Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-02-17

uluH KNOW now on edTIn WAS 20
ing to manage without her-just as
was going to New York, too. Blu
she had a pack of silly nonsense int
her head about some young French
man or other that she wanted L
marry. Marry, indeed! Such people
haven't any business to marry, and
am sure LOuisaSwill live to repent it. }
Thus Miss Cornelia Bydexter rat
tied on, quite certain that the trivial
ties of her daily life must possess
deep interest for her auditors, for NJ
one had ever ventured to tell the
millionaire's daughter that she was {
fool. / heard her without hearing
although | was listening all the time
the plan which had flashed into my
head seemed so ridiculOusly visionary
and yet SO simple. And when she
rose to take her leave rose too, trem.
bling slightly and olasping my hands
nervously together.
Papa" | began, "I-I have beer
thinking about it, and if you and
mamma do not object"
"Well?p Papa looked little sur,
prised perhaps because it was 50 sci.
dom that | ventured in his presence
to express an opinion of my own. 81
should so much like to go to New
York with CorneliaW
"Iou dear little thingn' said Miss
BydeXter, smiling, and patting my
hand with her mother-of-pearl han
died fan "you will be exactly like a
fairy princess.n .......
Where the similarity existed no.
body knew, nor did Miss Bydexter
take the trouble to explain. She was
accustomed to have people tako her
meaning for granted.
Mamma looked at me in a bewilder-
ed way, q soft reproach shining out OF
her eyes. | could read her face as it
were an open book. Before papa she
dared not say out the truth; I'VE
want the money for our rent! Oh,
how can Octavia be so strangely for
getful Of our household needs ?n
Every WE'LL assented papa, in his
grand Lord Chesterfield style. Jean.
nette, bring me my desk. And fill
that musty old standish with fresh
ink. DO you hear, child.n
And while Jeanette, who knew
that ink in our house was among
things that were, fluttered into the
corner bakery to borrow little out OF
the gray stone bottle that always
stood on Mrs. Bailey's cash desk, papa
went on, talking loftily, Of the pro-
bable pleasures that | should enjoy in
the great metropolis Of the Western
world.
II am told that the coming season
promises to be particularly brilliant
in New York; said papa, graciously
"and | only wish ladies'-with O
stately bow toward Miss BydeXter,
which would have done no discredit
to "Deportment Turveydrop''-"that
! was young enough to be your escort.
Jeanette, you have been long time
bringing that ink; butnobOdy hurries
themselves to perform my behests
nowadays y
"Papa," pleaded poor Jeanette,
turning red and white, II went as
quick as l could.'
Papa did not notice her words, but
with shaking hand, and many an
unnecessary flourish, he drew the
check for the last hundred and fifty
dollars we had in the world until the
next dividend day, six months off,
should re-enforce the fountain OF
pactolus, And all to deceive Miss
Bydexter, who wasn't deceived in
the least.
"Herc my daughter" he said, fold.
ing it deliberately and handing it tC
me, while mamma looked on in
breathless dismay, and Jeannette''
eyes grew bigger and bluer than ever
followed Miss Bydexter down tC
the door, and the wheels of the big
chocolate-color Bydexter carriage
were laundering off over the uneven
pavement, when mamma came down
also, looking pale and perturbed.
"Octavia, my daughter" ," she began
chow could you"
"Hush, mammaw Iputmy hands
with a little hysterical laugh, ovel
the soft, maternal lips.
Here is papa's check do you sup
pose would take it?n
"But," persisted mamma, looking
if possible, more bewildered than be
fore, al thought you were intent or
going to New York 2"
80 | am"
"Then how"
"Mamma, ! am going to have
forty dollars a month. l am going
as Cornelia's companion. Pshaw
why do | miHce matters? l am 60
ing to be her maid, neither more MOI
less.n
"Forty dollars a month" =" Mammals
faded eyes frightened. "But Cor
nelia Bydexter's maidW And hel
countenance fell again. | could moi
but smile.
at will be no such terrible matter
after all, mamma. On the contrary
it will be fun. Cornelia is as good
natured as she can be, and you know
very well | am an adept in hair-dress
ing and lace-mending and frill-flu
ing, thanks to the best of mammals
who knows every thing, and ha'
taught her daughters the same !"
"But what would your papa say?'
grasped mamma, hardly, as yet
realizing the conditions. l felt my
self grow pale.
Papa! But he must never know
We will keep our counsel, mamma
YOU and | and jeanette. All that h,
need be told is that / am going II
| New York with Cornelia Bydexter
and that is true enough"
And mamma took me lovingly int
her arms.
"Octavia, ought we to ask this sac
rifice from you"
"Nobody asks it, mamma; 1t Is m.
own free-will offering. And Oh
mamma, | could not look DR.. Morti
more in the face when l remembe
that his bill has lain unpaid for 81!
months !"
And mamma, also remembering
this sternest and most incontroverti
BILE of facts, had no more to say.
at seems so strange!" said Mis-
!, Bydexter. "The idea of you bein
my maid, you dear little aristocratiC
looking thing! And you used t
write my compositions fer me
school, too! Dear, dear, only t
think Of it! Take care, Octavif
that bunch of curls comes in frs
under the braid, you know. And hoy
came you ever to think of it?"
, "Nonsense !' l cried briskly. 9TH
, long and short of 1t is that l wan
money and you do not-sO don't let
say any more about it."
Papa talked vaingloriously of I'm