Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-06-09
BELLOWS

wreCCneu IdcC winch rrauspIr,n,,
through the revelations of the night,
had stabbed my heart with most poiy-
nant anguish-the fact that. underly-
ing every other circumstance of this
unreveSled tragedy, doomed most dis.
tant and dreadful before me-the fact
that Darracott Chester had a living
wife-in justice to myself let me say
that / resolutely refused to heed my
own despair, and stified the insistant
consideration that sought to dominate
my mind by occupying all my ener-
& es with preparations for the recep-
ton of the woman who was about 70
return to the roof she had disgraced.
Franklin and 1 had scarcely time TO
carry out Madam's directions before
we heard the wheels of the returning
carriage crunching the gravel. 1 felt
/ that mine might be an embarrassing
presence to the mother and husband
of the unfortunate girl, and, therefore.
withdrew from the hastily-prepared
suite set apart for her use, and betook
myself to task more in harmony
with my feelings and less repugnant
! to that sick undercurrent of protest
that was pulsing through my being.
Since the masters return had never
been In the pretty morning-room in
| which Madam and had been wont
| formerly to take our meals. Franklin
| had Informed me that in oiden times
It had beep dedicated to My. Cbcster's
use, and that he would again occupy
| Ii as sort of den or sanctum / knew
that the greater portion of his time was
| spent there, and that il was his habit
TO finger in it long after the rest of the
household had retired. Tonight l re-
solved to take n liberty
thinking that II would be some time
before he would have finished seeing
after the proper establishment of his
! wife, and expecting also that he would
be somewhat detained in Madam's
room when he should go to say his
customary goodnight TO her, 1 dared
TO take advantage of the interval for
the purpose OF invading the den, in
| order to see that the fire was burning
cheerfully, and TO lay tray-cloth up
| on his centre-table, whereon il was my
intention to prepare a modes: repast.
Say what you will, you sentimental
lists, there is nothing that inspires new
nope in discouraged soul, that re-
| animates a dropping spirit, like the
vision OF a bright wood-fire and the
sight of good cheer.
AS / live, although / hoped and
meant TO waylay the master i'm the
hall before he should enter the room.
and solaee that miserable heart-Sick-
ness that 1 knew would conquer my
attempts to subdue it. by extracting
brief word or two from his weary
lips, had NO desire. nor did intend.
TO allow him 20 find me in possession
or this apartment, which was so pe-
culiariy his own. i make This state
ment that no charge OF unmaidenliness
or boldness may be brought against
me as | narrate the events which tran
spired.
| L was as quick in the performance
of my self-imposed duties as l could
be, bat all things seemed TO conspire
against me. In the first place. the fire
had burnt almost out, and l was oblig-
| ed to fan il with the bellows most Wig
orously and persistently before / could
I produce the effect which l desired
1t must be a brilliant, joyous flame to
enllven and inspire; n sulky, unwilling
fire Is worse than none. Then was a
stranger to the buffers pantry and
| store-room, and some minutes Were
wasted in the search for the various
articles i required. / have great faith
| In the virtue of a hot drink, and l
knew enough OF masculine nature 20
| feel convinced that neither tea nor
| coffee would so comfort il as would n
was the solace of my brother-in-law's
fits of depression, and l bethought me
to afford the object of my present
/ ministrationS the opportunity of an
! plying the same balm to his spirits.
L had no difficulty in discovering q
| case-hottle of whiskey lemons ana
sugar, but alcohol with which to iu-
flame the spirit lamp I found in the
pantry was nowhere forthcoming. In
vain / searched all Frankiin's pre-
| serves, growing nervous and cross as
felt the precious time wearing itself
| away. At last i dared delay no long
! er, and a sudden inspiration came 10
me, which L FASTENED to carry into
| effect.
| | returned to the dining-room and,
| possessing myself of the poker, knelt
| down upon the hearth and drew for
ward a little bed of glowing bits of
charcoal / had FLIED the small s:uice-
pan belonging TO the useless lamp with
water. and / now proceeded to heat
this by holding il over the hot embcrS.
/ With my eyes roaming alternately from
my task to the door, and ears stretched
TO their utmost to detect the sound Of
approaching footsteps for l felt that
I could hear such traversing the floor
! OF the echCing han in time TO escaDa
! from the room before 'they should
cnter). | knelt at my task, urging thu
/ water 60 boil with ali the impetuosity
of a wOnan's Impatient soul IL long
! ing had had eject upon my purpose.
the steam would have risen as the pan
touched the Goals But alas il is the
watched kettle that does not, boil. and
so this occasion proved. As for the
hundreth time l lifted the cover from
the little vessel and peered anxiOusly
within, TO try 70 discover some indi-
cations of the desil2 SETTLING OF the
water 1 heard a muffled sound, and
there came upon me that ineXplicable
consciousness OF another presence in
the room, not yet discovered.
My eyes sped 20 the door, Vacancy
there. / half rose, nervously spilling
some of the water from the pan upon
my hand as j did so. The water was
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