Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-03-09

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things in the housekeeping which would
bear changing, I took occasion to spend
some time with Hannah in the kitchen,
giving her during my visit some hints
in regard to household affairs which if
| followed would make considerable diff
ference in the comfort of those concern
ed. She received them patiently, but /
have seen no change in her manage
ment of the kitchen that / feel justified in
attributing to my influence. But know
human nature well enough not to have
expected it. Had the kitchen been far.
ther from the door of the flower parlor
I might not have thrown away so much
energy.
did not effect an entrance into tho
flower parlor, however, nor did / sue
coed in seeing any one else enter it,
Neither did succeed in making Han
nan talk on any other topic than ordi-
nary domestic concerns, but l saw Ger
tain things.
had formed plan for the night that
required some courage. Recalling Lu-
cetta's expression of the morning, that
I might expect repetition of the expe-
rience which, if a dream, had had the
appear" g of most formidable reality
prepared to profit by the warning in a
way she had certainly never meant that
I should. Satisfied that if there was
any truth in my suspicious there would
be an act performed in this house to-
night which, if seen by me, would for
ever settle the question that was agitat-
ing the whole countryside, made up
my mind that no locked door should in
terfere with my opportunity of doing So
How effected this result l will relate
in few minutes.
After an evening more solemn than
the day, but characterized, as the two
previous ones had not been, by long
talk with tie two girls together, l went
to my room in a state of seeming fatigue,
that evidently met with the appreciation
of Lucetta, who had accompanied me to
my door with lighted candle.
81 hear you had some trouble with
matches last night" said she. "You
will find them all right now. Hannah
must be blamed for some of this care
lessness. Then as began some reas-
surfing reply she turned upon me with q
look that was almost fond, and, throw
ing out her arms, cried entreatingly.
"Won' t you give me little kiss, Miss
Butterworth? We have not given you
the best of welcomes, but you are nly
mothers old friend, and sometimes feel
little lonely"
could easily believe that, and yet
found it hard to embrace her. Too many
shadows swan between Althea& chill
dren and myself. She saw my hesitancy
Ga hesitancy could net but have shown
even at the risk of losing her confidencel
and, paling slightly, dropped her hands
with pitiful smile.
You don't like me-, " she said Il
do not wonder, bat l was in hopes you
would for my mothers sake. | have no
claims myself. That you must be sure
am thoroughly convinced of. -
You are an interesting girl, and you
have, what your mother had not a Sc,
rious side to your nature that is any
thing but displeasing to me. But my
kisses. Iucerua, are as rare as my tears.
had rather give you good advice, and
that is fact. Perhaps it is as strong q
proof of affection as any ordinary caress
might be-"
Perhaps" she murmured, but she
did not encourage me to give it to her
notwithstanding Instead of that she
drew back and bid me gentle good
night, which for some reason made me
sadder than I wished to be at crisis
demanding SO much nerve. Then she
walked quickly away, and was left to
face the night alone.
Knowing that should be rather
weakened than helped by the omission
of any of the little acts of preparation
with which l am accustomed to call my
spirits for the night went through
them all with just as much precision as
if had expected to spend the ensuing
hours in rest. When all was done and
only my cup of tea remained to be
quaffed, I had little struggle with
myself which ended in my not drinking
it at all. Nothing, not even this com
Portable solace for an unsatisfactory
day. should stand in the way of my be-
ing the complete mistress of my wits
this night. Had known that this tea
contained a soporific in the shape of a
little harmless morphine 1 would have
found this act of self denial much easier.
It was now II. Confident that moth
ing would be done while my light was
burning, 1 blew it out, and, taking a
candle and matches in my hand softly
opened my door and after a moment of
intense listening stepped out and closed
it carefully behind me. Nothing could
be stiller than the house or darker than
the corridor.
cam I watched or am not watch
ed?" thought I, and for an instant stood
undecided. Then, seeing nothing and
hearing nothing, l slipped down the
hall to the door beyond mine and, open
ing it with all the care possible, stepped
inside.
knew the room. Ihad taken especial
note Of it in my visit of the morning. l
knew that it was nearly empty and that
there was key in the lock which l
could turn. 1 therefore felt more or less
safe in it, especially as its window was
undarkened by the branches that hung
so thickly across nv own easement