Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-02-15
1IHEE".S CHOICE.

10 you WISH 10 speak 10 we, MIS-.
Harvey" ?" said Mr. Wentworth to his
housekeeper, as he glanced up from the
morning paper and saw her slowly and
deliberately arranging the sideboard,
and wiping few imperceptible specks
of dust from the glasses.
"Ahem! ahem! Yes, Mr.. Wentworth,
if you please"
We'll, Mrs. Harvey?'
He laid down the paper, knowing the
good woman to be usually rather prolix
in her speech, but this morning she
came suddenly to the point.
eff you can spare me, sir, should
wish to leave your service"
"To leave And Aimee-Miss Roch-
elle-so lately returned -
Why, you see, sir, when Miss Aimee
was at school, and only here during the
vacation, it was another matter but
now she has come come to reside with
you, and is quite grown-up young
lady"
"What can have occurred, Mrs. Har-
vey? l had hoped you looked upon my
house as your home"
"Thank you, sir" and Mrs. Harvey
smiled at the implied compliment; "and
/ shall be sorry to inconvenience you,
but, of course, Miss Aimee will in future
keep the keys and give orders, and I
never used to have a lady over me, be
she ever so nice; so, if you please, Mr..
Wentworth, prefer to leave"
"Certainly; by all means, Mrs. Har-
vey."
And it was settled that the house
keeper should resign her trust upon that
day week.
The pleasant morning room opened by
glass door ON to the lawn, and trained
around, and overshading the panes
mingled a clustering rose and fragrant
honeysuckle but brighter and sweeter
even than they was the fair young face
which peeped within. Then Aimee
Rochelle entered, her hands filled with
the flowers she had gathered.
"Oh, dear guardy !' she cried, 81
feared you would coax her to remain p
What coax woman, Aimee! That
is species of argument 1 would not
resort to with you; though I fear the
pleasure of your coming home will be
lessened until we can replace her, for
Bridget is young and inexperienced.
But, my child, you resemble Aurora
herself this morning the very sunbeams
have entered with you."
"Oh, guardy what flatterer You
have become. But don't trouble about
Mrs. Harvey Bridget and 1 shall get on
famously"
If MIR. Wentworth did not approve of
the coaxing system, his ward was of an
other opinion, for she went into the
kitchen and begged Mrs. Harvey to let
her make that days dessert, and also.
under superintendence, some excellent
cake, for which the housekeeper was
Justly celebrated, and she charged Bridge
to allow nothing in the culinary prepare
tions to escape her notice.
And so the week passed on, until, one
morning, Mrs. Harvey's trunks were all
in the hall, ready corded, and she-her
hand full of fresh, crisp notes-was
courtesying and smiling her way out of
MIR. Wentworth's study.
"Ah, then," exclaimed the honest,
outspoken Irish girl, land may her
shadow never darken our doors again (!
am glad she is gone, Miss Aimee; it
yourself would rather have any day
for the Mistress"
"You won'tfind me hard one, Bridget.
But will you do me one favor? Please
TO call me very early every morning, and
we will have a nice breakfast ready for
my guardian. do not wish him to dis
cover the difference in our housekeep-
ing"
Indade, miss, and will. But, sure.
the master does not know how little Mrs.
Harvey did after 1 had been here one
month. Oh-saving your preserce-she
was decaying old Jesebelm
Aimee rose early, and breakfast was
ready at the usual hour, and with pleas