The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-01-29

SrSST~ shlvery, like water
/ NI9I Il down ones back, you
nv ~ know"
r IRRo. ''Fright?" questioned
HV Ia: one of those addressed.
~ ooh, if I'm frightened,
I scream right straight out, nothing
can stop mel just YELL"
"You just dol" corroborated another
OF the pretty conclave round the fire,
with laugh. 81 never heard any
thing like it; when that tramp we met
yesterday in the avenue at dusk sud-
denly addressed us, you made the well
kin ring, and pinched my arm black
and blue, until 1 made you understand
the wretched creature had only asked
his way"
There was the usual desultory chat
and exchange of condolences, between
mouthfuls of muffin, concerning alarms,
past, present and future, when hand.
some woman with mischievous eyes,
who. had not hitherto spoken, ex.
claimed:
"Were none of you girls ever struck
DUMP Win 1rlgnJ!
"What question: they chorused
''Why, Mrs. Treherne, were you ever
taken like that?''
Son one memorable occasion" was
the reply, while comical expression
settled about the corners of q mouth
which Venus herself might have en-.
We'd for its outlines, 81 lost the entire
faculty of speech during fully ter
minutes. / was struck dumb, and
only found my tongue too late to be
of any use."
The speaker looked across at hel
hostess. She was met by an amused
air of incredulity.
'tLet us hear the story, Kitty.
can't believe in your being frightened
but unbosom yourself, dear. Intend
keeping you until the men come in tc
introduce my brother, SO you've plenty
of time"
Amid murmurs of excited anticipa
ton Mrs. Treherne began
eft was an evening like this-darl
and dreary, with thick, white fog
But I'd better go back to the begin
ming, or you won't understand. W.
were living in Highfordshire during
the last years of my husbands life
time, and my dream was to become an
artist. I'm sorry to say it has never
been realized.
''There was even at that time {
school of painting near us at Tree
leigh, aud 1 soon found lady arts
willing to teach me the rudiments.
drawback to complete happiness ii
my newly-adopted vocation was tn
distance between our house and thi
woman's studio, or Mr.. Treherne
much as he disliked my paintin,
craze, as he called it, objected to m.
being alone about the roads still more
aud I must admit they were uncom
monty dark at times. I'may add also
and the droll look crept up to he
eyes-"he had two special bugbears
These were the artists and the models
"He declared they were all scamps
and that, if I escaped from the art
fees of the one, I should sooner @
later be garotted by the other. Th
male sex he more particularly referre
to, but I must confess he had no yer
high opinion of the women either.
Therefore, much as he hated h
horses being out at night, he insiste
on sending the carriage for me in a
weathers, and 1 firmly believe til
coachman had orders to give receiI
for my person every evening.
"One day in the winter, l had bee
working in the life class till after fiv
and owing to dense fog the carriae
was late. suppose 1 ought to ha,
waited for it, but the tempter in IL
shape of girl friend persuaded n
to take tea in her rooms. Nor am
uuite clear if directions were left
the studio to enable the carriage
find me.
"We were half dozen girl student
of whom one played divinely on Il
cello, and it must have been quite q
hour later before I started, my bod
guard not having turned up, to trud'
home in the mud alone.
ST have said the roads could
very dark, but 1 never knew them
bad as they were on this particul
evening. Lamps were few, even
the village, aud the fog obscured su,
as there were. I felt very sorry I
myself on leaving the comparati
illumination of the street for the utt
blackness of the lonely road that
between me and home.
81 wondered where the brougha
could be, and for once missed its col
Portable cushions and the inspiritil
presence of our fat coachman. L
fog penetrated eyes, nose and ears.
blinded me aud made nae cough.
with difficulty, By cid Of nv y