The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-23
under THE CLOUD.


patieupe now Something must IS done
- get rid Of them
-*Ars Jon coming down to breakfast
asked Ellen wondering at the house
keepers diffuseness.
No, I'm too WORKOUT. Iwant you to
tell Mr.. Bowyer the reason why could
not come. must have an hours sleep
before / dress. You will see that Mr..
Bowyer has all he requiresf"
II shall be able to look after my
UNCLE" interposed Ellen. haughtily, a.
abe turned away.
Mr. Bowyer came down In crosse
humor, and was difficult to please.
Like most invalids, he dlsliked change
from the usual routine, and resented
anything that interfered with his COM
fort. The housekeeper had been with
him 50 long, and never before had any
thing occurred to keep her from the
morning meal. He fumed and fretted
about It, and could talk Of nothing else
during the breakfast.
We must find something to get rid
OF the pests!n he declared impatiently
once or twiceA
= have never seen or heard one of
them" observed Ellen.
" Last night could scarcely sleep my
self, he went on, not needing her inter-
ruption--" there were such noises In
the next room. OF course it was rats.
! wonder 1t did not strike me at the
time.n
" More likely you heard Mrs. Priolo
moving about
:" 1t comes to the same thing. The
rats disturbed her, and consequently
she disturbed me-
9 am very sorry you did not sleep
well; and you need q good nights rest
always. Shall read to you after break
fasta You say that sends you to Sleep
He assented, and for nearly an hour
she read aloud to him but this morning
her voice had lost its soporific influence,
or else his nerves were Ia too irritable
state to be easily soothed.
Then Mrs. Priolo came down, looking
much as usual In spite OF the air of inva-
ndism that she had adopted, and the
subject Of rats was resumed.
I'm sure don't know what is to be
done, said Mr.. Bowyer hopelessly.
"A rat-trap is the only thing can
think Of. That is very slow way of
getting rid Of them; but what else can
any one suggesta"
Mrs. Priolo looked at Ellen as she
spoke, and, wearied Of the discussion,
the girl answered somewhat impa-
hently
- Whu nj Law dr.y,, v,nies,,
ls that practicable? What sort Of
poison Is used?"
Arsenic, suppose wondering
little at the housekeeper's asking for
Information from her.
wonder whether 1t would be pos
sible to get it 2"
Why not?" said Mr.. Bowyer. 81
will write q note to the chemist at
Greathayen, and you shall 60 In your
SELF,
That seems easily managed; and OF
course 1t is quite safe since Miss Warde
recommends it For my part, don't
care for meddling with such dangerous
thing as poison; but then I'm an old
fogy." Then, changing her tone with
the subject, she said, cheerily, What
about the letters this morning? We're
there any n -
There were two-one for Mrs. Priolo |,
and one for Ellen Warde. 4
1t was the first that had ever come to |
Ellen, but she felt no doubt whence it
was, even II the large bold handwriting |
and the device Of London club on the |
thick square envelope had not told her.
Biushing violently, she took it from
tho man.
Who is your correspondent, Ellen 7"
I'll have not read it yet" she an
1Wered, evasively; then, after a mo-
msnt's hesitation, during which she was
lingering 1t nervously, she left the room |
Eith the letter still unopened in her.
hand. ss-S4esss.sz4ss.s /
Ar. Bowyer's gaze followed her in
quisitively.
Who can have writer her ?" he
asked Mrs. Priolo.
It's either from the colonel or his |
son. The postmark was London, and
they're both there now, hear.n
What could they have to write
about 2" he persisted.
Z Young ladies will have their secrets, |
which it's no use prying into" laughed
Mrs. Priolo.
Opening her own letter, she became
apparently engrossed in its contents.
From time to time calculations broke |
from her which were calculated to arouse
Mr.. Bowyer's attention, and did not fail |
in their intent.
Have you anything very interesting
there I" he asked, at length.
It's shocking sorry--it would only 4
distress you to hear it," she said.
But, when he still displayed keen
desire to know all about it, she told him
with apparent reluctance. A woman
she had known some years before had
come to a violent end.
She was a widow, and well-to-do; her
husband had been "a wholesale cheese
monger in a large way of business. and
had left her all his unnau froo - --.a