The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-09-10
had difference Of opinion, and Mrs.
Ralston left on the IL train. Just after

Ralston left on the IL train. Just after
luncheon, Burke the butler, was talic-.
III -, = :. =, y 18th 2 rain in his right
/ side, much worse when l was within
hearing distance, and by afternoon he
was started cityward. That night the
cooks sister had a baby-the cook,
seeing indecision in my face, made it
twins on second thought--and, to be
short, by noon the next day the house
hold staff was down to Liddy and
myself. And this in house with %
rooms and FIVE baths!
Liddy wanted to go back to the city
at once, but the milkboy said that
Thomas Johnson, the Armstrong;
colered butler, was working as
waiter at the Greenwood club and
might come back. l have the usual
scruples about coercing peoples serv-
ants away, but few of us have any
conscience regarding institutions or
orporations-witness the way we
| beat railroads and street car compan-
| les when we can-so called up the
| club, and about eight o'clock Thomas
| johnson came to see me. Poor
| Thomas!
! Well, it ended by my engaging
Thomas on the spot, at outrageous
wages, and with permission to sleep
| in the gardeners lodge, empty since
the house was rented. The old man
he was white-haired and a little
stopped, but with an immense idea of
his personal dignity-gave me his
reasons hesitatingly.
II amt sayin' nothing, Mis- Innes,"
he said, his hand on the door-knob, but
there's been goin's-on here this las
few months as amt natchal. 'Tain't
one thing an faint another-it's Jest
door squealin' here, an a winder
closing there, but when doors an
winders gets to cuttin' up capers and
there's nobody nigh 'em, it's time
Thomas Johnson sleeps somewhars
else"
Il Liddy, who seemed to be never
i more than ten feet away from me that
night, and was afraid Of her shadow
; in that great barn Of a place, screamed
, little, and turned a yellow-green.
But I am not easily alarmed.
! 1t was entirely in vain represented
to Thomas that we were alone, and
that he would have to stay in the
house that night. He was politely
firm, but he would come over early
i the next morning, and if gave him a
| key, he would come in time to get
! some sort of breakfast l stood on
| the huge veranda and watched him
shuttle along down the shadowy drive
with mingled feelings-irritation at
! his cowardice and thankfulness at get
! ting him at all. I am not ashamed
{ to say that I double-locked the hall
| door when went in.
! "You can lock up the rest of the
house and go to bed, Liddy," said
severely You give me the creeps
standing there. A woman of your age
ought to have better sense" 1t usual
ly braces Liddy to mention her age;
she owns to 4O-which is absurd. Her
mother cooked for my grandfather
and Liddy must be at least as old as
l. But that night she refused to
brace.
|, You're not going to ask me to lock
up, Miss RACHEL" she quavered
why, there's a dozen French win
dows in the drawing room and the bill
lard room wing, and every one opens
on porch. And Mary Anne said that
last night there was a man standing
by the stable when she locked the
kitchen door"
II MARY Anne was a fool" sale
sternly. IF there had been a maj
there she would have had him in thu
kitchen and been feeding him wha
was left from dinner, inside of an hour
from force of habit Now don't b,
ridiculous. Lock up the house and g,
to bed. l am going to read"
But Liddy set her lips tight ant
stood still.
I'm not going to bed" she said
am going to pack up, and tomorrow
. am going to leave"
you'll do nothing of the Sort"
snapped. Liddy and l often desire t
part company, but never at the sam
time. IF you are afraid, will g
: with you, but for goodness sake don
try to hide behind me-"
The house was typical summe
residence on an extensive scale
!, ! Wherever possible, on the first foo
the architect had done away with pa
!, titions, using arches and columns IL
: stead. The effect was cool and spac
ous but scarcely cozy. AS Liddy an
went from one window to anothe
= our voices echoed back at us uncon
fortably. There was plenty of light
= the electric plant down in the villae
:. supplied us-but there were long vi
- tas Of polished floor, and mirror
which reflected us from unexpecte
corners, until l felt some of Liddy
= foolishness communicate itself to m
The house was very long, recta
+. gle in general form, with the main e
:, trance in the center of the long sid
g The brickpaved entry opened into
short hall, to the right of which. sep
!. rated only by a row Of pillars, was
:, huge living room. Beyond that W,
:. the drawing room, and in the end Il
. billiard room. on the billiard ROOF