Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-03

Chapter NVIII.-;Continucd)

the windows and doors were closed and
all the lights and fires put out. And
then, attenced by her two maids. Man
dy and Sephy, She entered her own
from on the third floor front. where she
sank painting into an easy chair
These two girls always slept in the
garnet above Miss Hits room: but il
was the custom, growing out of her sol
itude, for the old lady to detain them Il
few minutes every night in her own
chamber. for little gossip or last or
dcrs, before Diminishing them to their
own. You may be sure that this even
ing proved no exception to the general
rule. There was much to be talked
over. And as Miss Hit sat blowing in
her chair, Mandy offered tc comb her
hair and Sephy to take Oft her shoes
and stockings. before leaving her. And
while the maids We're thus engaged.
Miss Hit spoke-of the bridal pair. Of
course. For. let it be remembered, that
this was the first time for three years
that the household of the isle had set
eyes on either the lady or the gentle
man.
"Shes wonderfully improvcl-M
Astrca-NIrS. Grcville, l should say"
said Miss Hit.
Il 'clar' I shouldn a-known her,
num- answered Mandy.
$40. nor MarSc Fulke-the Colonel. l
mean. Isn't he handsome, JUST" OBJ
served Scphy.
81 hope it will be happy marriage"
sighed Miss Hit.
"!And SO does I. II UNI: hut ! has my
own thoughts" said Mandy.
la. why shouldn't it be happy?
Just see What 4 handsome pair they
are" observed ScpEy.
But Miss Hit had turned an appalled,
countcnance upon Mandy. as if she ST.
lently demanded 4 reason for her eN
pressed forebcdings.
Mandy was Il well formed. tall. sleE-
der girl. with a good-humored black
) face. laughing black eyes. and smiling
lips that displayed rows of teeth white
and smooth as ivory. There was Il
great deal of wit. intelligence and af-
fiction in Mandy's nature. Aud her
truth, honesty and fidelity Won the re-
gard of the whole family. 1t was.
therefore. with much confidence that
Miss Hit listened to her explanation.
"You see. Miss 'Hitable. mum. l nov
or said muffin til to nobody bout what
I'm going to tell you now. You mem
her de las ebenin as eber Marse Fulke
was here, afcrc he Went away so sud
dint:'
Yes I do. And I knew st he time
there was some quarrel between him
and his uncle. though nothing Was ever
said about it afterN ard
We'll. mum. it Y IS quarrel. and all
about little Daney, Miss Astrea. ]
mean. Mrs. Greville. as l should say.
You see. mum. dat dat ehenin' l was
IL,
out'n de carpet in de hall nigh to de
dinin' room. when heard all they said,
which I never mentioned of it afore
my misgivings.'
What was it =
''Well, YOU sec. ole mArse. he wanted
Young marse to marry Miss Daney. She
was Miss Dany then. SO might as well
call her so. Well. he-yOung marsc. l
Inean-wouldn' And ole marSc cOaNed
him. and he wouldn't. And he scolded
him. and he wouldn't. Last of ali. he
turned him off and ordered him out of
the house. and told him as he was 4
going. that if ever he changed his mind.
and come to his serscs. and returned to
marry Miss Daney. Ae would forgive
him and love him and leave him his
fortune. And so they parted. Only.
mind this. Miss Hit, mum. AS yo,1nS
marse was a-passing through the front
hall on his way out. and not seeing OF
me down on de floor takin' out de
greast spots. he says. says he, a-talkina
to hisself: If I were weak enough to
be tempted to marry that girl for her
fortune I should be wicked enough, at
terward, to murder her for freedom" .
"Hush! for heavens sake. hush! You
make my very blood run cold with hor-
TOR! Besides, it cannot be true! Yo.'
mistoOk!'
"Deed and deed, mum, dem was the
very words he used! l members OF
7em as ii it was dis minute l heerd 'em
for it seem like cherry word was cut into
me. was so hurried! And oh! Miss
Hit! to think ut last he has been tempt
ed to marry of her for her fortune,
low supposing--'
Ugh! stop supposing. you foolish
wicked girl! There! give me my night
cap. and 60 to bed. Say your prayers
before you lie down. and then, perhaps
the evil spirits that put such horrid
thoughts into your head Will depart
from YOU" said Miss Hit
The girls looked at each other 3nd
giggled, as they often did whel; scoldct
by the big. fat. good naturcd house
keeper, and then. with turtsy each
they withdrew to their attic.
Il don't know what is hanging Over
lie tonight: feel very low. somehow
quite as if something was about to hap
pen; it is an awful expo licncr; it must
be presentimcnt Of evil. or else, per
haps, it is cnly-indi@estion.' sighed
the old lady. us she turned into hel
comfortable bed.
But she could not compose herself Ii
sleep. With nervous irritablity anu
sual to one of her phelglnatic t"npera
1nent, she lay awake. starting at every
slight sound. and fancying that slIt
heard stealthy footsteps on the porch
beneath her windows and before tn
apartment of Mrs. Greville. Thus i
was near daylight when at length. w0rl
out with watching, she fell asleep.
CHAPTER XIX.