Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-01
After breakfast I went to the bureau t,

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made out, l observed casually that had
taken lodgings at Miss G-'s, on Cliff
terrace, upon which the accountant looked
quickly up and said, "Oh, Miss G-'s,"
and then as quickly went on with my bill.
hardly noticed this at the monet, though
I thought of it afterward.
Eleven O'Clock saw US com fortably en-
sconced in our room. After lunch We took
delightful expedition, the weather having
greatly moderated. We found that night,
at dinner, that Miss c. 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, l
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 m 9.
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. l left her in
exactly the same position as found her.
On coming down L said to my wife: 81 did
not know Miss C. employed three SER
wants. There certainly is another making
the bed in our room" am short-sigbted,
and my wife would have it that had made
a 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 -
s'Yes, sir; only me and Mary" was James
reply, as she left the room.
"There," said my wife, 81 told you that
you we're 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 haudiwork was pleasant
ly apparent 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 60 up
and do little packing while l made out
our route for the following day in the
| 'sBradshaw," 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, and apparently en-
gagged in much the same occupation as
when you saw her there. She took no no.
tice of me, but stood there with her body
slightly bent over the bed, looking straight
in front of her, her hands smoothing the
bedclothes." She described her as having
dark hair, her face very pale, and her mouth
very firmly set. My curiosity was now SO
much awakened that determined TO ques-
tion Miss C. on the subjec'. But our
carriage was now at the door waiting for us
to start on an expedition that would engage
us all day.
On my return, late in the after noon, meet
ing Miss G. in the passage, l said to
her, s'Who is the third servant that Mrs.
K and myself have seen oncs or twice
in our bedroom?"
Miss c. looked, thought, rather
scared, and murmuring something that l
could not catch turned and went hurriedly
down the stairs into the kitchen.
An hour afterward, as we we're sitting
for our dinner, Jane brought note from
Miss inclosing her account, and saying
that she had just had telegram summon
ing her to the sick bed of a relation, that in
all probability she would not be back till
after our departure, but that she had left
directions with the servants, and hoped rhey
would make US quite comfortable, aud that
we would excuse her hurried departure.
A few minutes after cab drove up to the
door, into which, from our window, we saw
Miss c. get, and drive rapidly away.
Later on in the evening. while Jane was
clearing away the dinner things, | said to
her, "By the by, Jane, who is the third
maid?'' She was just going to leave the
room as spoke. Instead of replying she
turned round with such scared look on
her face that felt quite alarmed; then,
hurriedly catching up her tray, she left the
room. Thinking that further inquiry would
he very dsagreesble to her | forbore again
mentioning the subject. Next day, our
week being up, we departed for fresh WOODS
and pastures new.
Our tour led us considerably further
north, but month later saw us homeward
bound. The nearest route by rail led US
BY x, As we drew up at the station
we noticed on the platform parson, in
whom we recognized one of the clergy OF
K whose church we had been to. Pre-
sently the door of our compartment was
opened and he put in lady, wished her
good by, the guards whistle blew and we
were of. After short time We fell into
conversation with the lady, and found her
to be the clergyman wife. Among other
things, we asked after Miss C..
"Oh, Miss c." she replied; s'she is
very we'll, but hear, poor thing, she has
not had very good season."
II am sorry to hear that" l replied;
"why is it?" She was silent for minute,
and then related to us the following facts.
At she beginning of the season rather
untoward event occurred at Miss G-'s
lodgings. An elderly lady took one Of the
n 0k4 Lol hnr ,ot
tendant of about thirty. Before long Miss
good terms, and one morning the old lady
was found dead in her bed.
A doctor was at once called in, who, on
viewing the body, found there we're very
suspicious marks round the neck and
throat, as if PERSONS fingers had been
tightly pressed upon them. The maid on
hearing this at once became very restless,
and going to her bedroom, which was at
the too of the house, packed small bag,
and, having put on her things, was about TO
descend the stairs when from hurry or agi-
tatiop, she missed her footing, and falling
to the bottom broke her neck.
But not tho least extraordinary part of
the business was that not the slightest clew
could be obtained as to who the lady was,
the linen of herself ard her maid having
only initials marked on it. The police did
their best by advertising and inquiry, but
all they could find out was that they had
come straight to X-from Liserpool,
where they had arrived from America.
There they were traced to the Fifth Ave.
nue. hotel in New York, where they had
been ouly known by the number of their
room, and to which they had come from no
one knew whittier. Enough money was
found in the ladY's box to pay the expenees
of their funerals. An open verdict was re-
turned at the inquests which were held.
The police took possession of their belong
ings, and have them, no doubt, at the pres
ent moment.
At this point the train stopped, the lady
wished us "Good morning" and left the
carriage; and we, as we steamed south,
were left to mediate on this strange but
perfectly true story, and to solve as we best
could the still unanswered question OF.
"Who was the third maid?"-Argosy.
| A DAINTY EASTER BoNNET.-A bonnet
that is very dream in violet has crown
| i hot 10 q