Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25
- Her
BY DOROTHY RICHARDSON

subject at issue, and in which you are doubt
less as much interested AZ l am"
The widow looked uneasily about the beau
tiful drawingroom. Her dark eyes wandered
from floor to ceiling and all over the richly orna-
mented walls, resting at last upon the portrait
of handsome man hanging directly above the
shiny grand piano
"You remember the qualifications" she asked
suddenly. "Of course you do. I see for myself
that you are Just the woman / am looking for
so far as personality Is concerned. And your
hair is beautiful, just the kind my poor, dear
husband was so crazy about" The lady sighed.
"You are fond Of music and cardsP
"0h. yes, indeed" answered the applicant.
"And perhaps play little yourself on the
piano?"
Eyes, quite little, Mrs. Townsend"
"And are not at all superstitious"
"Not in the least"
"You would not be afraid to stay alone in
house which was said to be haunted?"
"No. indeed, should rather enjoy it,"
"But il you should see things, or hear things,
what then? Are you sure you wouldn't become
frightened" ?" whispered the woman eagerly.
"No, Mrs. Townsend it wouldn't affect me in
the least"
With eyes now burning like two live GOALS and
faint color mounting into her thin cheeks, the
catechiser put forth an icy.cold hand and laid it
upon Kate's warm plump one. IF you mean
that my dear" she whispered, IF you mean that,
VIII give you Two nunuTeu QoudTS uohVu IL
you will take the position. Will you take ity"
"Well. that depends upon what you want me
to do. You have not told me that yet" the girl
answered.
"No, I have not" said Mrs. Townsend slow.
", "but I will now speak plainly. want
housekeeper for these apartments | want Just
such young lady as yourself, one who will make
a comfortable home and be cheerful pleasant
companion for-for-for my husband"
"Your husband!' the girl almost screamed.
"But you said you were not superstitious"
There was a deep note of disappointment, almost
anguish, in the widows voice.
'Nor am I superstitious But I'm surprised,
for thought your husband was dead
The woman bowed her head, and locked the
thin fingers of the delicate hands lying in her lap
"Ah, I see," the girl murmured gently. Par
don me. Mrs. Townsend. / understand now. L
remember the accounts in the newspapers very
well. It was never definitely proved that he was
dead, if I remember aright.' Mrs. townsend
was still silent, her head bowed low on her heav-
ing breast.
8You need not hesitate to tell me anything,
Mrs. Townsend am not afraid. Your secret
is safe with me-" Kate ventured Isis Mr.
Townsend insane?"
Mrs. Townsend raised her head quickly, almost
resentfully, at the word insane, only to lapse
into her habitual sadness. mo, Miss hamp,
she replied at last, "my husband is dead. He
''hs spirit still roams on earth"
"Oh!' exclaimed the girl.
"And he refuses to give up this house, and so,
YOU see it is my duty to make him as comfortable
as possible"
"Of course" purred Kate mechanically, as if it
were quite common impulse to wish to make
dead husbands comfortable.
eyes" continued his widow, evidently relieved
now that the uncanny confession had been made
at last-"yes, Miss Kamp, I feel as though I
must spare no expense to give Mr.. Townsend's
spiritual body every material comfort He has
the best wines and liquors and cigars that money
can buy, all his favorite old brands, and l am
Just as particular about his steaks and chops as
/ formerly was, more so, IN fact than when he
was in the flesh"
Kate listened with wide-open eyes.
'It is great sorrow to me, however," she
went on, chat Mr. Townsend insists upon re-
tanning these cramped quarters. Of course, they
did well enough for us then, but they are not
adapted to my social needs now Mr.. Townsend
is very fond of the place, however and refuses
to leave it. have suggested his moving to the
hotel, but he will not hear of it. He hates
hotel life and always did abhor society" Mrs.
Townsend's manner grew more confident her face
assumed a more cheerful expression, as she noted
the intelligence and sympathy with which the
girl listened to her disclosures.
Eyes, my dear Miss Kamp, it is not only a
body every comfort which his carnal body form
erly demanded, but it is a duty. My dear hus-
band left me very rich widow, as you no doubt
know"
Kate bowed
'I understand" she murmured.
"You will find very little, if anything, to do,
except to make up the beds in the morning. as
place is small only seven rooms and bath, and
SO l think by having charwoman come in twice
a week to sweep and dust You ought to get along
very nicely. wouldn't mind your having maid,
or two of them, for that matter, only on Mr..
Townsend's account"
Her listener smiled family. "Oh. no; that is
not the reason, my dear Miss Kamp, assure
YOU. It is because women servants always irri-
tate my husband He used to threaten to dis
pense with them entirely and employ only men
Chinese or Japanese.
"Mr. Townsend will probably be home a great
deal more now, however, than he was during his
life with me-" continued the Widow "He is near.
ing his forty-third year now, and though he oc-
casionaly spends night at his club, he is really
becoming quite settled and enjoys nothing more
than his dressing-gown and slippers, good cigar
and book He is very fond of books Just
come and look at his library" She rolled back
the sliding doors of rich, carved Flemish oak
which formed one entire end of the long drawing
room.
"How beautiful" the girl cried in honest ad
miration, as they stepped into the rich, sombre
tinted, boohlined room.
you will remember, Miss Kamp, always to
light this fire in the evening about FIVE o'clock
Mr.. Townsend likes to find it CHEEKY when h,
gets home to dinner-that is, when he come,
home for dinner"
They passed out of the library into a long DARK
hall, in the shadows of which Mrs. Townsend'i
tall, black-robed figure was lost as she led the
way to the bedrooms
"You will find the whole house very sunny anc
well ventilated, Miss Kamp," she said, as they
stepped into fairy chamber done in pale blu,