The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-08
Of the hotel, when heard the strange, soft
times SYLLABLE nv name.

VI thC hotCif WhSu hSete SsS Ss~0Np
tones syllable my name.
Yes, ma'am, answered the waiter; he's
up In his room. Shall call himr ;,
was on the point Of stepping forward
and announcing myself, but the next words,
hasty and little agituted, arrested me-.
%, no, there Is no necessity. ! have
brought home the gentleman's clothes:
There are just two dozen, and IL you VIII
be so good as to take them TO his room, nc
can settle with YOU
was SO overwhelmed with amazement
that | stood still just where ] had risen
from the lounge, with the paper fallen at
my feet, until the servant had gone up TO
my room. But az soon as ! recovered my
self, | entered the parlor, and confronted the
person who had inquired for me, which
did with good deal Of reluctance, as she
evidently did not desire an interview; but
the waiter would be certain to discover nv
retreat, as soon as he ascertained ! was not
in my own apartment.
She turned her head as I entered, for she
was gazing out Of the window, and looked
for the FIRST time upon her-the face OF the
,roman who had followed me, dim and
vaguely defined, through all the years Of my
youth up into my manhood, coming before
me in dreams and in certain strains OF sweet
music, coming in its vesture Of shining,
snowy clouds, and then vanishing away.
II was delicate oval face, neither pretty
nor handsome, and only beautiful when the
spirit within roso up, and lighted, and filled,
and enriched It. II was face refined, sug.
gestive, womanly, with rapid changes and
with brown, deep, shy eyes, and
hair whose color suited the eyes, with prom.
incnt, but delicate features, and mouth
that was what all true women's mouths
should be-a sweet and perfect mirror Of
the soul. drank all this in with that one
gaze which | had Of her, as she turned her
face, little startled, towards me, when ]
entered the room. My looks must have em.
barrassed her, for faint auttering Of color
into her cheeks first reused me TO con.
sciousness Of my rudeness.
Excuse me, ma'am, but I heard you No.
luiring for Mr.. Guyson.'
'Yes, sir, ! gave my message to the wait
er.' And il was no hutter Of blush now,
but burning tide Of crimson which flooded
her cheeks. She looked down, and | knew
what struggle was going on in that girls
soul. There was q quick flash Of pain on
the forehead, and a sudden compression Of
the lips; then she looked up in my face
steadily, and said, in her soft quiet tones
i have just brought homo your clothes, sir.
The brave little woman the real, genu-
inc, ine-grained, lady! II was her turn TO
exult now, for was more embarrassed than
she.
III was no: aware that you'll broke
down utterly here, and | am not usually
bashful man, and ] am certain that my
nerves would not have been In the least dis
before an empress and her suite.
She saw my embarrassment and compre-
hended IT,. knew that by the look OF
grateful recognition which flushed up in
her eyes.
Il applied last week for the work, and
he agreement was that should return the
,lothcs.
She spoke with quiet dignity, which
,aid, palmer than any words, III is an hon.
eat work, and am not ashamed Of II any
longer and ifyou think the less Of me for
loing It, the disgrace is yours, not mine.
knew on what ground was standing
now, and drew out my purse.
There were two dozen, | believe ?
Yes, the whole amounts TO one dollar
Is quiet and self.sustained rs though was
, dry goods clerk, andshe was my customer.
Il pay that for single dozen in the city,
placed two dollar note in her hand, and
wished II were thousand, though should
no more have dared TO offer her this than
would princess.
. 'But We don't have such prices in the
coun,ry'-lu,tcring the note in her fingers,
which ] saw were slender and small jointed.
We'll, the work Is no easier in the coun.
try, and never pay less
She thanked me with her eyes and rose
up. | went to the door and opened il for
her. Jus, as she had got outside, she lifted
up her face, that young, earnest, truslful
face. to mine, and said
'Mr. Grayson, il you have any more
washing to do, | shall like to do 1t for you
She had triunphed over oil shame, all
false or natural pride. knew II now, for
there was no flu,ter in her cheeks or in her
voice; the latter was low, sweet, and steady.
Thank you ! will send you up some to-
| had determined to leave next morning,
but my plans now underwent a sudden re-
version. watched her az she went down
the road, and noticed her dress and figure
for the first time. There was singular
fitness about both. She wore lawn dress
scattered with small brown sprigs, and
brown straw bonnet with a green ribbon
gathered across II. She was small and
delicatcly moulded, and her walk was rapid
and graceful, not elegant.
She had Just passed out OF my sight, and
I was watching the twilight which lay on the
distant hills, ss Gods love o'erlies our hu-
mani,y, when the waiter returned. He was
surprised to find me alone in the parlor, but
| explained my interview with the lady,
and. learned through lim, that she had re-
sided with her aunt, an istirm old lady, for
the last year, that she had come from the
city, and taught the dris'ric, school until il
was broken up by the new academy, and he
had been greatly surprised the week before,
at her application Tor the washing Of any
Strangers who might be visiting at the hotel.
He was disposed to bcfriend her, because
his sister had attended her school. And
she's q lady to be sure he added, though
it's a dreadful eome.down to take in wash
ing.'
She ,ras a lady therefore the coming
down hadn't hurt her, thought to myself,
as inquired her name.
Miss Janet Mathews, sir. She lives in
the little yellow house Just at the corner Of
Moss Lane. You may have seen ], from
your window
She was the heroine Of my wash.tub.
%, sir, I beg that you will excuse me-
There is no need Of il. You have gm.ed
your arm.' And I pointed to the delicate
flesh scratched and ffayed BY the edge Of
the bar.
That Is no matter, bot I might have
broken II, II you had not caught me-
Il was late In the afternoon, more than
week subsequent to my FIRST meeting with
Janet Mathews, that fcame suddenly upon
her at the corner Of field which opened