Beulah - Page 102/348

A week later, at the close of a dull winter day, Beulah sat as usual

in the study. The large parlors and dining room had a desolate look

at all times, and of the whole house only the study seemed genial.

Busily occupied during the day, it was not until evening that she

realized her guardian's absence. No tidings of him had been

received, and she began to wonder at his prolonged stay. She felt

very lonely without him, and, though generally taciturn, she missed

him from the hearth, missed the tall form and the sad, stern face.

Another Saturday had come, and all day she had been with Clara in

her new home, trying to cheer the mourner and dash away the gloom

that seemed settling down upon her spirits.

At dusk she returned home, spent an hour at the piano, and now walked up and down the

study, wrapt in thought. The room had a cozy, comfortable aspect;

the fire burned brightly; the lamplight silvered the paintings and

statues; and on the rug before the grate lay a huge black dog of the

St. Bernard order, his shaggy head thrust between his paws. The

large, intelligent eyes followed Beulah as she paced to and fro, and

seemed mutely to question her restlessness. His earnest scrutiny

attracted her notice, and she held out her hand, saying musingly: "Poor Charon; you too miss your master. Charon, King of Shadows,

when will he come?"

The great black eyes gazed intently into hers, and seemed to echo,

"When will he come?" He lifted his grim head, snuffed the air,

listened, and sullenly dropped his face on his paws again. Beulah

threw herself on the rug, and laid her head on his thick neck; he

gave a quick, short bark of satisfaction, and very soon both girl

and dog were fast asleep. A quarter of an hour glided by, and then

Beulah was suddenly roused by a violent motion of her pillow. Charon

sprang up, and leaped frantically across the room. The comb which

confined her hair had fallen out, and, gathering up the jetty folds

which swept over her shoulders, she looked around. Dr. Hartwell was

closing the door.

"Down, Charon; you ebon scamp! Down, you keeper of Styx!" He forced

down the paws from his shoulders, and patted the shaggy head, while

his eyes rested affectionately on the delightful countenance of his

sable favorite. As he threw down his gloves, his eyes fell on

Beulah, who had hastily risen from the rug, and he held out his

hand, saying "Ah! Charon waked you rudely. How are you?"