The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-31
The Wrong Woman.
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BY Winifred Graham.
Am quite a young girl, and q lady
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Am doiCe d young Siil, anu d iauy-
l librarian by profession.
While travelling to various III
try houses, l have met with many
strange adventures, though indexing
musty old libraries sounds dry as
dust to the casual ear.
Being one of a large family. I
revel in the relaxation of work, by
which l escape 1.-The trivial round, the
common task" though often 1 pine
for riches, ease. and chiffon.
One bright sunny morning I met
an old friend of my father's-Mr.
Jessop-who often recommends me
to book-collecting friends.
"My dear" he said, 1--WE a little job
for you, if you like to take it on"
My eyes %glistened, for at the mo-
ment / was "out of work"
II have mentioned you to a delight
full old lady," he continued, living
in a beautiful country house. She
is anxious to have her splendid IL
brary catalogued by a professional.
1 warn you she is eccentric, but in a
very nice way-so good and kind to
everybody, and especially fond of
girls"
1 thanked him heartily, declaring I
loved eccentric people.
"Then l will ask her to write to
you," he said.
Sure enough, a few days later 1 re-
ceived a request to visit Stanley
House. But the letter brought witt.
it a sense of disappointment, for Mrs.
S%hepperton informed me she was go
ing for a short tour abroad, SO I
could not see her.
81 have a very nice h~ousekeeper,"
she wrote, who will look after your
comfort. 1 hope you will make your
self quite at home. The carriage
shall meet you at the station"
On my arrival l was greeted with
a ~pleasurable surprise. A lady in
purple velvet, with a beautiful lace
mantilla swathing her white hair,
came across the hall to greet me.
She had quaint side curls, and a be-
nign expression. One OF two ex-
quisite jewels glittered in her laces.
my DEAR" she said, drawing me
to the fire, 81 never expected to have
the pleasure of seeing you, but 1
have had great trouble with my SER
wants the last day or two. My house
keeper, upon whom l absolutely rely,
has been called away to the bedside
of a dying friend; and, owing to an
unfortunate disagreement amongst
the domestics, 1 find myself very
shorthanded. / have therefore put
off my visit until tomorrow, when
my housekeeper returns. I felt it
was not quite safe to leave this es-
Establishment with no one to keep
order"
/, / tried to be very sympathetic, for
the old lady attracted me.
She looked al me very a~dmiringly,
now and again dropping a compli-
ment that sent the blood tingling to
my cheeks.
She told me I talked well, declar-
ing it was a pity I had not seer more
of the world. I said that 1 was
of a large family, and therefore I'M
able to travel. She drew from me
involuntarily many of my hopes and
aspirations.
"We will have our coffee" she said,
Gin the Venetian chamber. You are
sure to lose your way at first in this
house, it is so queerly built. There
are strange passages in the walls,
which would lend themselves very
conveniently to burglars. They are
well supplied with small doors in
the panels of the rooms. See," she
said, drawing a curtain aside as we
entered the Venetian chamber, "here
is a little door you would hardly OBJ
serve, even were the curtain absent.
The passage behind runs the whole
length of the house. 1t is dark and
dusty, and 1 should not advise you
to venture on a voyage of discovery"
ut certainly looks very ghostly,"
T said, as we sat on q low sofa, COM
fortably slipping u coffee.
The old lady's eyes rested upon me
benignly.