The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-14
TIE THIRD MAID.

1t was on a wild October evening
| about a year ago that my wife and |
arrived by train ut 4 well-known water
iu@-placc in the north of England.
The wind WIS bowling and roaring
with delight ut its resistless power;
the rain came Kissing down in large
drops.
Oar hotel was situated on an emin-
encc overlooking the town; and as we
slowly assembled to it in our cab we
thought: We'll. we must not be sur
priscd 10 find our intended abode for
the night has vanished" /"
However. presently we stopped in
front of il building which looked sub
stantial enough to withstand anything:
and in answer TO our drivers applica-
ton to the bell the door was promptly
opened bY smartly attired porter
He was closely followed by person
full of smiles and bows, who posted
himself in the doorway ready to receive
us
Ali 1T once there was terrible bang
as though 4 forty-pounder had been
fired to welcome our arrival. and he of
the smiles and bows was hurled head l.
long against the muddy wheel of our
conveyance bv the slamming-to Of the
large door. Ny wife's Bonnet blew off
aud tugged hard ut its moorings: the
light in the porch was eXtinguished.
While the wind seemed to give shrek
Of triumph ut the jokes he was playing
upon us. Here we were. then. in total
darkness and exposed to the drenching
rain. However. half an hour afterward
all our discomforts were forgotten as
we sat down to an excellent dinner a
In carte.
Next morning | was abroad very
early, looking for lodgings. Fortune
seemed TO smile upon me on this occa-
sion, for scarcely had proceeded fifty
yards from my hotel when | came upon
a very nice-lookIng TOW Of houses. and
in the window Of the first was 'Lodg-
ingS to let. Knocking at the door it
was soon opened by 4 very neat-look-
ing maid.
inquired if l could see the proprie-
tor, but was told that Miss q. was not
vet down. | said | would wait. and
was shown into Il very comfortably
furnished dinng-room. Soon Miss q.
appeared, and proved to be Il pretty
brunei Of about -. whose dark ewes
during our short interview were ever
now and then fixed on me with IN in
tentness that seemed to be trying to
read What Kind Of person | WAS: while
her manncr,thongh decidedly pleasing
had a certain reSticSsncsS III it which |
could not help observing. Her father
and mother being both dead. she kept
tie lodging house herself. rs led her
if she had good cook. to which she
replied She WAS Responsible for most OF
that difficult part OF the mcnage her
self, keeping two maids to assist in the
house and parlGr work. She went on
to say that her drawing-room was
'disSected;" 4 term common among
north country lodging g-housc keepers
and meant 10 express thatit was under
going its autumn cleaning. but She
would have it put straight if wished.
| told her that wc should be quite con
tented with the dining-room, provided
we had a good bedroom. This she at
once showed me. and. soon coming to
terms. | returned to the hotel
After breakfast | went to the bureau
to ask FOR my account. While it was
being made out | observed casually
that | had taken lodgings ut Miss G.'s.
on Cliff terrace, upon which The ac-
canutaHt looked quickly UP and said:
Oh. Miss q. :. and then as quickly
went on with my bill. | hardly noticed
this ut the moment, though | thought
of it afterward.
Eleven o clock saw us comfortably
cnsc0uced in our rooms. After lunch
we took Il delightful expedition, the
weather having greatly moderated.
We found that night atdnner that Miss
q. was 4 iirSt-rate cook, and we re-
tired TO rest much pleased with our
quarters.
We soon made the acquaintance of
the tao maids-Jane who waited on
us. and Mary. the housemaid. and two
very pleasant and obliging young
women we found them.
About the third morning of our stav
on going up to my bedroom after
breakfast | was surprised to find a
strange maid in the room. She was
standing 10y the bed, smoothing down
the bcd-clothcs with both hands, and
appeared 10 take no notice of me, but
continued gazing steadily in front of
her, while her hands went mechanical
ly on smoothing the clothes. | could
not help being struck with her pale
face, which wore look of pain. and
the fixed aud almost stony expression
OF her eyes. left her in exactly the
same position as | found her. On
coming down, l said to my wife: y
did not know Miss G. employed three
servants. There certainly is another
making the bed in our room" | am
short-sighted. and my wife would have
il that | had made mistake; but felt
quite certain | had not. Later on
while Jane was laying the lunch, | said
to her: Il thought that YOU and Mary
were the only two servants 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
a. 4.