New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-14


Stone 5fF5upe and her moths5s tragic death THIS
She is bogrb IS iei 10 hsr Shs 'I bs ffSs %
leaving her so poor that she is Obliged 10 sell the
announce that cousin, Mrs. spuyteu. obtained
wealthy family. Thorpe's uncle Mr. Beverley. buys
to MFs aqe Athena pays her debts Sns goes
and she gladly leaves for Ighgrove Hall the 6oms
Tns[s she Is to be employed Mrs spuyten by
of name her own. Augusta Dean.
vi.
The little entry had been very dark. as was
the great hall. in spite of its huge window. for
the June day itself was sombre. The dull mist
which hung over woodland and river had stolen
into the house. filing it with dark shadows.
But the room 1 entered was so brilliant in it's
pink radiance that for moment my eyes were
dazzled and could hardly see. In every nook
and corner lamps and candles were burning
brightly. each provided with a pink shade
Like the great hail. the walls were lined with
mirrors in broad gold frames; beneath these
again were ranged divans, covered with pale
pink silk and heaped with cushions The ceiling
was gayly painted with garlands of roses, over
which lowered myriads of bright winged butter
flies and birds Of dazzling plumage. The win
dows were curtained with pink silk under white
lace; the bed. of highly polished rosewood wore
a counterpart TO match
IN lace cap and dressing gown a-futter with
pink ribbons, sat little old Iadv taking her
midday meal; pretty old lady-although her
head was too large, her cheekbones too high
and her features irregular-with clear, olive
skin' large brown eyes as bright as diamonds
and cheeks as pink as her room.
On table by the bed was the lunch tray. and
bending over it, her back toward me. the old
lady's maid gay figure IN pink cambria frock
and snowy cap and apron. When I entered
she had just given her mistress a chicken
plnlon. Nine Erranti, holding it in her fingers,
was gnawing it with luxurious enjoyment. when
she heard me announced. She stopped eating.
to look, but directly her eyes fell on me she shut
them tight, like a child who sees something
frightful. and cried out in French:
She is like the day! All black! All black!
I won't look at her! Send her away.''
She turned her head from me- warding off
my approach with the half picked pinion At
this the maid rose from her stopping posture to
see the cause of the commotion, but no sooner
had she glanced at me than growing very pale
she exclaimed:
Mon Dieu! Mile. Derohan!"
was no less astonished to find in Mrs. Err
ranti's attendant Julie. my mothers maid.
YOU Julie! 1 cried in my turn. I'm America
and Cray?"
as all the rest, for money!"
We had forgotten the autocrat in the bed
she recalled us to a sense of our proper posi-
tions by saying sharply:
Take off her bonnet. Julie. Cover her black
robe with my white shawl. So-now I will look
at her. Dieu! Quelle est belief"
After staring for some moments. she added
Il would see her hair. Take it down, Julie"
Julie obeyed, silently. swiftly. She was per-
feet maid.
1 sat quite still. submissive. uncomfortable
The room was warm. the silken shawl was
warm my hair, hanging over the shawl, was
more than warm; it was suffocatIng.
But Nine. Erranu was pleased.
Magnificent" she cried. in sudden excite
ment 1T is gold! Pure gold! 1t is like rays
of sunshine! No red detest red-pure golden
sunshine!" In English-she had spoken in
French-she now quoted the line:
A little sunshine in shady place. You
know that nest-ce pas? But yes. of course.
for you are not common persOn-like Julie
here-no. no. no! You lady. an aristocrat
une grande dame-comme mol"
She leaned back among her pillows. dropping
the chicken bone on plate on her bed tray.
Yes, yes, I, too, lady. Julie. wash my
hands"
Julie as impassive as I remember her always
see that she had altered in any way-the same
handsome, hard featured Julie of six years ago.
Yes. yes, I am a LADY, Nine. Erranti went on,
holding out her dripping fingers to Julie. who
dried them carefully; "a lady, true lady-so
I never ask rude. tresome, disobIiging ques-
lions; but 1 my eyes; yes. yes. and my
ears too" She screwed up her eyes, looking
cunningly at me. 1 know you have changed
your name! Philip. said Miss Dean was COM
ing, but-Julie called you something else, de
something-what it? Julie knows you,
Philip does not. De-something-de-de
Glad to be found out, told her of Mrs. Spuy-
tens wish, and why she wished it. and the rea-
son Julie knew me. In spite of her remark TO
the contrary, she asked very many questions
then nodded her head gravely and approvingy
several times.
Your cousin is quite right" she said. so
Philip and the servants shall know you Miss
Dean Augusta! What a name! Gussiel 1
detest it, For a girl of thy remarkable grace
and beauty-ah Mon Dieu. Horrible! Julie
may call thee madernoseIle; it is sufficient but
II shall call thee Athena for we are Of the
same class, two, and can understand each
other. l have been lonely-yes. very lonely!
solitary old woman-all, all. alone,'
Her eyes began to glitter strangely. She beck
oned me to come nearer
Come cIose-closer still Let me touch thy
pretty hair"
AS 1 obeyed, leaning over the bed. she drew
long lock caressngly through her fingers. and
saw that they were badly swollen and twisted
by rheumatism.
Pure gold" she said, pure gold. So pale. yet
sbimmerine like sunshine Then, lowering her