A STRANGE DISGUISE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 11

A STRANGE DISGUISE.

(Specially written for the Witness Christ-

mas Number of 1594 )

By C. CLYDE.

" We can't take Annie with us, of course," said the young clergyman, glancing out into the yard of hia lonely parsonage. " I wonder if your sister " " Harry ! " exclaimed his wife reproachfully, " Ada stay in this house, co far away from a neighbour, alone ? " 11 Of course not, what am I thinking of ? " echoed the Rev. Mr Pearson hurriedly ; " I oouldn't let any woman do that. Well, then, Annie must stay."

Annie was not a woman ; she was the servant girl. Notwithstanding this drawback Bhe was as pretty a girl of 18 as one could desire to see — smart at her work, but rather more ignorant of life than is common with colonial girls. Therefore it nevor struck her any more than it did the selfish young couple not yet recovered from their honeymoon isolation that there was any reason why she, a young girl, should not spend her master and mißtresß's three days of absence alone In a country parsonage more than half a mile distant from any neighbour. If the hens and the cow occupied a more important place than Annie did in Mrs Pearson's thoughts, the girl herself thought it most natural, and she bade a cheerful good-bye to the clergyman and his wife as they drove off to the station.; J*With her wonted thoughtfulnefls, Mrs Pearson had left behind her an unusual amount of extra work to fill up Annie's time. Two rooms to be thoroughly done out, besides the daily labour, did not seem a light task, jet Annie worked with such vigour that the close of the first day found most of the additional work completed. She went to bed early, too tired to dream or to be afraid.

Next day, however, came the reaction. She felt lonely and somewhat tired. Her

morning. These Qowers were the cause of a strange idea of deliverance, and withont further thought she jumped up, seized them, and ran back to the bed. In an instant she had pushed under the bed her clothes, candlestick, and all the little odds and ends which gave the room a commonplace, everyday appearance. Then she hastily loosened her hair, and with the flowera still in her hand lay back on the bed and drew the white sheet which protected the bed in the daytime, and was usually rolled up at night, right over her, even up to the face. Beneath this covering she lay straight and stiff, one hand clasping the roses, lying lightly on her breast. Almost before she had completed these preparations the stranger entered. Beneath the sheet, Acnie could of course see nothing Bave the glimmer of the candle he carried, but she bad rightly guessed that the most hardened ruffian would shrink from maltreating the body of a dead girl She could almost see the momentary terror of his face at the awful sight of the sheeted figure, and she knew by the softened movements that her deoeption had succeeded. She had not reckoned, however, on curiosity still more powerful than fear, and her courage faltered as she felt a hand draw the sheet from her face. A long pause, during which she held her struggling breath seemingly In vain, and to her surprise the sheet was gently replaced ; her disguise had succeeded 1 Who could have left the dead girl? thought the man, as he retreated to the other room, with a feeling of more than momentary sorrow that so pretty a girl should bo lying dead in this lonely house.

How do you do, Mr Fergus ? Harry will be in soon. You are just in time for a cup of tea. I am so glad you have come. Yes, we have come here for our holidays, just as we did last year, Harry and I and the girl we had to take her this time, as she was co nervous about being left alone at the parsonage. What an age it is since we have seen you, Mr Fergus 1 " 11 Yes," replied the young man politely ; J*it was about this time last year I went to

visit you at the parsonage and lor.t my way. However, you we/c here at the time, as X afterwards learnt. I have reason to remember that time becattse-of a curious adventure. Seeking shelter in one of th.c houses late afc night, I found it occupied byVdead woman, laid out for burial. She was very^bejyitifnh' 1 have often wondered why they left her there alone."

" How horrid I " said Mrs Pearson in » somewhat preoccupied tone. " Annie, Annie, why don't you bring in the tea? I declare that girl is so forgetful eometirnesl Ah I here you are. Mr Fergus, draw up your chair. Why, what is the matter ? " — for the young man, with a scared expression, stood staring at the pretty waiting maid who was laying the tray on the table.

"Then you are not dead 1 " he burst out suddenly. "It was all some ghastly blunder." He grasped her hand. "I can't understand it, but, by George 1 I am glad." " What — what is the meaning " began the scandalised Mrs Pearson.

"The girl I told you about," replied the young man bluntly. For a man well endowed with the world's goods,' and continually reminded of the fact, he was singularly simple, even boyish, in gppech. " I told you I saw her in that deserted house, dead."

A quick flush passed over Annie's faoe, and Mrs Pearson, guessing something queer, turned to her severely :

" Annie, what does all this mean 1 "

"It was what happened last year," b^gan Annie, blushing, half inclined to cry, and wishing she had not been bo stupid as to close her eyes so tight on that mer&orable occasion, " when you left me alone at the parsonage, and hearing someone come I was afraid and pretended to be dead, so that he would not touch me "

1 It all sounds very peculiar," said Mrs Pearson, after a vicious pause.

"By Goorge, don'b s peak like that, Mrs Pearson. It was the cleverest dodge I've ever heard of, and rightly done too. I think it was a beastly shame that she should have been left there all alone . Ob I I bet; pardon, Mrs Pearson," stopping shortly in his eulogium, while Annie could not resist a slight smile at bis blunder.

11 1 think you had better go for the present, Annie," resumed her mistresß; "I will speak to you again."

" Very well, Mrs Pearson," replied the girl steadily ; and followed by a look expressive of admiration of her cleverness and beauty from rhe young man, who was not remarkable for cither, she quitted the apartment.

Mr Pearaon, however, had the sense to see which way the wind blew, and to steer accordingly. It was all very well to snub Anuio the servant ; but Annie the future wife of young Mr Fergus, the rich station owner, was quite another personage. Mrs Pearson veortjd round, and was rewarded by having a very stylish wedding from her house some six months later, and seeing a long description of it in the columns of the local paper.