Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-11
/ THE SECRET.
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"But how is it that you know more
than the rest Of the world?'
II was there when it happened" Miss
Artois quietly replied, "but to this day
they have not the slightest suspicion that
Miss Artois is an acquaintance"
Belle Hampton opened her eyes wide.
What on earth do you mean,
Blanche?" she exclaimed.
"Only that l was there as parlor-
maid" Miss Artois coolly responded, her
naughty eye sweeping the magnificent
width of the handsome conservatory
through which they were sauntering.
"As parlormaid!" echoed Belle, upset.
ting rare exotic as she hastily turned
to look at her companion. "a parlor-
maid.. What would mamma say
AT this little ripple of laughter part-
ed Miss Artois' handsomely curved lips.
But the next moment she said gravely:
''You need not tell her. | am in the
confessional to you alone, remember"
And then she continued abruptly:
when the world said was rusticata
ing among the Yorkshire hills / was
playing parlormaid at Red Moor.
f
"The three old ladies of Red Moor re-
minded me more of three little sprites
than aught else. When properly dis
guised, aproned and capped, was pre-
sented for their approval. But, fortn-
nately for me, their keen, bright eyes
rested fayorably upon me, and with my
good star in the ascendant entered
upon the somewhat promiscuous duties
assigned me.
II had not been in the house three
weeks before discovered that it con-
cealed a mystery.
The discovery was made by me In
this way: One night, after restlessly
tossing for hours with an aching face,
rose, intending to go down to the library
fire.
Il softly crossed the upper hall, always
kept dimly lighted, and was about pro-
ceeding downward when the weird sight
of old Mrs. Vasser, the eldest Of my
three mistresses, suddenly arrested me.
"1nstinctively paused and gazed. She
was standing with her back toward mo
in dark, narrow angle of the building
at the extreme end of the hall, her splen.
did waves of snowy hair foating IN wild
disorder over the blood red dressing
gown sweeping far behind her. But the
spell binding me was broken by what ap-
peared to be her sudden disappearance
through the solid wall.
"'Strange! l exclaimed under my
breath. The servants told me that part
Of Red Moor was fearfully haunted and
consequently had been walled up and
rendered wholly inaccessible
''Of course was curious, but re.
turned to my bed and fell asleep.
IA month later was passing along
one of the many narrow, winding corr
ridors with which the house; a bounded,
when at sudden turning came upon
the old, gray headed butler bending un-
der the weight Of large tray filled to
overlooking with all the ldxuries of tho
season.
"'Jasper! individually exclaimed,
where in the world aregyod taking that
repast? Everybody in the house has
been served. It,o.. oplssa spe sfooi
Silent and motionless he stood gazing
at me in blank dismay. The next in-
slant there was a soft rustic of silk, and
the old housekeeper's voice rang sharp
and stern from the other end Of the cor.
ridor:
Jasper, attend to your business
Myra, come here!' adding still moro
sternly as obediently approached, and
do you attend to yours. girl. What
brings you here at this hour"
She listened to my excuses and then
sharply dismissed me.
Two days after, as Bradley and I
slipped our tea together, we were startled
to our feet by the sudden clanking Of
heavy chains in the adjoining room, and
the next instant the door flew violently
open, and an old man of herculean pro-
portions dashed in upon us, his trailing
chain, wild, bloodshot eyes and disor-
dered apparel proclaiming too plainly tho
frightful truth.
Not here, either! he shrieked.
stamping his foot In foaming rage as
his glance rested upon us. Not here!
Not herev
Bradley, apparently paralyzed with
horror, looked appealingly at me and
said:
"'Your mistresses! Save them! Run!
Il got to the drawing room door when
the creature seized me BY the shoulders
and sent me whirling to the floor. l was
or my feet again in an instant but his
wild eye had caught sight Of poor Mrs.
Vasser, who, with her sisters. had start
ed up and stood gazing at him In petri-
fed horror. The next instant he caught
her, with fierce shout Of triumph and
delight, in his arms.
Swift as lightning, he bore her out to
the great winding staircase. You know
the rest. In seconds time she lay dead
below, and he. in leaning over the balus-
trade to gloat over his fearful work,
lost his balance, and before the hurry
ing servants could reach their poor
mistress he lay with broken neck upon
the stairs.
He was Albert vasser. her husband.
but pride kept, and still keeps, the Red
Moor secret well. To this day the world
thinks the maniac was wanderer from
some asylum" Exchange.
When Children Went to War.