Year: 1873




AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL"


It was toward sundown on February af-
ternoon, that Mrs. Ford, laying aside her work
with yawn, rose from the chair she had been
sitting in, and walked to her window to take
look at the prospect.


Apparently she was tired of sewing, for the
yawn was repeated several times, and she
stretched her ungainly limbs as if they were
cramped by want of exercise.


81 declare" she solilosuized aloud, II am
getting tired of the life lead here am
shut up in these rooms from one day to an.
other, with no diversion of any kind to enliven
me, and no conversation to keep my mind in
play but the sage remarks of my interesting
protsqse The money get for it don't pay for
the privation I endure-it does not indeed.
Sometimes I almost think I'll throw up my
Office and take my leave"


A grim smile stole over her features.


"What would Stanley do without me,
though, j. wonder? I think he'd have his
hands pretty full, if was to serve him that
way! I've great mind to tell him some time
that am going, just to see how he'll take it.
And he's so dreadfnlly afraid ofmy not keep
ing his secret, too! Well, I must say he pays
me we'll Tor keeping it, and I'll not betray
him. Honor among thieves as the saying
is; ha, hap


And she laughed low, little chuckling
laugh, as she spoke.


However" she continued, "Pm not exact
ly thief, though won't say that I am al
together very worthy and virtuous individ-
ual. At any rate, I can compare favorably
with my very excellent and gentlenanly en-
ployer. I don't know but that, Of the two, l
would bear off the palm for moral worth and
integrity of character, if we were tried by an
impartial judge. His money is all right
though, and that's the main consideration. l
think I'll induce him to put on a hundred
month more; he can easily afford it, and it
will fill my pocket the quicker"


"How pleasant it looks out of doors My
esteemed patron and that silly little doll he
calls his wife, are out driving, and the brat
has gone with them, so I think III follow their
example, and take stroll it will refresh me
after my days work. 1 must see that alps
safe in yonder first, however"


With this concluding reflection she passed
into an adjoining room-the room at the end
of the "west wing" After a moments abb
sence she returned, with satisfied expression
of countenance; locked the door she had
passed through-a singular door, looking,
when closed, like panel in the wall-and put
the key in her pocket pushed small sofa
up against it donned her bonnet and shawl,
and set out for little ramble in the grounds.


1t was soft, balmy afternoon, unusually
mild for that season of the year just the sort
of weather to make exercise agreeable, the
housekeeper thought, as she strolled slowly
along. She did not 60 very far from the
house, however, but walked round and round
the piece of shrubbery outside the west wing,
apparently quite fearless of Medor, whom she
passed unconcernedly within the length of
his chain. Medor lay at the door of his ken
mel, winking and blinking with sleepy eyes at
the setting sun, apparently too comfortable to
disturb himself about anything or anybody.


Such, however, was not the case, for just as
Mrs. Ford had reached the end of the walk to
which the limited herself, and was about to
tarn round, she was startled by a loud, savage
growl and bark, followed by the clatter Of
the bulldogs chain, and loud yell for help.


Turning in dismay to discover the cause of
the uproar, she saw that Medor had seized
and was holding fast the leg of a man, who
lay PROSTATE on the ground, sprawled off in
most ungraceful attitude, and struggling Wig
orously to extricate his captured member from
the vise-like grip in which it was secured.


The housekeeper Immediately ran to the
rescue, and catching up stick, forced the dog
with some difficulty to release his prey. Me-
dor, highly incensed at such treatment, re-
treated to his stronghold with many ominous
growls and mutterings of Indignation, and his
late prisoner, scrambling to his feet, limped
off with great agility to place Of safety.


Here he turned, and taking off his hat
made low bow of acknowledgment to his
rescuer.


"Mauy thanks, Madame, for your courteous
intervention" said he, waving his hand grace
fully as he spoke.


Mrs. Ford gazed at him for an instant, then
uttered smothered shrek of dismay or sur
prise.


The man bowed again, with an air more
mocking than deferential, and sardonic
smile parted his lips, displaying, through the
screen of thick black beard, the CLEAN of a
set of very white teeth.


Then approaching the house.keeper, who
stood as if rooted to the spot, he extended
both his hands, saying in a concilatory tone


"My angel, do not regard me as if l we're
goblin, lately ascended from regions of dark
ness Doyou not bid me welcome, after our
long parting?"


Mrs. Ford, holding her hand to her side,
uttered sort of groan in response to this at
fectionate greeting.


"Mon Dieu! Auguste," she artculated at
length, "is it really you? thought you were
dead"