The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-05-21

The great room before her pre-
sented a bare floor, whereas on her
first visit it had been very decently.
If not carefully, covered by huge car
pet rug. The judges chair. which had
once looked immovable, had been
dragged forward into such a position
that he could keep his own eye on the
bedroom door. Manifestly she was not
to be allowed TO pursue her duties un-
watched Certainly she had to take
more than one look at the everyday
implements she carried TO retain that
balance of judgment which should pre-
vent her from becoming the dupe OF
her own expectations.
II do not expect you TO clean up here
as thoroughly as you have your own
rooms upstairs" he remarked, as she
passed him. And, Mrs. Scoville," he
called out as she slipped through the
doorway, leave the door open and
keep away as much as possible from
the side OF the room where ! have
nailed up the curtain. | had rather
not have that touched"
Not touch the curtain! Why, that
was the one thing in the room she
wanted to touch; for in IT. she not only
saw the carpet which lad been taken
up from the floor, but possible
screen behind which anything might
! lurk-even his redoubtable secret.
There is no window" she observed,
| looking back at the Judge.
NO." was his short reply.
Slowly she set down her pail. One
thing was settled. 1t was Bela's cot
| she saw before her--a cot without any
sheets These had been left behind
| in the dead negro's room, and the
Judge had been sleeping just as she
had feared, wrapped in a rug and with
uncovered pillow. This pillow was his
own: it had not been brought down
with the bed. She hastily slipped a
cover on il, and without calling any
further attention TO her act, began
TO make up the bed.
Conscious that the papers he made
feint of reading were but a cover fol
his watchfulness, she moved about in
matter-of-fact way and did not spare
him the clouds of dust which presently
rose before her broom. But the judge
was impervious to discomfort He
coughed and shook his head but die
not bulge an inch. Before she had
begun to put things in order the clock
struck the half-hour.
"Oh!" she protested, with a plead
ing glance his way. I'm not hall
done"
There's another day 10 follow" he
remarked, rising and taking a key
from his pocket.
The act expressed his wishes: and
he was proceeding TO carry out hel
things when a quick, sliding noise
from the wall she was passing drew
her attention and caused her to spring
forward in an involuntary effort tc
catch a picture which had slipped its
cord and was falling to the floor.
A shout from the Judge OF STAND
aside, let me comet" reached her toe
late. She had grasped and lifted the
picture and seen
But first let me explain. This pic
ture was not like the others hanging
about. 1t was a yelled one. From
some motive OF precaution or charac
teristic desire for concealment on the
part OF the judge, it had been closely
wrapped about in heavy brown paper
before being hung, and in the encoun
ter which ensued between the falling
picture and the slear of an image
standing on the table underneath. this
paper had received a slit through
which Deborah had been given q
glimpse OF the canvas beneath.
The shock of what she saw would
have unnerved a less courageous
woman.
II was a highly finished portrait ot
Oliver in his youth, with a broad hand
of black painted directly across the
eyes.
In recalling this startling moment
Deborah wondered as much at her owr
aplomb as at that Of Judge Ostran
der. Not only had she succeeded In
suppressing all recognition of what
had thus been discovered 10 her, but
had carried her powers OF self-repres
sion 90 far as to offer. and with good
grace. too TO assist him in rehanginf
the picture. This perfection OF act
ing had its full reward. With. equa
composure he excused her from the
task, and. adding some expression oi
regret at his well-known carelessness
in not looking better after his effects
bowed her from the room with only a
slight increase of his usual courteous
reserve.
But later, when thought came and
with IL certain recollections. what sig
nificance the incident acquired I'm her
mind. and what long line of terrora
1t brought in its train,
II was no casual act, this defacing
Of a sons well-loved features. II had
meaning-a dark and desperate
meaning. II had played its heavy part
i'm his long torment--a CALLING remind
er of-what7
II was to answer this question:
face this new view Of oliver and the