The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-25
Mrs. MackonzIsAI Always Supposed
Employer Was a Man.
NEVER THOUGHT HER A WOMAN
Exceedingly kIat 70 Mrs. Hall and Adopted
Daughter, but OBJECTED When Doctor
Wanted 10 Feel Pulse

Why, OF course, knew him. used to
work for him some eight years ago, be-
fore was too old. ] worked for him for
over three years.
'Dead-when did he die? Well, that
makes Just one more out of the world
eh? what did you say--a woman-eo on
4 don't believe it' Why. didn't l work
there and live right with the family long
enough 10 know whether he was a woman
or not2"
old Mrs Mackenzie a servant In MIR. =
Halls household, IL now half deaf, half
blind, but in firm possession OF her mem
tai faculties.
She sits In q room in German insti-
tute In New Jersey and thinks OF days
gone by.
why. yes" she said. 'T'n tell YOU
about him. In the first place he WAS very
cranky about the house: he was not neat,
but wanted everything left where he put
a.; IL he came home and put his hat In
the middle OF the floor, why, there IL was
10 stay until he took it up.
FOND OF CATS.
Now that you tell me that he was a
H.,
some things that thought strange. lie
was very fond OF cats. lie had "A room
especially for them, and these cats were
not To- I've hurt II they upset tho whole
household.
"A often used to look at him and won
der III he had not "A secret concealed be-
hind his calm manners. His face was
deeply wrinkled and his skin particular
ly smooth: his hair was fine and wavy.
H.. lx. - el.. faI1 n.
point
II remember his hands perfectly; they
were long and slender. white and deli
cate, buNas strong as giants. His
fingers we're taperine, and. altogether
they were the hands OF woman. He
rarely wore rings. When he did they
were delicate and pretty, the kind "A
'oman might fancy.
THE rooms In the house were arranged
in a peculiar way. too. Miss Halls room
adioined 10 that OF her mother, and MIR.
Halls room was on the other side OF Mrs.
Halls; separated from Il by asmall dress
ing room.
TOOK LONG TO DRESS.
'He used to spen' much time i'm that
little dressing room every morning. II
took him longer TO dress, IL seemed To
me- than IL would any young girl One
jumped az though haa shot him, and,
drawing the curtain, said. I'm most
dreadful voice: What do you want.
Mary? What do you mean
We'll, | was just so frightened that l
didn't stop 10 say that l had come to
tell him breakfast was ready, but hur-
riod on
His feet were particularly small. and
his shoes were always made to order.
hat - al fpa
were, perhaps, a trifie smaller. He gem
orally had them padded a bit to make
them look larger.
WRITING WAS MASCULINE.
"His writing was in the hand of a man.
but that IS easy enough with a little prac-
tice.
when he was III he was always
wretchedly cross. no one ever went near
him except TO take I'm his meals. and
the he never let them stay while he ate
He hardly ever saw a doctor When he
did he never let the doctor touch him.
once a doctor felt his pulse l thought
Hall would nave a fit he turned as
white as a sheet. and then his face flush
ed. lie was exceedingly nervous for "a
time, and then o high fever came on. lie
called his daughter to him and said:
Never let a doctor touch me again--i
cant stand it-i know 1 will die. Let
him look at me. LEI him prescribe. but
you must feel my pulse, not he
FOND OF PRETTY THINGS.
'He was a great admirer of pretty
things He liked women's hats, he liked
their gowns, and used to take delight I'm
going with his daughter and wife to look
at them.
"Iie was always gentle with Minnie.
He seemed TO think a great deal of her.
When he was In one of his moods and
would speak TO no one else he would call
her little pet names and would talk af-
fectionately TO her.
NEVER SAW HALL SHAVE.
"I never saw him shave He did not
have a beard. and what now seems
strange 10 me we none OF US. ever no.
ticed that We knew him as Mr.. Hail.
lie was Mr.. Hall TO us, and we never had
reason TO think he was any one else.
AT times his face was particularly
sad. then he was more gentle with his
wife and daughter than ever. He would
bring home candies, little knickknacks.
something that happened TO take his fam
cy as he was passing shop In the street.
and he would say with a tone half play
ful. half earnest. Most women like those.
don't them? All! / thought So and then
he would enjoy them as much az the two
women.
THAT H. all I remember. III you want
20 know what j think, believe there was
a mystery i'm Halls life. some sorrow he
sought TO blot out by concealing his iden-
tity and by seeing his real self dead
and buried in mems minds"