Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-04-06

DOEOlul
Yes. Madam"
Il have missed you, child. The sun
dial marks no hours while Dorothy is
absent
raised her hand to my lips.
rs not this too long a stroll FOR YOU
without companionship, dear Madam
Il have brought a trusty sElff with
me. you see" She held up stout
gold headed ebony cane, of which She
frequently made use. Besides. though
he does not dream / suspect IL. | Nave
q shrewd idea that my good franklin
exercises II vigilaut wigeh upon my
from the veranda." And. sure enough
looking round, ! Cspieq the old mal
dodging among the poplars rs he mad,
a surreptitious way back to the house
safe in the thought that | was Will
his mistress.
May | wait for you, Madam
Certainly, though / AN about re
turning"
she paused an instant, and wisr-
full shadow crossed her beautifHl f,lcr
After moment she RESUMED her
speech.
Dorothy" she said, "fhls is an au-
niversary. Forty years ago to-day
came. happy, joyous hrfde, to that
house yonder." Again she turned her
poor blind eyes upon the melancholy
pile of masonry "My child, it is an
unlucky house. Il house of sad disaster
and misfortune 10 all whom ii has
sheltered; but, an would Eke to Sex,
1t again. | would give much to look
once more upon the walls within which
l spent so many happy hours
was well aware that she lived.
when alone. almost wholly within the
memories OF past events, and | felt in
dsstins tly sratifyir that she should
give evidence Of beng so much at one
with me as 80 address me In tones OF
retroSpection.
! said 80 word to disturb the cur
rent of her thoughts, but softly with
drew the ebony stick from her grasp,
and slipped the hand which held il
within my strong young arm. We
waited thus in silence little, and
presently she went on.
Dorothy, | must see it; | must!' she
cried, and there was n deep, uncontroll-
able yearning in Ter vofee. Look al
1t, child; look clio sely at 1t, until It
seems as familiar t. you as the face OF
a friend. Then deScribe 1t to me; but
describe it faithfully, for its image is
craven on my heart, and I Shall know
If your observation is at fault.
/ halted a few minnes, earnestly
scrutinising the prospect before me,
for | was anxious to fnlfl her re-
quest to the very oest OF my ability,
and was afraid lest she should de-
tect carelessness OF slovenliness in nay
description.
Il see" began at length, "A gloomy,
grey mass OF rubbie stone, rising co<i
and grim against a back ground OF dark
woods. 1t forms house of unattrac-
tive and even forbiddlng exterior.
This house is three-stopfed with Il
balcony acress its front, enclosed and
supported by heavy wrought-iron brac-
kets and balustradc. The windows are
without blinds, and white Inside shut
ters enhance the nakedness of Hloir
appearance. There are two door" "f
entrance. that upon the grohnd-noor
opening upon neglected. Srass-SroWil
driye"-here | felt Madam shiVcr as Il
with cold -"and appearing to have
been of but secondary Importance 10
the architect of the dwelling. for n
larger and more imposing doorway eN-
lists In the next story, access to when
Is gained by means of Hight OF Drok-
en- and moss stained stone steps. Inc
house is square and of uncsmpromishy
regularity of outline, and seems 10 he
built against cliff or ledge Of rocks.
| felt sudden movement of Gag
erness from my companieIS ana Mad
am interrupted me abruptly.
Eyes, yes, 1t is so. | know 1t Wen,
that ledge. 1t forms the bTck Of the
lower half Of the house, and its sur
face is covered with rude PLATFORM,
which communicates with the hoIise
by means of door opening upon
a landing of the inner staircase. Ah,
the dear old PLATFORM How many
happy hours have | spent there. An,
dear old house that has widowed me!
All, dear hallowed groHsd that stail
echoes with the tread Of " fst which
you betrayed. God knosys You haye
done me bitter harm and ir5Iiry, but
oh.-I love you still,-I fove You stili"'
had never seen her moved from her
stern self-cOntrol before, and ] kneY
not how to meet her demand upon my
sympathy But | took refuge in sill
ence That, at least. does not Jar, even
if 1t fails to comfort.
Finally she made movement Ts If
to leave the spot, but turned before dc
parting, with another request
Dorothy, ] should like ONCE more 10
stand upon that platform. Could we
make pilgrimage there together some
day, do you think? Just you and !F'
Indeed, yes, dear MalLt.n. | re-
piled, without an iuslsuit's hgt'alion.
/ think. if she had proposed ".r taking
a trip to Jericho in Il lying latrhjIr.
/ should have acquieSccd IN the Idea.
l was SO eager to encourage her con-
filepce in me.
So. unmarked 10y special ev,st. thac
passed on until | mad been a year IN
Madam's service. \ closer Iowa aEd
sympathy had grown Up hrtwJ'n u,'
than exists oftcntimps between m1the:
and daughteE | knew that Madam
trusted me and that she had coEi!dcnCe =
I'm my discretion. yet | was as iGnuraat
of the history of her life, Of the tragedy
that had devastated The lvics, aS |
was upon the day | first became n
member of its limited household.
one fact, and QUO only. connected
with Madam's relations 10 life outside
her own home, had gained; that was
the fact of the presence somewhere
In the world Of son who had cXpatr.-
atcd himself for some cause unknown
TO me. She had herself mentioned him
TO me. else | should have known moth
Ing of him. for ber servants We're too