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

cOrding to her direction. her hand rest
ing on my arm. We were nearly OF
equal height, which made it specially
easy for me to become her guide
She left me after while, having ns-
sured herself that things had been made
comfortable for my reception. And, in.
deed, far more captiOus person than
], and one used to far greater luxury.
could scarcely have found anything to
complain of in the small suite of rooms
chamber, sitting-room and bath
shat had been recently appointed, in
view of the fact that Madam was
about to receive into her house a new
inmate.
l made a cursory inspection of nv
apartments, disposed my belongings
For the night. after refreshing N.Y.
f.self with the dainty supper which Mad
Am insisted / should take in nv own
yroom, being firmly of the opinion that
q was too fatigued to dine below stairs.
went to the window and stood for
some time gazing in dreamy abstrac-
rtion out into the night.
a small crescent of light hung low
in the heavens. and shed the tenderest
of possible Nominations over the
world. The night was SO still that an
almost unearthly hush seemed to have
fallen from it's wings. On the left.
uuIaInOI01DlR
fance, was the avenue which had been
my way hither, and far below on the
right, dimly and partially discernible
through the sombre branches of the
grim and forbidding poplars, cleaned
forth that cold and spectral mass OF
masonry that formed the house which
: had attracted my notice as / approach
ed The Ivies.
Almost beneath me It lay, FOR was
IN a wing of the house In close prox-
Unity to the cliff that overhung It. It's
utter gloom (there were no lights about
~ and air of ghostly mystery struck
~cold and chill upon my fancy. 1 felt
ct to be a house with a history, and
fell a-wondering what that history
might be; whether should ever learn
It, whether 1t had connection with the
tragedy which seemed to stalk nakedly
and yet closely masked about the house
an which had elected to take up nv
abode. Would the time come when ths
secrets of Madams life would be mat
tiers OF familiar detail to me? would
my courage and the support of that in
ner monitor on which l SO largely de-
pended be sufficient to counteract the
loneliness and depression Of my sur
-roundinys?
tSrave and possessed of enthusiasm
Tor my mistress though I was. indie
pendent OF the diversions of youth as
had professed myself, could not
close my eyes to the fact that 1 had
never before been tested by such ex-
IRENE conditions as these, and 1 won
dered II, after the novelty of the situa-
ZION had worn off, 1 should be able 20
Ind enough matter OF interest in the
place to hold at ay natural and by
no means exaggerated yearning for oc-
~cupation and diversion
! fell asleep still revolving in my
mind the possibilities in the case.
The next morning was as different
from the afternoon that preceded it as
1t is possible for two days at the same
season Of the year to be. Whereas
the evening had been cold, bleak and
~dreary, suggestive of the desolation
and abomination of winter, the dawn
was balmy, mild and pleasant indica-
tive of spring and all things vernal
land joyous.
1 made hasty toilet with my wind
Sow thrown wide open to the pure coun-
try air, which was deliciously invigor-
ating to my city-bred lungs. Then I
went out into the long corridor on
which my rooms opened, and which
led TO the large upper hall which l
have already described. Having gain
Il
miring its carven beauties. and gazing
down into the hall beneath, feasting
my eyes upon the harmonious picture
OF still-life the splendid apartment pre-
scented.
My occupation Of it the previous
afternoon had been too brief and the
light too insufficient for me to discover
half its beauties; but now they stool
In the brilliant morning sunshine fully
revealed to my admiring eyes. ES-
pecially did the sunlight bring into
prominence a stained-glass window of
enormous proportions, which made Il
glowing bit of mural decoration of tha
further end of the hall. 1t had for sub
Ject Christ and the repentant Mag
'dalen, and was masterpiece of design
and effective coloring. About the walls
ran low bookcases of dark mahogany,
filled to overlooking with books in
costly bindings, suggesting the thought
that formerly one of the uses of the
5place had been that of a library The
shelves which topped these cases were
covered with beautiful vases, curios,
ornaments of modern and ANTIQUE de-
asign; and above these pictures lined the
spaces, extending way up the vast
stretches Of the walls until they mingl-
led with the gallery above
While | stood thus, enjoying to the
full its rare feast of delight 1 heard
n weak uncertain footstep behind me.
1t never crossed my mind that it could
be Madam. Despite her blindness
there was no faltering or indecision IN
any of her movements. 1 turned
therefore, expecting TO confront some
servant, and SUCH indeed, proved tc
SOe the case. But the servant was of a
type far different from any l had ever
been acquainted with.
The woman who had approached me
so silently that until she stood within
arms length l had been unaware OF
her presence was of so strange and
singular an appearance that invOlun.
tarily shrank from nearer association
with recoR of my person of which
\ was at once ashamed. She was d
- creature so inbarpOnio1S of asDact m