Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-12

L soon discovered that she was exceed
ingly jealous OF any attempts TO roh
her of the performance of her duties In
this capacity.
Ny duties proved to be thoroughly
congenial and in no degree onerous.
Madam fulfilled my most extravagant
anticipations, and charmed and fas-
cinated me by her many gifts and rare
intellectually. The most cultured
minds might have found her a con
genial companion; to a young. ardent
impressionable girl, such as then was.
she appeared almost divinely endowed
and accomplished. She never. after
that first mention of it, made allusion
TO her blindness, but 1 felt sure it must
have been of recent date, for she had
made no attempt to train her other
senses to the assistance of this defect.
as would naturally have been the case
IL the affection had been of very long
standing.
At the end OF the first week she
questioned me as to my willingness to
remain, and the fervor OF my response
Bet that matter for ever at rest between
US. From day to day I could see that
she grew dependent upon me, and this
fiattered me and increased my enthu-
siasm for my work. Work. It was
scarcely that, the service which was
required of me. It was employment, It
is true, but the sort of employment
that was dearest to my soul, and which
was amusement as well as occupation
to one of my tastes.
Old Franklin and Mayberry, CRATE
full to me for the benefit which they in
sisted 1 was doing their beloved mis-
tress q think 1 was the only being who
no mo In ROnfon with MADAM, Of
the bousekeeper was never JEALOUSY,
studied my comfort to a degree that
led me to demonstrate with them
Under their united efforts my rooms
always attractive and amply supplied
attained such luxurious equipment that
1 felt constrained to speak of it to
| Madam, fearing that should she ever
discover the numerous additions my
| apartment was continually receiving
she might think me guilty of soliciting
them. However, L had scarcely opened
the subject than she laid her hand
| lightly on my lips.
MY little Dorothy" she said, ION
one matter Mayberry, Franklin and I
are In perfect accord. We all agree IN
thinking that nothing in this great
house can be put to better use than
in helping to detain and attract the
sunbeam that has strayed through the
closed shutters OF our lives. Let them
have their way, my Child. 1t is great
pleasure to these old people. Do not
| deprive them of It."
| The retirement of our existence was
| weiknigh complete. Madam received
absolutely no one, even the clergyman
OF Eldon parish having abandoned all
attempts to penetrate within the walls
of the secluded dwelling. Yet, al
though priestly counsel was not &C
ceptable to her, Madam was not I'M
mindful of the necessities and priva-
lions OF the poor, and every month n
generous check was despatched by me
In her name to Mr.. Booth, the rector,
to be disbursed as he saw fit.
Before long / suggested an amend
| ment to this custom, which, rs she was
constantly urging upon me the neces-
sity of exercise in the open air, Madam
! gladly adopted. 1t was to the effect
that, instead OF continuing this method
of general relief, she should allow me
to become her almoner among the poor.
1t would give aim and object TO my
walks, and 1 felt that by its means
could bring outside interest into Mad
ans life.
| hdh bGCu Win three
| months when one day, in the middle
OF May, / rose in the morning with 4
tight iron band about my head. The
weather for week had been an al
most incessant downpour, so wet that
only an amphibious creature could
have found it inviting. Madam and
had been deeply interested in n new
German work which / had been read
Ing aloud, and either application to its
dazzling text, or too close confinement
TO the house, or. perhaps a combination
OF both causes, had resulted in this
acute physical depression. Feeling 4
longing for fresh air, and believing
that a brisk walk would be nv best
medicine, l obtained Madam's consent
to postpone my usual morning duties
until later in the day, and started out
on an errand that would carry me
well into the village, distance OF per-
haps four miles.
Although I was a stranger to its
people, for 1 had only recently begun
to administer Madam's bounty among
the poor, was by this time fairly fam
iliar with the little hamlet. had cali
ed upon Mr.. Booth to acquaint him
| personally with the change Madam
| proposed making, and had found him
4 DASdSCu W MclCOIle dlt
assistant in his parish work He was
an agreeable man, earnest, sincere,
but extremely modest and retiring; a
bachelor, living alone, with n maid-of-
all-work to minister to his needs. Save
the few poor people whom 1 visited,
he was the sole acquaintance l had
made in the place.
| l had done my Grand not without
some physical discomfort, for the liv-
ing-room of the cottage in which had
been received was close from the
fumes of tobacco and strong vegetables
and Over-heated by fire burning in
the range, and was returning through
the village street, when ] felt myself
overcome by a distressing dizziness.
1t came upon me suddenly, but not be-
fore i had found strength enough to
push open Il little gate close by me,
and Stagger up the narrow path which
led to the doorstep of a quaint little
house which L had frequently noted
| in my walks.
1 remember seeing a lady sewing in