Hilda's Mascot Part 15

The satchel of James held a lamp, candles and matches, and Ralph's contained a stiff rope with a noose at one end, with which he purposed capturing the spectre.

They took a survey of the mansion and decided upon occupying the two bed-rooms overlooking the quarters.

The doors of both rooms opened into the corridor, and these they decided to lock, that any unquiet spirit that chose to visit one of the rooms could have free access only to the other.

Not a sound disturbed the stillness of the night; they slept peacefully until the white sails upon the Patapsco were tinged with rosy hues of the ascending sun.

Before returning to "Friedenheim" they explored the attic room, which was void of furniture or articles of any kind, but found no clue to the mystery, nor hiding place for even a mouse.

As the spectre declined to visit them when the doors leading to the corridor were locked, the next night they decided to leave the door ajar which led into it from the bed-room which Mrs. Farnsworth and Anna had used as a library, and to place a lighted lamp near the steps leading to the attic rooms. Ralph, with rope behind him, lay down upon the lounge in that room and James occupied the room adjoining.

He was too excited to sleep, but Ralph was in the land of dreams when something like an icy hand touched his forehead. He sprang up, rope in hand, and followed the little lady in black who had glided through the door and ascended several steps toward the attic room, threw the noose about her neck and brought her to a halt so suddenly that she had to cling to the banister to keep from falling. A piece of marble which had simulated the cold hand fell to the floor, the lace cap and gray curls fell back, disclosing a head of glossy black hair, and the dough mask fell off, showing the humiliated face of Jerusha Flint.

The boys stood appalled at the discovery, and Jerusha shed a torrent of tears, but whether from shame or grief or anger they had no means of knowing.

She spoke no word, but like a veritable spectre, glided up the attic stairs and was seen no more. Only the sound of the shutting of a distant door in some part of the large building could be faintly heard, then the boys locked the three doors and slept in the bed-room until morning.

It is doubtful if any news could have given more genuine astonishment to the home circle at "Friedenheim" than that of Miss Flint playing the role of a spectre, and the motive that prompted her was quite as much of a mystery. But before the day closed the matter was made plain by Miss Jerusha, who sent a humble message to Mrs. Courtney to come to see her, as she desired earnestly to converse with her and was too ill to leave her cottage.

Mrs. Courtney went immediately, and although Miss Jerusha expected her, she could scarcely raise her eyes to her neighbor's face when she stood beside her, so humiliated was she as she lay pale, yet feverish, upon the lounge.

"I don't know what you can think of me, Mrs. Courtney," she said, as she signified her wish for her visitor to take the seat beside her, "but I will tell you the exact truth."

Mrs. Courtney took the chair in silence and Miss Flint, after a pause, resumed.

"Anna Ashburton was my friend, the only person in her position who treated me as an equal, and because she had given me her friends.h.i.+p, I told her what I have told no other, before or since. She understood me as no other human being could; she pitied me and loved me; and if I could have remained with her I would not be the desolate, unhappy, malicious creature I am. It was a bitter blow to us when we were cast out of that beautiful home. We both loved it, and I say in all sincerity that I grieved more for her sake than for my own. I had not her gentle spirit, having inherited a proud and implacable temper, and I vowed in my homeless condition that so far as lay in my power to prevent it, Reginald Farnsworth should never find purchaser or tenant for his ill-gotten property."

"But my dear Miss Flint," said Mrs. Courtney, "'My Lady's Manor' has not belonged to Mr. Farnsworth for several years. He gave it back to Anna Ashburton and she bequeathed it to my brother, Valentine Courtney."

"Bequeathed it to your brother!" echoed Miss Jerusha slowly, and turning very pale. "She had it to bequeath, yet never told me of it in any of the kind, affectionate letters she wrote to me?"

"She did not become owner of the property until a short time before her death. She was coming to see all her Maryland friends and was keeping it as a surprise."

"She left her property to a man who has already more wealth than he can use, and not one penny to me whom she promised to give a home if she ever had one to share with me! G.o.d help me! I thought I had one friend, but there is no such a thing in the wide world. My life has been a miserable failure."

"You should not censure Anna Ashburton, Miss Flint. I feel sure it was her intention to keep her promise to you."

A scornful smile crossed the thin lips of Jerusha, but she made no response.

"And you should not count your life a failure, there is no one in the neighborhood more useful."

A sniff of derision rewarded this sincere compliment.

"Please tell me," resumed Mrs. Courtney, "how you could act the part of a spectre and not frighten the servants away."

"Nothing could be simpler," replied Miss Jerusha wearily. "They were glad of anything that would dishearten Mr. Farnsworth and cause him to restore Anna's property to her. They never saw me, because nothing would tempt them to enter the main building except in daytime, and then not alone."

"You always disappeared in the unfurnished attic room, yet James and Ralph, who examined it thoroughly, could find no place of exit."

"That was yet simpler when understood. In that one short, happy summer with Anna I was one afternoon gathering cl.u.s.ters of grapes from the arbor which yet shades this end of the house, and noticed a locked door for which I could see no use. I spoke of it to Anna and she explained that it led by flights of narrow steps to a room just their width, off the back attic, and furnished with rows of hooks for meat. After the building of a meat house it was abandoned and almost forgotten.

"When we were forced to leave 'My Lady's Manor' my plans were laid.

There was no key to that door, but my brother, being a locksmith, had keys of every shape and size. I took the impression of the keyhole in wax and never gave up trying keys until I got one that would turn the rusty lock. Then, screened by the arbor, I could gain admittance any hour of the day or night."

"But how could you get from the meat room to other parts of the house?"

"There is a sliding door in the part.i.tion which allowed the servants of that day to get meat from the room without unlocking the outer door. It fitted so perfectly that no one could detect it except by the k.n.o.b, which I took care should be removed; and it would not occur to anyone that there was a narrow room between it and the outer weather-boarding of the house."

"But the costume of Mrs. Joshua Farnsworth?"

"Anna gave it to me as a memento of her foster mother. I kept it on one of the hooks, and it was short work to don it. The meat room having no window, the light from my shaded lamp could not be seen from the outside. Here is the key. You can give it, with my compliments, to Mr.

Courtney;" and again the scornful smile pa.s.sed over her lips.

Mrs. Courtney saw in this a hint of dismissal and arose to go; moreover Miss Flint appeared weak and exhausted.

"But can I do nothing for you?" she asked. "It grieves me to leave you so alone."

"When I need a.s.sistance from you or anyone in Dorton, or out of it, I will ask it," replied Jerusha haughtily, her black eyes gleaming with unshed tears, and, seeing that her presence was no longer desired, Mrs.

Courtney went home.

When she reached there she found a note from Mrs. Merryman saying that Mrs. Flynn was ready any day to a.s.sume the duties of housekeeper at "My Lady's Manor," and Mr. Courtney was encouraged to proceed with his arrangements for housekeeping.

Busy days now followed, for Mrs. Courtney resolved that her brother's home should be in perfect order for his reception on his return from the city the first evening of taking possession of his inheritance, and all the Courtney family be there to welcome him.

At length all was in readiness and not only the parlor but the kitchen at "Friedenheim" was interested, for Chloe was to depart to take up her abode as cook at "My Lady's Manor," and the evening of the home-coming was sent over by Mrs. Courtney to have all in readiness for the supper which she and Kitty had prepared, and would be brought later by Mose.

Chloe never felt her importance more than when, as sole occupant of "My Lady's Manor," she unlocked the china closet and took out the beautiful and costly ware, once the property of Mrs. Joshua Farnsworth. She was absorbed in admiration of a tea plate, almost transparent when held between her and the light, when the door quietly opened and Archie came in, and without so much as a glance at the startled Chloe made his way to the corner of the broad hearth.

"Archie was glad when he saw the smoke coming again from the chimney.

Archie has often looked for it," he said, rubbing his hands in satisfaction at seeing the glow from the open grate of the range.

"n.o.body comes into my kitchen without knockin'. Don't like folks to come in that way nohow," remarked Chloe, keeping at a respectful distance.

"Archie never knocks. All the houses he goes to are Archie's homes."

"This is Ma.r.s.e Courtney's house and I am boss of this kitchen,"

proclaimed Chloe.

"Archie is tired. He has walked and walked," and before Chloe could make further protest he had leaned back and closed his eyes in the comfortable chair.

She kept on with her work, but it was with a feeling of relief that she saw the carriage with Mrs. Courtney and Cecil stop at the gate.

Hilda on her way from the village school had stopped to speak to them, and Mrs. Courtney, ever mindful of the pleasure of others, invited her to a.s.sist in welcoming Mr. Courtney.

The delicate flush which always visited the cheek of Hilda at an unexpected pleasure proved her eagerness to accept, and she followed Mrs. Courtney up the broad walk to the entrance.

"I am afraid I ought not to stay. Aunt Grace will worry about me," she said, as Chloe, in new plaid turban, opened the door, beaming with satisfaction.