The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-27
THE THIRD MAID.


less power; the rain came Kissing down in
large drops.
Our hotel was situated on an eminence
overlooking the town; and as we slowly
ascended to it in our cab, we thought,
"Well, we must not be surprised to find
our intended abode for the night has van
ished."
However, presently we stopped in front
of a building which looked substantial
enough to withstand anything, and in
answer to our drivers application to the
bell, the door was promptly opened by
smartly attired porter. He was closely fol-
lowed by person full of smiles and bows,
who posted himself in the doorway ready
to receive US.
All at once there was a terrific bang, as
though a forty-pounder had 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 tugged hard at its
moorings; the light in the porch was ex-
tinguished, while the wind seemed to give
a shrek of triumph at the jokes he was
playing upon us. Here we were, then, In
total darkness and exposed to the drench-
ing rain However, half an hour after
ward all OFT discomforts were forgotten as
we sat down TO an excellent dinner la
carte.
Next morning l 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 very nice look
| ing row of houses, and in the window of
the first was lodgings to let" knocking
at the door, it was soon opened by very
neat looking maid.
/ inquired if I could see the proprietor,
but was told that Miss C. was not yet
down. said / would wait, and was shown
into a very comfortably furnished dining
| room Soon Miss c. appeared, and
proved to be pretty brunette of about
| five-and-tWenty, 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
a person was; while her manner, though
| decidedly pleasing, had a certain restless
ness in it which l could not help observing.
| Her father and mother being both dead
she kept the lodging house herself l
asked her if she had a good cook, to which
she replied she was responsible for most OF
that difficult part of the menage herself,
| ktGDluS UWO W etSSlSU III DLO IOuSC
and parlor work. She went on to say that
| her drawing room was "dlsSected;' term
common among north country lodging
! house keepers, and meant to express that
| it was undergoing its autumn cleaning,
| but she would have it put straight if l
wished. told her that we should be quite
contented with the dining room, provided
we had a good bedroom. This she at once
| cbo,rai and nnn1inO To terms
turned to the hotel.
After breakfast l went to the bureau to
ask for my account. While it was being
made out, | observed casually that | had
taken lodgings at Miss G-'s, 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. l
hardly noticed this at the moment, though
l thought of it afterward.
| Eleven o'clock saw us comfortably en-
sconced 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 oblging young women we found
them.
About the third morning of our stay, on
going up to my. bedroom after breakfast, /
was surprised to find strange maid 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. l could not
help being struck with her pale face, which
wore look of pain, and the fixed and
almost stony expression of her eyes. l left
her in exactly the same position as found
her. On coming down 1 said to my wife:
Il did not know Miss c. employed three
servants. There certainly is another max
ing the bed in our room" am short
sighted. and my wife would have IL that
had made mistake, but l felt quite GER
tain l had not. Later on, while Jane was
laying the lunch, said TO her, Il thought
that you and Mary were the only two SER
wants in the house"
YES, sir; only me and Mary" was James
reply, as she left the room.
There" said my wife, Il told you that
you were mistaken" And did not pursue
the subject further.
Two or three days slipped away in pleas
ant occupations, such as driving, boating,
etc, and we had forgotten all about the
third maid We saw but little OF Miss C.,
though her handiwork was pleasantly APP
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 70 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 rather scared
look on her face
"Well.' she said, "you were right after
all, for there is another maid, and she IS
now in our bedroom, aud apparently en-
gagged in much the same occupation as
when you saw her there. She took no
notice of me, but stood there with her
body slightly bent over the bed, looking
straight in front OF her, her hands smooth
i ing the bedclothes" i" She described her as
, having dark hair, her face very pale. and
; her mouth very hrmly set Ny curiosity
was now so much awakened that deter
mined TO question Miss c. On the sub
, | ject- But eur carriage was row at the
door waiting for as 70 start on an expedl
ton that would engage Us al day.
On my return, late in the afternoon
meeting Miss c. IN the passage, SAID
, 10 her, Who Is the third servant ina'
Mrs. k and myself have seen once oi
| twice in our bedrooInt"
Miss C. looked. I thought. rather
scared. and murmuring something that
could not catch turned and went hur
riedly down the stairs into the kitchen.
An hour afterwsrd. as we were sitting
l H. a