The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-02-24
".

III was NOT tu the neXt morning
that Mrs. Sloan, the housekeeper and
sole servant, became a definite per-
~sonality, one which, Helen arrived at
the conclusion, might have to be
reckoned with. She was past middle
age, tall, lean and wiry, and as aus
tere as any prelate. Helen gave her
considerable attention when she came
to her room to inform her that Mrs.
Davenant was impatient to see her."
During these first few minutes
Helen became aware that Mrs. Sloan
owned an unpleasant. not to say dis
concerning. trait. It became manifest
after Helen told about seeing the man
running through the orchard-the
man who had been running as If death
were at his heels.
Much TO Helen's surprise the wom-
an warmly, almost Indignantly, scout
ed the very idea that a man could
have been nea the premises at the
time. Indeed, so vehemently did
Mrs. Sloan deny the possibility that
all of the girls suspicious we're
aroused. She recalled the others ap-
~prehension of the previous night. an
apprehension that was not associated
with the girl who had Just arrived.
Thereafter 1t was that she became
sensible of the unpleasant, disconcert-
ing trait. The woman's beady, deep
set eyes were constantly trained upon
her. In a steady, u~nblinking stare
they followed her every movement and
she soon realized that 1t was a case
of the watcher being watched.
Mrs Davenant she found to be the
wreck of a beautiful woman. Her
fine. dark, still lustrous eyes. wore a
haunted look; beneath them were deep
shadows, and her cheeks were sunken
and pale.
That first day Helen had little
enough to do besides advance
and develop acquaintance with her
charge. and 1t gratified her to feel that
the invalid was attracted to her.
Once during tho afternoon she real
lied suddenly that Mrs. Daveant's
dark eyes were fixed upon her. She
came out Of a revery and smiled It
the lady upon the davenport, close by
which she was sitting at the time. The
invalid's features responded with a
wan, wistful counterpart of the girls
bright expression, and she stretched
forth q hand and caught one of Hell
ems.
My dear" said she, aren't you
afraid to stay here?"
Afraid" Helen's tone disclaimed.
What Is there to be afraid of"
"Ah. you don't know-you don't
know! 1t IL awful"
THE footsteps, you mean?"
The dark eyes grew all at once more
intent.
"Yoe know about them?" Mrs. Da-
venant asked, a note of surprise In
her voice.
"Of course ] know about them; they
are n of the reasons why / am here"
Her manner was matter-of-fact, indi-
eating that she regarded the footsteps
as Of little or no consequence.
Helen made up her mind to be bold;
she felt that she was far enough ad-
vanced In her charges confidence and
good will to risk the step. She said
with quiet ear~nestness:
Mrs. D~avenant, please don't think
am trying to surprise any Of your Sc
crets OF anything that is none OF my
business. but l believe the footsteps.
whatever their source. are the cause Of
your unstrung condition"
She was startled by the terrified ex.
preston that overspread the pale face.
Abruptly she stopped.
Don't" said the woman h~oarsely.
You mustn't . -. There are some
things. Just . silly notion OF
mine. ] am sure that while In your
strong, supporting presence / shall
never hear them!
my dear. ! don't want 10. appear u.
acting. but during the night, I want