The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-09-13
EopYaIeHT 1882 By AFtKaloss ufwsHpta Co


home at all. My stepmother ordered
me to leave, and my father, who was
present, did not interfere. / was driven
away"
"Driven away?" Mrs. Lawton repeat
ed, meditatively. Cruel, heartless
wretchesl" Then after the lapse of
moment, she asked:
''How long have you been from
hoine?"
Several months" answered.
"And how have you Jared during
those several months?"
81 have not been happy"
Have the people you had dealings
with been kind to you?"
"Some have and some have not"
"Where did you live before you came
here?"
81 would rather not tell that, Mrs.
Lawton, if you please. | have good
reasons for wishing to keep,it secret"
She watched me with intense interest
for short time.
"Miss Ovens" she said, directly, II
do not wish to pry into your secrets. l
have no right to do SO. Yet how am l
to assist you unless have your conf
dence? You are a stranger to me, and
before take you into my home | ought
to know something of your past life"
The intimation that she was thinking
of taking me into her home filed NE
with thrill of the widest joy, and in
stantly my heart warmed to her.
"Mrs Lawton," | cried, 81 would
willingly reveal to you everything con-
nected with my past if felt that my
safety would admit of it. Mine is pc
culiar and a trying situation, and to re-
veal the incidents of my existence for
the last month might place my happi-
ness and nay very life in jeopardy"
81 do not know what your situation
is, of course" she replied, "but can
assure you that you have nothing to
fear from revealing your history to me,
If it is clear, as am sure it is. II we
are to be friends and companions we
must have mutual confidence and trust"
From that moment | trusted Mrs.
Lawton fully. felt that no harm could
possibly result to me from making her
acquainted with my history from first
to last. was anxious to make the rev.
clat,on to her, too, for hated secrets,
and dreaded the possibility of being
misiudged.
Mrs. Lawton," | said, you are q
stranger to me, but trust you. will
tell You everything"
Every WELL" she answered, quietly.
81 am sure you will lose nothing by it."
Then told her all of my experiences
from the time | left home, leaving out
only al references to VIII Hanley and
Charles Cornell. told her of the kind
ness OF Mr.. and Mrs. Cornell, of the
GOODNESS Of my cousin, of the warm in
terest of Mr.. Bernard, and of his sub
sequent conduct and of the slanderous
reports that were put afoat by his col
leagues, Miss Perkins and Mrs. Bond.
She listened attentively until had
come to finish, then, laying her hand
On mine said:
81 believe you, Agnes. l have the
greatest faith in every word you have
uttered"
81 am SO glad you believe me-"
cried, hardly restraining my tears. 81
wass so much afraid you would not"
but | do. There is that in your
looks and manner that forbids doubt
of your honesty and truthfulness. |
liked you when l first saw you at the
door, and l like you better now. am
a queer woman in mostrespects, Agnes,
and dare say my sudden liking for
you is one of my queer freaks. People
will say SO, at least. But it doesn't
matter, for have little to do with peo-
pie and they have little to do with me.
/ live my own life in my own way, and
] bother no one else and ask no one to
bother about me. But | win talk of
that at some other time. You have had
no dinner, have you?"
mo, ma'am," replied.
"Well, then, you certainly want It
now. You are to remain here three or
four days, if you will"
"Three or four days?" exclaimed,
in tone of deep disappointment. ~
Numbering myself, Ipaused and blushed
in confusion.
"You hoped you were to remain
longer?" Mrs Lawton questioned.
Eyes, ma'am," l replied. II hoped
you could employ me in some way"
81 don't know about that" she said.
81 am a queer, grim, unpleasant old
woman, and you may find living with
me unbearablc. l should be glad to
have you here, for | have taken
strange fancy to you, and if you care to
stay You shall But you must have
few days to decide. You must come to
understand me better before you make
any agreement. Remain three DAYS
and then we will talk the matter over
again. Now lay aside your things and
come with me to dinner"
Iobeyed. and few minutes later we
sat down to little table in large,
airy room and were served with the
choicest of viands. My hostess talked
little during the meal, and for the
greater part of the time seemed deeply
absorbed in thought. Once glanced
mp to find her eyes riveted on ne in a
curious gaze, and the instant her eyes
met mine she let them drop and flush
suffused her face.
After dinner she took me all
through the house and showed me the
various rooms. There was a library
well supplied with books, and ! ex-
pressed my admiration of it.