St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-08-29

Explain YOURSELF" I said, po;ntin.
at the traveling-bag she carried AR
there any others"
"No;" with q defiant CLEAN in thos
wonderful eyes.
Come downstairs then and tell m,
how you come TO be here"
She obcyed, and was soon quietl,
seated before my fire.
"You wonder, sir. how I came her,
In your house" questioningly. I bore.
assent Every well. will tell you
am . poor working girl, and this snm
mer l was out of employment. Tn,
temptations of the city arc great to /:
poor girl like me, and I came out herr
in the country. No one would hir,
me-" My eye sought her hands, SO sof
and white. II never did do house work
but could l work in . printing of
flee. Some one told me about thi.
house. and I rambled through tn,
grounds one day. II was all so COO
and restful longed to stay. I 60
into the house, and, while wandered
through the rooms. q terrible tempest
came up.
Il had to stay, indeed I did. sir; and
slept sweetly in a room in the uppel
story.
1T must have been my evil gcniu,
that prompted me to stay. l Thought il
could do you no harm, and me, oh! SC
much good to spend a few quiet months
in this great empty house.
81 cook my food with . spirit-lamp.
! have not taken anything, truly. sir;
but ! know it was very wrong. keep
light burning all night. and people
say the house is haunted. 1t is-by me.
Then only 60 out at dusk, and always
in white. II I need groceries I start
before daybrcak and walk to A,
coming home after dark.
''But will go at once. sir, +" nervously
clasping and unclasping those tiny
hands.
A great pity wclled up in my heart
for the childish creature. We're the
spells Of q woman beginning to cast
their giamors over me, Frank Linwood,
sober-minded lawyer that I was?
My father never turned . dog away
from his door hungry and cold. Mine
was not a charitable heart but knew
the law of kindness.
''fou must not go tonight" said.
and we kept our strange vigil through
all the long summer night, for one of
those sharp. fierce tempests that SO
often follow sultry day was rising.
binding flashes of lightning made the
girl cover her eyes with her hands. and
the heavy thunder shook the house.
l had noticed some heavy, dark
clouds drifting athwart the horizon as
I walked from the station to Mr.. Lees,
but the tempest came upon me as sur
prise.
A heavy clap Of thunder and sharp
flash brought us both to our feet Ellen
Blaine, as she told me her name. began
to sob with terror, and I soothcd her
like a child. The touch of her hand
stirred my sluggish blood, and felt the
silky feel of her fine hair for hours A.
ter its silken braids brushed my cheek.
My plans were quickly made.
''Have yOu no friend or elderly rela-
tive who can come here and stay with
you? If SO will pay you a monthly
sum to keep the house open and to put
It in such order rs would please my
mother If she were alive"
do you mean it?" with . sharp look
On the childish face. o suspicious look,
thought
Certainly: it is not proper you should
stay here alone. l shall board at
friends during my visit, but would
ike to keep the house open while /
'tay."
There arc repairs, of course, needed;
'arpets need taking up. drawers over
lauled. fear rats, mice and moths
lavc been at work."
A hot flush burned on her cheeks. / |
cared l had wounded her pride
You will do me . favor, Miss |
blaine"
lyon are very kind will stay II an
Id aunt of mine will como out to chap |
rome me-" archly.
/ wonder now that I did such a
uixotic thing. must have been fas-
mated by her beauty, and the influ-
nee of my surroundings made me soft
carted.
1 brealxfasted at Mr.. Lees and bore
is raillery very well when I told him I
ad leased the house to a middle-agei
ldy and her niece for the season.
In due time Mrs and Miss Blaine
'ok possession and neighbors began to
Ill on them. 1t was very pleasant to
ave the house occupied. was o fire.
aent caller. and on one occasion sur
rised Ellen. or Nellie, rs I learned to
III her. seated at the piano.
do you play?" I asked in some sur
rise.
A brilliant movement followed BY q
1T accompaniment and . bird-like
ing, was her response. She enjoyed
Y establishments: music was my moth
s passion. ! almost dislikci to have
lyone use her instrument but con-
lered the feeling and sent to the
~ for piano tuner. Il was really q
he instrument and Nellie quite . per-
rmer, SO I spent many evenings, with
RS. Blaine nodding in ner chair, listen ,
g to her simple songs or gay fanta-
=.
She was mistress of the violin and !:
owed an almost childish joy when ,
ought one, that had been mine, from
me hidden recess have heard many
asters haEile the bow but never one
&c could draw such touching and
rilling strains from the instrument.
IS. Blaine's small eyes would open,
: she spent the most of her time
eping. when Nellie struck the first
ords. There was something about the
oman that always repelled me, and l
: way she looked at me from her
lf-closed eyes really made me nerv-
$. She wore wig of that peculiar
led. reddish brown which wig-wcar- q