Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-04-25
CHAPTER l.

and at the time of the trag
M edy, which will be reclorded
wi in its proper place, resided
with my wife and only
child, Eunice, at Boscombe
Lodge, Sevenoaks. A brief description
of my abode will suffice. Boscombe
Lodge is an estate of about twelve
acres; the residence is old-fashiOned
and roomy, and the pleasure grounds
around it are charmingly laid out.
Four female servants, gardener and
q coachman did the work Of the house
and grounds. In addition to these
were Samuel Fleetwood and Mile.
Rosalie Lenormand.
It would not be correct to describe
Samuel Fleetwood as servant. He
was altogether superior man, and
was attached to me in a confidential
capacity. Circumstances of peculiar
nature had made me acquainted with
him some years previous to his enter.
ing my house. He was then married,
and had gone through great troubles
and misfOrtunes which had left him
very poor. His wife was in delicate
health, and at more than one critical
juncture Mrs. Pardon and l stepped in
to his aid. A ministering angel indeed
did my wife ever prove herself to be
in such cases as this; her presence in
the sick chamber was balm, her smile
sunshine, her gentle voice breathed
peace. No man could more strongly
appreciate the sympathetic aid we rem.
dered in q time of need than Samuel
depths, and he was profoundly CRATE.
full for it, My wife and l stood by
Mrs. Fleetwoods deathbed, and almost
with her last breath she thanked us
for the kindness we had shown to her
and her husband, and said that the
sacrifice of his life would be but a
slight return.
II speak for him as we'll as for my
self" she said. 'He feels as l do"
1 received with humbleness, as l am
sure my wife did, these eXtravagant
expressions of gratitude, to which.
however, l made no demur, because l
perceived that the utterance of them
afforded the poor woman pleasure. TO
ease her last moment l said that
would continue to be her husbands
friend, and a light of great happiness
shone in her eyes.
"He will be your faithful and devoted
servant" she said, family, "to the hour
of his death"
Faithful and devoted indeed he was,
and l trusted him as 1 would have
trusted brother.
1t is necessary, also, for a proper I'm.
derstanding of my story, that should
say something here of Mile. Lenor.
mand, governess, companion and lady's
maid to my dear daughter Eunice
This unusual minglng of duties was OF
Mile. Rosalie's own arranging. She ell.
tered our service as governess to per.
feet Eunice in modern languages, draw.
ing and painting. l had nothing to do
with the engaging of the lady, and
therefore it was that l did not see her
until she was regularly installed in our
house.
She was a fair lady, with languish.
ing blue eyes, with light hair, and eye.
brows almost golden in color. My
wife, although she confessed she had
not inquired, said that she was about
good judge of a woman's age, espe
cially if that woman be fair, and
took my wife's word for it,
"Isn't she sweet, papa" asked
Eunice.
"Too soon to pronounce" replied.
passing my hand fondly over Eunice's
hair, which was dark like my wifes.
Some few weeks afterward l asked
Eunice how she was getting on with
modern languages.
"Papa," said Eunice, 81 don't think
Mile. Rosalie is very proficient in Ian.
guages."
Indeed, my dear.' said, smiling.
"But she paints Beautifully, papa"
said Eunice. Here are some Of her
sketches"
examined them and was really sur.
prised at their excellence, and more
surprised at the subjects the artist had
chosen. Moreover they bore unmis.
taxable evidence of having been paint.
ed from the life. / mentioned this Incl.
dentally to Eunice, and she immedi.
ately ran away and returned breath.
less.
"Oh, yes, papa" she cried-"from the
life. / asked her, and she said 1t was
the only way to produce good work."
The information deepened my sur.
prise. They were figure subjects; .
duel, tipsy brawl, group of merry
monks, gallants ogling lady, moon
light meeting of lovers, gamblers in .
lowe cafe, and such like. The execu
ton was mastery, but they were
strange themes from the life" for
young lady.
Saying they were very clever, hand
ed the sketches back to Eunice, and
from that day set myself to q closer
observance of Mile. Rosalie. l allowed
a month to pass, and then l asked
Eunice how she was getting along witt
her studies in painting.