Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-08-04
CHAPTER Lvlll.


master, had given it Il thorough reno
Walton. and made it really pleasant.
AStrea. with 4 convaleScent'S eager
ness for outdoors. wandered all day
long about the grounds. She had no
one to restrain or advise her. and so
she Went out early and stayed out late
every day. until ut last in her feeble
condition, she took a cold. that once
mere confined her to her room.
1t was late one afternoon that she
was sitting in the easy chair. beside
the back window Of her chamber.
watching the crimson. purple and gold
en- clouds that canOpied so royalty the
setting sun, when she heard the sound
of wheels upon the drive. and present
~ the noise OF a large arrival. There
We're two carriages stopped before the
door. which discharged their passen-
gers; then followed the entrance of
many people into the hall: the sound
of soft. silvery voices. mingled With
of many heavy trunks and boxes upon
the floor. BY these tokens true" AS
trea felt sure that the new master and
his family had arrived.
Some of the party Went up stairs.
and their trunks were carried up be-
hind them.
OtherS-ladies they seemed-went
into the front chamber adjoining her
own. Here their silvery voices were
once more heard giving directions re-
Igartling the location of their luggage.
Their words and tones in speaking to
the servants We're gentle and courte-
Gus. That argued we'll Of them. Some
time passed. in which it seemed that
they changed their travelling dresses;
and then all went out together and en-
tered the drawing room. Next Astrea
heard the servants carrying in the tea.
and then the soft tinkle of silver
spoons upon china Saucers." and the
CHEEKY voices that usually are heard
: around the tea-table. An hour passed
tits. And then she heard the serv-
ants remove the tea service. And
tlen in Il few moments, to her great
relief, Vents entered the room. bring
ing her supper.
so dey's come at last" said Venus.
as she set the cup of coffee and plate
OF buttered toast beside Astre: and.
honey. l takes back all l ever SAID
ag'in ON. even if dey are ole marse's
'lations. deed | do."'
Then YOU like the new master!'
-Astrea inquired.
Honey. de new marSe is a mis>uS.
an 4 proper lady. too. as she HAYES
herself like Il lady, an knows how to
treat human creeturS as SIGH, an not
as dogs
''Wh0 Il, she. and what is her name?'
> Eli, honey. low l know who she is.
mcre'n she's ole marser's heiress! An
as for her name. l amt heard it yet
"N'hO was with her? There seemed
to be several ladies'. Who are they?'
Her chillun, honey. her chillun;
she's DER moder. dough she do look
more like DER sister"
Astrea, With the interest natural to
one in her position, asked many more
questions about the newly-arrived par
ty, and when they had been satisfact-
orily' answered, feeling weak and
weary, size retired to bed. Venus, who
still occupied her place on the mat
tless beside Astrea's bedstead, sooD
: flowed her example. About 10 she
heard the ladies enter the adjoining
room and go to rest. Then. as nothing
more disturbed her during the night
she went to sleep.
Early in the morning, AStrea. feel
i1tg much recovered, arose and dressed
y
iOus to be introduced as soon as posi-
Bile to the new mistress, so as to tell
her story, if perchance it might gain
credit. and thus to learn her fate.
Venus, as usual, brought her break
fast to her room, and told her that the
new mistress and her party were also
at breakfast in the dining room.
Astrea drank her chocolate and ate
her muffin, and then awaited with i'm
patience an opportunity of speaking
to the new proprietor. From time to
time during the morning, Venus put
her head in at the door to report prog
ress. Once she said:
''MissuS done sent pos haste for de
lawyer" And another time she an
nOunced:
;'Marse Lawyer Fulmore done rived
an he an de madame in de parlor sit
tin ut de center table wild whole
raft O papers before dem"
Upon another occasion she looked in
and said:
"Missus rcadin' over a list O field
hams Late in the afternoon she en-
tered the room and announced:
- dc lawyer is gone. De madam an
de young ladies is in de parlOr. DE
madam been lookin' over a list Of de
house servants. an has had ebery one
of us up before her, one ut a time. to
speak to an get 'quainted wild, like
An now she has jes' ak for de girl
Fora, which she means you, honey. an
she wants YOU to come in immedi-
ate
'She is in the parlor, you said!' in,
4uired Astrea, rising.
"Sittn' in dcrc wild dc young Ia.
dies
Astrea went for moment to the
glass. sm6othed her hair, adjusted hel
dress, and passed directly to the par,
lor.
AS she entered, her eyes fell upon Il
striking group. Upon the sofa that
stt cd between the two front windows,
was seated stately and beautiful
woman. whose bright golden hair and
fair radiant complexion were well SCI
off by her rich mourning dress BE.
side her. and leaning caressingly upon
her shoulder.sat Il lovely young girl
who, in features and complexion, sc
closely reScmblcd the lady that strans
rrS would j!nvr taken them for sisters
Upon II cushion ut the lnhys feet. sal
II little. dark. sparkling kind of II crca
t..h