Beulah - Page 281/348

A few days passed, and one Saturday morning she sat in the dining

room, finishing a large drawing upon which she had for months

expended all her leisure moments. It was designed from a description

in "Queen Mab," and she took up her crayon to give the final touch,

when heavy steps in the hall arrested her attention, and, glancing

toward the door, she saw Hal, Dr. Hartwell's driver, with a wooden

box on his shoulder and Charon by his side. The latter barked with

delight, and sprang to meet the girl, who had hastily risen.

"How do you do, Miss Beulah? It is many a day since I have seen you,

and you look worse of wear too. Haven't been sick, have you?" said

Hal, sliding the box down on the floor.

"Not exactly sick, but not so well as usual," she answered, passing

her trembling hands over the dog's head.

"Well, I don't see, for my part, what is to become of us all, now

master's gone--"

"Gone!" echoed Beulah.

"Why, to be sure. He started to the plantation yesterday, to set

things all in order there, and then he is going straight on to New

York. The house looks desolate enough, and I feel like I was about

to dig my own grave. Just before he left he called me into the

study, and told me that, as soon as he had gone, I was to bring

Charon over to you and ask you to keep him and take care of him. He

tried to unlock the collar on his neck, but somehow the key would

not turn. Master looked dreadful sad when he patted poor Char's head

and let the brute put his paws on his shoulders for the last time.

Just as the boat pushed off he called to me to be sure to bring him

to you; so here he is; and, Miss Beulah, the poor fellow seems to

know something is wrong; he whined all night, and ran over the empty

house this morning, growling and snuffing. You are to keep him till

master comes home; the Lord only knows when that will be. I tried to

find out; but he looked for the world like one of them stone faces

in the study, and gave me no satisfaction. Miss Beulah, Dr. Asbury

was at the house just as I started, and he sent over this box to

you. Told me to tell you that he had all the pictures moved to his

house, but had not room to hang all, so he sent one over for you to

take care of. Shall I take it out of the case?"