Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20


And what of them?''-and the speaker
looked at her interrogatively.
''Oh. when I first came home they were
constantly asking me to go and stay
with them but. of course. I could not
leave father. and it was impossible 70 in
vite them here; so by and by they ceased
to write. and they have all forgotten me
years ago. I have, however. one friend
Nancy Byng-Mr. Byng was our rector
before Mr.. Cave, and she and | were al
school together: she corresponds with me
still-she lives in Kent now. / had a let
ter from her yesterday
Then why not ask her to come and see
you? l am sure il would cheer you up
Yes. it would be a great pleasure But
l must consider the old servants. Oh,
they would hate to have a stranger in
the house--or to be put out of their
WAYS"
Still you are the mistress are You
not?' urged the nurse who had taken
particular dislike to Miss Jubber, with
her prim manner and grim assumption
of authority.
Hester gave little choked laugh as she
replied. mo. indeed; Jane is mistress, of
course
II hope you won't think me too bold.
Miss Forde. if / say that 1 think it is time
you took over the keys
The girl shook her head without rails
ing her eyes from tying up the nosegay,
MY mother gave them to her. she
said. gravely: Jane has always been
hOuSekeeper-and mistress.
Then l suppose I must say no more!'
1T is so kind of you to be interested
in me- said Hester, land YOU have
helped me over some bad days; I shall
always remember that"
Have YOU made any plans?"
Yes. l shall remain here for some
time. You see. there is my year of
mourning
But surely that need not tie you to
Shalesmoor?''
There is much business to be arranged
my father was so helpless lately that
his affairs are in some confusion. Mr..
Levin thinks it will take a long time to
straighten them. There are quantities of
papers to sigh
1.-The papers might be sent after, you
that could easily be managed; Miss Forde.
do YOU realize that you are very rich
woman
Il believe 7 am" she assented. with
sigh: Il don't understand money, I've
never had any. L have no idea what to
do with it, my head feels SO light and
empty and goes whirling round at times.
Here-though it is dull. and isolated. and
stagnant-I know where ] am: but in the
world I should be like lost dog: for all
my experience of life is from books, and
besides" She paused.
"Yes?" said her listener, interrogatively.
Eliza and Jane are rooted here and
must consider them"
The rumble Of the carriers cart now
made itself evident. coming up the lane.
You should consider yourself. Miss
Forde." urged the other woman. with in
dignant emphasis. (She had caught sight
of two grim faces watching her from
window on the second floor. You are
young and they have had their day. If
you do not take my advice, and leave
this place and its monotony. you Will sink
into a state of apathy. Now that you
have no occupation you will feel lethargy
creeping over you. and fall into a condi
ton of mental atrophy and il-health.''
Here the gate slowly opened and an old
man in smock stood whip in hand and
said:
Where $ ia ba an, miss?''
"Tellforde" she answered: then to
Hester. you've been so kind to me, Miss
Forde. and all I can give you in return is
my best professional advice; never mind
the mourning, the papers or the old SER
wants. but-go away
Hester merely shook her head and 81
lently followed Nurse Dixon to the cart:
but as she handed her the nosegay and
said "Good-bye'' it seemed to old Jake's
fare that there was a suspicion of tears
in the grave gray eyes.
AS she was being jolted down the rough,
uneven lane. the nurse glanced back
there was still the slim black figure
standing outside the iron gateway; as it
waved a hand she heaved sigh of pro-
found commiseration for the lonely girl
in that gloomy house-a captive in the
thrall of sentiment and Of two old ser
wants.
Jane Jubber, the real mistress of Shales-
moor Grange. was an active. hardy
woman of fifty-four; her fuzzy dark hair
was slightly powdered with white, she
had a fixed color in her cheeks. keen
black eyes and thin pinched lips. Never
theless. she was by no means Unlocking;
her figure (Which resembled a deal board)
was always set off to the best advantage
marvellous rechauffes of the late Mrs.
Forbes wardrobe. in which Jane al
ways contrived to look smart and even
fashionable: To tell the truth. a certain
black velvet jacket trimmed with fur had
secured her the respect of Shalesmoor
and the serious consideration of a well
looking small farmer. whose inches were
out of all proportion to his holding. and
who reioiced In the name of Jonah Tud-
goose. TWentySeven years ago Jane had
been a member of the Boutwell, house
hold and as Miss Bothwelrs confidential
attendant. had followed her into what she
considered exile. For her mistress fam
lily she had the most profound respect.
The Bothwells, like the king, could do no
wrong (all people and manners and GUS
toms were measured by their Standard.
Their high birth. estate, good looks and
pride were extolled by Jane, when she
condescended to drink tea with her Satel-
lites in the village. OF the Forbes she
had secretly but a mean opinion. What
were they, but just Puritans and psalm
singers? and that Hester should be fair
and favor them had been a sore trial.
Certainly she had her mothers delicate
profile and the Boutwell, foot. but who
ever saw the head of Boutwell, covered
with red hair?) The child was quiet and
bookish. and had a meek temper-the
Bothwells' blaze was no loss!-yet, If she
had been dark and fiery, Jane Jubber
might have loved her. AS it was. she
barely tolerated the little pale creature.
came the chief ruler of the house; her
master valued her for his wifes sake;
she was faithful, shrewd and managing.
He was alive to the fact that his estab-
lishment could not be in better hands
and she had reigned until his death. But.
unfortunately, power and prosperity had
produced hardening effect on Miss Jub-
Der. who from being mild and even re-
firing abigail had now become not mere
ly a law unto the Grange, but also to the
entire village. She was parsimonious
twas the weakness infectiouS?), sharp
tongued and arbitrary, and had long cast
behind her every trammel of authority.
Who was there over her? she asked her
self. Only a bed-ridden old man. who
consulted her about most things, and his
nurse-a pale-faced. nervous girl. ''Oh,
he was wise to leave everything in her
never did wrong" Such was her amaZ-
ing and shameless boast! Years previ-
ously she had installed her elder sister
Liza as cook and companion; Eliza was a
stout, querulous individual. with promi
nent teeth and weak digestion, who
grumbled through life. and took little
upon her beyond baking and boiling and