The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-05
CHAPTER 1.

earth our house would be if it WASH
for the menfolkr'
Sarah was drawing the curtains in her
mistress bedroom. She had paused, one
curtain in hand, to enunciate this senu-
ment. and the deep sigh that accom2a
MED it seemed to leave her GREATNESS for
the moment. The pause was broken by
a little laugh from Miss Rose. Sarah
finished drawing the curtain with jerk
of remonstrance.
Il don't think it's anything to laugh
at. Miss Rose she said severely. more
especially knowing well, as l know, that
you feel the same about the men as l
do
There you are perfectly right Sarah
responded Miss Rose, raising herself on
her pillow, and brushing her hair back
from her eyes with a sleepy gesture. Il
think my own sex worth the other twice
over | do not like men, Sc trans
lated. as she became awake enough TO
see that her words missed fire. But
you've known that for years, Sarah, ana
! don't quite see why you wake me TINS
morning by stating what we both feel so
strongly
a haven't had a wink of slep this
night ror thinking on EN- in this house
Burglars, did YOU think YOU hear0 9
fnocired Hiss Rose auXiously.
''BurgIars-nO! I'm not one 10 nina
a burglar. Miss Rose. I never was tlInld
from a child. Ia go and meet him II
I heard him. that's all. Besides, bur
Elar, mes there and he's gone as you
may say Burglars don't stay In a lazy
house no longer than they can help NO
It's them two men as you had the let
Ter from last night that's been wearing
me to a thread-paper this last twelve
hours,'
The force Of imagination was strong in
Sarah. No unimaginative soul could
have mentioned a thread-paper in connec-
ton With the robust comfortable looking
figure, rosy cheeks and bright eyes that
she owned. Sarah was aware that she
possessed certain personal attractions
She had been heard to describe herself
as "a personable woman for my years =
that mysterious adjective implying every
thing that a woman of forty mine need
boast
'erhe letter I had by the evening post
about tenants for the house for August!
..That-of course" replied Sarah. She
held at this moment brush IN one mana,
a comb in the other; instead Of placing
them on the dressing table she made d
gesture of both hands to which they add
ed a strange force. The gesture was one
of complete reputation.
"ro Think she went on, "of you, Miss
Rose, letting this house as me and you
have such pride in and kept ourselves IN
Tor SIX Years, TO lNO men. w mn
she repeated, laying the brush down with
a bang Of unutteraDle disdain.
Miss. Rose regarded her handmaiden ser
iOusy.
u hoped" she said, ''as told you last
night, Sarah, that you would think rea-
sonably of it this morning really
think you will if you reflect that it is not
matter that concerns either you or me
so nearly AS"
Not concern me?" said Sarah. "A man
in my kitchen"
She ground under her foot a stray hair
pin as some slight expression Of her feel
ings.
"What I meant to say" continued Miss
Rose, was that you and [ personally
need hardly to come in contact with them
at all. You viii be staying with your
niece, and 1 shall go to Lady Mardon at
Longmeads for August. We never come
back until our tenants are gone"
ITO find the place out O windows?
mOaned Sarah.
well, if that is what most distresses
you you could easily keep an eye on the
kitchen affairs, Sarah You will be close
at hand, you see, with your niece. can
not see that the trouble is SO hopeless, L
must say
IF they coald only a been ladies. like
other years"
Il would far 70 Their have had ladies,
Oul SO0 hl4OW dS wei d. l. w. 0dl Oil,
that I am not justified in refusing a good
tenant. l have not finally DECIDED to let
the house to Capt Sandys, but 1 warn
you that ] think it probable that 1 shall
do so; so it would lie wise of you to con-
slider the bright side Of things a little
more. And now, don't you think it
would be as well to give a look to Dull
cinea's doings with the breakfast, and let
me get Up?'
Sarah crossed the pretty bedroom and
shut the door with foreboding hrmness.
A strong desire to bang it was only
thwarted by the influence of her long
training i'll what she called good SER
vice"
bright side O. things"' she muttered.
as she went downstairs, "a deal O. bright
side there is about this affair Miss Rose
has wonderful eyes if she can see any!
don't and what's more never shall!''
With this hopeful representation she
opened the dor Of the pleasant kitchen.
Dulcinea," she exclaimed in a distinct
ing?'
She threw her voice in the direction Of
the pantry, and an answer came thence
In the shape of the Gathering of cups and
saucers. Having thus satisfied herself as
TO the doin8s of her underling, Sarah
seized an armful of snowy damask and
departed to lay the cloth for breakfast.
1850 'NCoN lCEO1, anu UtI servant,
Sarah Brown, the inhabitants of the Cot
tage, were both decidedly "old maids in
the eyes OF the jewellers in the village of
Southleigh. Miss Trevor was thirty
seven, and though she was still a pretty
woman, with a very charming and gentle
manner. she looked her age" as the
phrase is
Left quite alone in the world at thirty
one, she had settled in the village of
SoIthleigE. where she had discovered a
house exactly to her mind With her
had come as cook and housekeeper. her
old friend and servant of many wears
standing-Sarah Brown. Sarah had beer
hoNsekeeper to Miss Trevor's mother. ana
nothing would have induced her ever te
leave the mistresE she still sometimes
considered as a young and thoughtless
girl II any further link between the two
mad been needed it would have beer
found in the feelings with which thay
both regarded the other sex. Sarah's
feelings for men took their rise in ON
tempt pure and simple To her mer
were simply brainless, announcement ami.
mails with an unlimited capacity n,
making work" And as such she de.
spised and detested them one and or
Miss Roses feelings were at the otha,
end OF the same gamut She was shv and
III at ease with men. She could not nm.