The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-07-11

and restful i longed to stay. | go,
into the house, and, while | wandered
through the rooms, a terrible tempest
came up.
Il had to stay. indeed | did, sir; and
slept sweetly in a room in the upper
story.
1T must have been my evil genius
that prompted Inc to stay. thought i,
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 a spirit-lamp.
l have not taken anything, truly, sir
but know it was very wrong. | kecr
a light burning all night. and people
say the house is haunted. 1t is-by me.
Then | only go out at dusk, and always
in white If 1 need groceries | start
before daybreak and walk to A,
coming home after dark.
But | WI: 81 at once, sir" nervously
clasping and unclasping those tiny
hands.
A great pity welled up in my heart
for the childish creature. Were the
spells of a woman beginning to cast
their glamors overme, Frank Linwood,
sober-minded lawyer that l was?
My father never turned a dog away
from his door hungry and cold. Mine
was not a charitable heart, but | knew
the law of kindness.
You must not go tonight" ! said,
and we kept our strange vigil through
all tho lnnr S,rnpn,r nirlt far n,a ~
those sharp, fierce tcmpests hat 50
often follow a sultry day was rising.
Binding flashes of lightning made the
girl W her eyes with her hands, and
the heavy thunder shook the house.
/ had noticed some heavy, dark
clouds drifting athwart the horizon as
| walked from the station to Mr.. Lees.
but the tempest came upon me as a sur
prise.
A heavy clap Of thunder and a sharp
flash brought us both to our feet. Ellen
Blaine, as she told me her name, began
to sob with terror, and l soothed her
like a child. The touch of her hand
stirred my sluggish blood, and | felt the
silky feel of her fine hair for hours af-
ter its silken braids brushed my check.
My plans were quickly made.
Have you no friend or elderly rela-
tive who can come here and stay with
you? If so 1 will pay O a monthly
sum to keep the house open and to put
it in such order as would please my
mother if she were alive"
"Do you mean it," with n sharp look
on the childish face, a suspicious look, |
thought.
Certainly: 1t is not proper you should
stay here alone. l shall board at a
friends during my visit, hut | would
like to keep the house open while |
stay"
There are repairs, of course, needcd;
carpets need taking up. drawers over
hauled. l fear rats, mice and moths
have been at work.
A hot flush burned on her cheeks. |
feared | had wounded her pride.
You will do me a favor, Miss
Blaine"
"You are very kind. will stay if an
old aunt of mine will como out tn chap
erone me-" archly.
wonder now that | did such IA
quixotic thing. | must have been fas-
cinated by her beauty. and the influ-
c of my surroundings made me soft
hearted.
1 breakfasted at Mr.. Lees and bore
his r%aillery very well when ! told him !
had leased the house to n middlc-agcd
lady and her niece for the season.
In due time Mrs. and Miss Blaine
took possession and neighbors began to
call on them. 1t was very pleasant to
have the house occupied. was a fire.
quent caller. and on one occasion sur
priscd Ellen, or Nellie, as | learned to
call her, seated at the piano.
do you play??" | asked in some sur
prise.
A brilliant movement, followed by a
soft accompaniment and a bird-likc
song, was her response. She enjoyed
nv establishment: music was nv moth
er's passion. | almost dislikei to have
anyone use her instrument but con-
quered the feeling and sen to the
city for a piano tuner. 1t was really a
lilt llSl ~ III -Ntllit Hulit al per
former, so | spent many evenings, with
Mrs. Blaine nudding in ner chair. listen
ing to her simple songs or gay fanta-
sizes.
She was mistress of the violin and
showed an almost childish joy when |
brought one, that had been mine, from
some hidden recess. have heard many
handle the bow but never one
who could draw such touching and
thrilling strains from the instrument.
Mrs. Blainc's small eyes would open,
for she spent the most of her time
sleeping, when Nellie struck the first
chords. There was something about the
woman hat always repealed me, and
the way she looked at me from her
half-closed Eyes really made me nerv-
Gus. She wore a wig of that peculiar
faded, reddish brown which wig-wcar-
ing ladies so much affect, and her man
ners were rather coarse.
As deeply as | was in love with her
niece. | recoiled from becoming con-
nected with that lady by marriage.
The grounds at the rear Of the house
down to a river, flowing broad
and free, and | soon had a CAV little
boat for my use OF long afternoons or
sweet, still evenings. With Nellie OPP
me, it was my delight to row for
hours, or, resting on my oars in some
shady cove to idle the hours away
my eyes on hat lovely face
and gazing into the depths of those
lark, bewildering eyes.
She had as many phases as the moon;
day tender as a dove, another dig
lified as a young queen. Possessed of
strong mesmeric powers, she would
handle the reins over the back of the
most fiery horse | eve saw; and once,
when we We're out walking and en-
,ouutered an ugly cow, who rushed at
is with lowered head and glaring eyes, |
was looking around for a club
o quell her wrath the little witch
between the enraged animal
and myself and coolly looked her ont
If countenance.
l remember of thinking that. if |
married her, that would probably he
he result of any conjugal difference in
which we might indulge.
Although slightly h~oydenish. Miss
Nellie was always dressed in exquisite
Soft, flowing robes of white. or