The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-07-02

unaeFiay THIS HpeGlat ect W OfoAhAES
housewtfery o possible enlightenment
ON subject which had hala the whole
community In a state Of curiosity for
years Eh0 was going 10 enter tina
room which had been barred from pub
lie sight BY poor Bela's dying body.
The great room before her pro
scented q bare nooY. whereas on ner
first visit It had been very decsntiy,
II not carefully covered BY . huge car
pet rug. The judges chair. which had
once looked immovable. had been
dragged forward into such q position
that be could keep his own eye on the
bedroom door. Manifestiy she was not
to be allowed to pursue her duties IN
watched. Certainly she had to talks
more than one look at the every day
implements she carried TO retain that
balance OF judgment which should pre-
vent her from becoming the dupe OF
her own expectations.
n DO not expect you 70 clean up here
as thoroughly as you have your own
rooms upstairs" he remarked. a. she
passed him. and. Mrs. sooyiile." 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. l had rather
not have that touched"
Not touch the euFtaini |hy. cha.
was the one thing In the room she
wanted 10 touch; for In Il she not only
saw the carpet which had been taken
UP from the Door. but a possible
screen behind which anything misht
lurk--even hts re69a6table secret.
There is no window" she observed.
looking back at the Judge.
mo-" was his short reply.
Slowly she set down her pail. One
thing was settled. II was Beia'e cot
she saw before her---a cot without any
sheets. These had been left behind
In the dead negro's room. ana the
Judge had been sleeping just as she
had feared, wrapped In rus and with
uncovered pillow. This pillow was his
OWE; It had not been brought down
with the bed. She hastily slipped q
cover on II, and without calling any
further attention 10 her act. began
10 make up the bed.
Conscious that the papers he made
a telnt Of reading were but q cover for
his watchfulness, she moved about In
a matterof-fact way and did not spare
him the clouds OF dust which presently
rose before her broom. But the Judge
was impervlous 10 discomfort. He
coughed and shook his head, but did
not bulge an inch. Before she had
begun to put things in order the clock
struck the half-hour.
"Ohi" ahe protested. with a plead.
ing glance his way, I'm not half
done"
There's another day to follow" no
remarked. rising and taking q key
from bis pocket
The act expressed hie wishes: ard
he was proceeding ~ carry GU. her
things whom q quick, sliding noise
from the wall she was passing drew
her attention and caused her to spring
forward in an involuntary effort to
catch a picture which had slipped tn
cord and was falling to the noor.
n shout FROM 'ths judge Of ''Stxntf
aside, let me comet" reached her too
late. She had grasped and lifted the
picture and seen
Bu, first let me explain. This pic
ture was not like the others hanging
about II was yelled one From
some motive Of precaution or charac-
teristic desire for conceaiment on the
part Of the Judge. II 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 spear OF an image
standing on the table underneath, this
paper had received slit through
which Deborah had been given a
glimpse Of the canvas beneath.
The shock Of what she saw would
have unnerved less courageous
woman
II was highly finished portrait of
Oliver In his youth. with q broad band
OF black painted directly across the
eyes.
In recalling this startling moment
Deborah wondered as much at her own
aplomh as a, that Of Judge Ostrsn-
der Not only had she succeeded IN
suppressing ala recognition of what
had thus been discovered to her, but
had carried her powers OF seifrspres.
sion 40 far MS TO offer, and with GOOD
grace. too. to assist him In rehanxing
the picture THIS perfection Of oct.
ing had its full reward. With equal
eomposure he excused her from the
task. and. adding some expression OF
regret at his wel,known carelessness
in not looking better after his effects,
bowed her from the room with only
slight Increase OF bis usual Courteous
reserve
But later, when thought came and
with It certain recollecticns. what sis.
nifcance the incident acquired IN her
mind. and what long line OF terrcrs
Il brought In sts train,
II was no casual act this defacing
OF q sous well-loved features II had
a meaning--a dark and desperate