The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-24

have read, years before, case where
patient had for forty years stood in one
particular corner, and was only violent and
dangerous when he was removed from it,
and thought to myself that perhaps Mr..
Browns mania might come under that
head. By and by it began to disturb me
very much. was only type of my sex,
and it had become matter of personal
curiosity with me.
went out frequently when l knew he
was in the house, so that I could go to the
corner, cross the way, and look up at the
window, and there | always saw him half
concealed behind the curtain. Sometimes
| could her him run quickly down the
stairs, and rushing rapidly into the street,
walk away, up or down, as the humor
seemed to take him. At last an idea
struck me. He was detective, and was
watching one of the houses opposite, and
with that idea for clue, l became still
more vigilant, and, with Norah's help,
came to the conclusion that his attention
was riveted on small house almost op-
posite, on the side of whose door was
modest sign, with the name of "Cavendish,
Dressmaker," on it.
Then I called in Norah's help again, and
there's nothing so pleases house servant
as to CLEAN information and gossip for her
mistress, who very soon discovered that
"Cavendish, Dressmaker, meant an elderly
lady, and her daughter of 19, who, to all
appearance, had seen better days, but had
piled that vocation in the same locality for
two years, during which time the old lady
had been confirmed invalid and rarely
left the house, while they had no company
except one young man, who was suspected
to be Miss Miriam Cavendish's intended.
So far, so good; and now what connection
was there between the Cavendishes and
my lodger? That | was determined to
find out, though some people would say it
was none of my business; but | say it was
as long as he was my lodger.
The first step in the matter, of course,
was to become acquainted with the Caven-
dishes, but that was an easy, task. |
simply walked in upon them one morning,
introduced myself, and told them that |
wanted dress made, and as | had noticed
their sign ! had called upon them.
was received by both--the mother, a
pale, high bred, gentle spoken woman; the
daughter, beautiful, dark haired, dark
eyed creature, who looked like anything
in the world but the ideal dressmaker.
must say that | never met with q
sweeter creature in my life than Miriam
Cavendish. loved that girl from the
first moment | saw her, and made every
excuse while they were working for me to
run over and gossip with them, and never
went empty handed, for whatever came to
me l always lived well, and, though | say
it that should not say it, I'm cook that
you cannot turn up your nose at, and so |
used to take them over little It'd bits, and
if had nothing else to take, jar of pre-
serves or pickles, some particularly fine tea,
or bottle of wine for the old lady, for
it did not take long for me to find out that
they were very poor, and that such little
delicaaes, which we're really necessities TO
Mrs. Caveudish, were almost strangers to
them.
By and by Miriam and myself got to be
quite confidential, and began to tell each
other almost everything, for there's no
way to draw anyone out like telling them
all about yourself, and so | used to talk to
them all about my dodgers, and especially
about my second floor front. 1t was clear
to me at once that they knew nothing about
him, that they did not recognize the name
of Ralph Brown. This puzzled me still
more, because every day convinced me that
it was Miriam Gayepdish he was watching,
aud | now knew why it was he hurried out
of the house so strangely at times.
1t was because in his watching he had
seen Miriam come out of her house, and he
followed her, coming back when she did,
but never, was sure, joining her or speak
ing 10 her. Miriam sometimes went to
evening church, and one night invited
myself to go with her, satisfied that Mr..
Brown followed her, and found | was
right. He came in Immediately after US,
and seated himself in such way that he
could look directly in her face without
seeming to be rude, and during the entire
service he seemed so absorbed in gazing at
her that he apparently knew nothing else.
After the service said quietly TO Miriam
as we rose
spon't look now, dear, but presently
glance over to your right, and that man in
gray suit is my second floor 'front.'"
She gave a glance presently and then
said laughingly: "He'll never have topay
tax on his beauty, Mrs. Fisher, will he ?
think he's about the ugliest man l ever
saw.
1t was plain that she did not know him.
The next day l met Mr.. Brown in the hall,
by his own intention, am sure.
"Good morning, Mrs. Fisher" he said.
@I met you at church last night. That
was remarkably pretty girl yop had with
YOU
1 answered, eyes, and as good as she
was pretty" and then, seeing that he was