yards from my
hotel when / came upon II very nice look
ing row Of houses, and in the window OF
the first was lodgings to let" Knocking
at the door, 1t was soon opened by u very
neat looking maid.
inquired If could see the proprietor,
but was told that Miss c. was not yet
down. said would wait, and was shown
into very comfortably furnished dining
room. Soon Miss C. appeared, and
proved to be pretty brunette of about
Internationally, whose dark eyes during
our short interview were every now and
then fixed on me with an intentness that
seemed to be trying to read what kind Of
q person was; while her manner, though
decidedly pleasing, had certain restless
ness in it which l could not help observing.
Her father and mother being both dead
she kept the lodging house herself. !
asked her If she had good cook, to which
she replied she was responsible for most Of
that difficult part of the menage herself,
keeping two maids to assist in the house
and parlor work. She went on to say that
her drawing room was "disseoted;" term
common among north country lodging
house keepers, and meant to express that
1t was undergoing its autumn cleaning,
but she would have It put straight IL
wished. told her that we should be quite
contented with the dining room, provided
we had good bedroom. This she at once
showed me, and soon coming to terms re-
turned to the hotel
After breakfast went to the bureau to
10. L,s.,
made out, observed casually that had
taken lodgings at Miss c. on Cliff ter
race. upon which the accountant looked
quickly up and said, "Oh, Miss G-'s,"
and then as quickly went ON with my bill. 1
hardly noticed this at the moment, though
Thought of it afterward.
Eleven o'clock saw us comfortably en-
sooneed in our rooms. After lunch we
took delightful expedition, the weather
having greatly moderated. We found that
night, at dinner, that Miss G--was first
rate cook, and we retired to rest much
pleased with our quarters.
We soon made the acquaintance of the
two maids--Jane, who waited on us, and
Mary, the housemaid; and two very pleas
ant and obliging young women we found
them.
About the third morning OF our stay, on
going up to my bedroom after breakfast,
was surprised to find a strange mud in the
room. She was standing by the bed,
smoothing down the bedclothes with both
hands and appeared to take no notice OF
me, but continued gazing steadily In front
Of her, while her hands went mechanically
on smoothing the clothes. ] could not
help being struck with her pale face, which
wore look Of pain, and the fixed and
almost stony expression of her eyes. left
her in exactly the same position as found
her. On coming down l said to my wife:
81 did not know Miss G. employed three
servants. There certainly is another MAX
ing the bed in our room.n am short
sighted. and my wife would have it that
had made mistake, but felt quite GER
tain had not. Later on, while Jane was
laying the lunch, I said to her, 81 thought
that you aud Mary were the only two SER
wants in the house."
Eyes, sir; only me and Mary was James
reply, as she left the room.
"There," said my wife, II told you that
kou were Mistaken And did not pursue
the subject further.
Two or three days slipped away In pleas
ant occupations, such as driving, boating,
stc., and we had forgotten all about the
third maid. We saw but little Of Miss c.,
though her handiwork was PLEASANTLY ap-
parent in the cuisine.
On the sixth morning of our stay, which
was the day before we were to leave, my
wife after breakfast said she would go up
and do little packing while l made out
our route for the following day in the
Bradshaw but was soon interrupted by
the return Of my wife with o rather scared
book on her face.
"Weil,n she said, "you were right after
ali, for saacfe is another maid, and she is
za.a 80