The Argosy — page 192: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Mysteries of Heron Dyke. 175 Katherine’s name is never mentioned in her presence now. I think it best,” continued Mrs. Keen, her eyes filling with tears: ‘‘ though, Heaven knows, my poor lost darling is rarely out of my own thoughts.” ‘You will, of course, see that Betsy Tucker wants for nothing, Mrs. Keen,” said Miss Winter, as the landlady attended the young ladies to the door. ‘‘I was very much vexed, as I have already told you, that she should have been sent away from the Hall: she should not have been had I been at home. Everything requisite for her shall be sent to her from my house, and one of the maids shall come this evening to watch by her for the night. We must not have you laid up.” ‘Oh, ma’am, please don’t think of me. I am strong, and used to work. All my anxiety is lest we should not bring her through.” “ Dr. Spreckley assures me that he has still good hopes of her. And he is, you know, skilful and attentive.” Ella glanced at the little garden as they left the door. That which had looked so bright and pleasant in the summer had now little to show in the faint November sunshine but bare branches, empty beds, and footpaths strewed with withered leaves, ‘TI think Mrs. Keen must be mistaken in fancying Betsy Tucker’s illness has arisen from the fright she got the night of the storm,” observed Miss Winter, after they had walked some little time: in silence. ‘‘ It is incredible that the mere hearing of footsteps in the corridor, and seeing her door tried, should have terrified her to any extent. What ought she to have thought but that some of the maids were walking there, alarmed at the storm.” ‘TI will tell you more, Ella,” said Miss Kettle. ‘‘ The girl was very much frightened at the time, I believe; though there can be little doubt the impression would have worn off but for something which she unfortunately heard a day or two later. Two of the others were conversing about it, not knowing that she was within hearing ; they said to one another that it must have been the ghost walking at night—the ghost of Katherine Keen.” Miss Winter’s brow knit angrily. ‘‘ Who were these servants ?” “Eliza and Phemie. They had cautiously kept it from the girl; and her hearing it was quite an accident. Betsy, it appears, believes in ghosts; and she confessed to Mrs. Keen she had never had one ' proper night’s rest since, from fear.” ‘“‘T suppose Mrs. Keen told you this, Maria ?” “Yes. The first time I went to see Betsy.” Miss Winter sighed. ‘I do not see what help there is for it all. That is the worst of it, Maria.” Tt is so bad,” replied Maria gravely, “‘that at times when speaking of it, or hearing it spoken of, I turn shivery, as if I believed in the ghost myself.— Here comes Susan.” | The young girl, pleasant and placid-looking, was advancing with a basket of marketings. They stopped to speak to her. Miss Winter CONNIE OOO SS (CO)