The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-08-26

definite course OF acuOn-thuS It was with
Lucy, the handsome quadroon, when she
went to her room, to put ON her things in
order to visit Manager Master. All her move
ments were quick, and in less than five min
utes she was hurrying up Broadway. as
though her mission was business which must
be decided upon instantly, and above all, Gre
quirlng her presence Immediately. By the
time she had arrived at the hotel, and got
seated IN the parlor, waiting for Mr. NJ
she began to reflect what brought her there;
thus she thought:
Il wonder what / shall say to him wish
for him to hire me, but for what I cannot
tell am certain about one thing, l shall
not mention Miss Gena's name; cannot act
on the stage, but | can wait on the players,
and perhaps the head one has a wife-l Will
ask him to hire me TO make her clothes"
Over this last idea Lucy's face looked
happy, her mind was greatly relieved, that
she had fixed upon sOmthjRg with which she
could approach Mr. M. 1t was quite i'm
material to the devoted slave in what capa-
city she was employed by Mr. NJ, so long
as she could be near her beloved mistress.
How widely different Lucy's feelings were
to those of her young mistress when she call
ed upon the theatrical manager. Lucy had
no siekening fears, no burning, restless
anguish of the soul, feeling herself alone.
Drifting, as it were, upon tlse 5,pse+ eoean of
life, without SAL or compass, turning help
lessly about exposed to every temptation
which poverty leads to, without one voice
to speak in her favor, or one arm to protect
her from insult, Lucy WAS all ambition to
cOntrive some plan, no matter what, in or
der to remain with Gena; and then she Sc
cretly nourished a revenge in her heart
towards the Pitt family, and particularly
towards Count dc L
Lucy requested the porter to show her to
Mr.. Masters private parlor, where she was
very kindly received-she told her errand
Immediately. Ir. M was pleased with
her eXplicitness, and also with her general
appearance
what is your name 2" he asked.
Lucy, sir"
And your sirname is!''
This was the first time in her life that she
felt the need of a sirname; but she instant
ly remembered that she was free, and conse-
quently she must have two names She
showed no embarrassment by the question,
but quickly replied
CLAY, sir"
well" said Mr.. NJ, ''Lucy Clay,I am
much pleased with you, and / am certain
that you are tasty in making clothes if YOU
have been a dressing-maid to a Southern Lady.
My wife is not here at present, but she will
join us in the West. She plays all my lead
ing business, and am sure she will be de-
lighted to have your services; you will be
required to go to the theatre every night
and dress her for the stage, and also assist
her in making changes of dress during the
evening, in the day time you can do what
ever Mademoiselle Marie, may require of
you"
Very well, said Lucy, trying to conceal
her joy.
e will pay you twelve dollars per month
and all your expenses Are YOU satisfied with
this arrangement a"
Yes, sir" replied Lucy; all right 1
leave New York in one week from to-day
be at the Chamber street depot for the 10
o'clock train and | will meet you there. Do
you understand said Mr.. NJ
do, SIR answered Lucy, rising to leave
the room, just as Mr.. Fowler was entering.
He rudelY stared at her; her beauty did not
escape his eye. Said he, smiling to show
his white teeth, Good morning, my dear "
Lucy turned 10 Mr. NJ and said,
" Good morning, sir" whilst she looked at
Mr.. Fowler as though she would have liked
to have had the chance of telling him what
a puppy she thought him. Bear in mind,
dear reader, that our beautiful quadroon had
been raised in Il Southern family of the
greatest refinement; every slave belonging
to the Pitt plantation were well-bTed ser
wants.
When Gena heard what her devoted at
tendant had done, she shed tears, which
quite startled Lucy. She at once imagined
that she had done something to cause her
mistress sorrow.
- declare" said Lucy, quite at 81 loss to
understand what wrong she had committed
8 d.. NY fepea2ted Gena, looking up.
Why, my dear Lucy, you have done moth
ing wrong. When see how truly You are
attached to me, cannot help shedding tears,
but they are tears of JOY. / have much to
be thankful for, when | think of your kind
ness and devotion to me. How sensible and
cautious you were in not speaking my name,
or the reason of your leaving the South, and
now ii occurs to me that we had better re-
main as strangers to each other as soon as
we join the company"
have been thinking of the same thing"
said Lucy, 80, Miss eie- Josephine |
am so happy that l will be where | can see
you every day; | am sure | shall find many
chances of serving you"
Il am confident, Lucy, that God will watch
over MS, and some day reward us, if we try
to do right Since you have been absent |
have visited Stewards and have made
several purchases, said Gena, which would
like to have you assist me in making up; /
have but little time to get myself ready for
the new position | am about to fill"
$ will do all the sewing" said Lucy, if
You'll attend to the cutting out; but L for
got to tell you that Mr.. Master asked me for
my sirname."
|'Well, what did you tell him." asked
Gena, smiling.
9 | said it was Clay"
Clay repeated Gena, n little surprised
What made yon call yourself by that name;
it is one of our most distinguished Names"
Master George Martini said Lucy. was
forever talking about Henry Clay, and
somehow | learned to love the name, and
when Mr. Master asked me for my name |
said ii was Clay, without thinking for mo-
ment whether had a right to the name or
not"
g / suppose you have a right to sirnalna
at all events you could not have chosen a
better one" answered Gena, much amused
The relation between Gena and Lucy was
of that divine nature which makes one adj
mire, and almost worship those heavenly
traits of character that each and all of us
are capable of bearing towards each other
-softness of manners and loving kindness
towards those whomwe meet it in the daily
intercourse of life cost us nothing.
The time now more quickly passed with
Gena, since occupation helped to dispel
some of the sorrow which had so crushed
her of late; while her fingers were busily
employed, her mind was forming plans for
the future, and laying out d course of con-
duct which would be essential for her pres
ent position in the world She felt that she
was now on the loorld, and yet She was not
altogether unhappy. She knew nothing of
life but only its bright side, which she had
hitherto tasted. She judged all to be good.
and could not understand why any could
have the heart TO wrong another, and vet
she had suffered by this sin. She was will
ing TO leave all to her Heavenly Father;
she felt that He .-0ufd see her right, and
DAT nT- would guide her and protect her.
She had not the faintest idea what travel
ing company was; she supposed that among
the members there would be some congenial
with her She was certain that all were
ladies and gentlemen to be members of so
poetical a profession, and to be able to study
the drama, and possessing genius so great as
to rightly represent such lofty characters as
Shakespeare, Sheridan and Bulwer had
created, could not be otherwise than people
possessing the highest culture and the most
refined intellect.
Alas. she had yet to learn that there are
many whose only shadow of genius is de-
sire to be something great, which often de-
ludes them into the belief that then are born
to astoniSl the world with their brillianey
of mind,-the old adage is still full of truth, |
. 1t takes a wise man to know that he is
fool"
When everything was ready, trunks
packed and sent to the depot, Gena, and
Jennie bid each other farewell, to meet in |