New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-12
DY FANNIE III. BURNETT.

Not one of the neighbOrs knew where she
had come from-that was the mystery, and
1T was dOubly my stery because the people
of Grantley, who were mostly rough, busy
men and women, generally knew each
others business pretty thoroughly. But
this woman-Phillis Denham her name
foiled them utterly, and remained mys-
terry in spite of the efforts Of the most
curious. She had appeared among them at
the Mills one spring morning (Grantley was
village of mill hands,, and those who
lived on one of the most respectable of che
marrow streets had seen her come out of q
small house which had the day before been
unoccupied. And this was all they knew,
beyond the later discovery that the cottage
was scantay furnished, and yet had an ar
of neatness not usually seen in Grantley
houses, and that Phiilis Denham lived
alone, and was either a Quaker" or a
''Methody."
5000 isna our loike, at opyrate," said one
Of the wise ones. 1000 minces her words
Joke one O. tn quality, if 90 does thee and
sthou.'"
She was young woman, too, and, in
strange, cold, sanity way, a beauty. She
had the face OF the Madonna, without it's
soft warmth and tenderness. Her fine eyes
were little hard for the eyes of woman;
her manner was grave and reserved.
"a woman OF stone, my DEAR" said the
good old rector to to his wife, after his first
parochial call upon the new arrival. "a
woman with an injury, should say, or a
woman not easy to understand"
st was kind of thee to come" Phillis had
said to him; "but am not one of thy peo-
pie. belong to the Society of Friends"
And even at the end of her visit he had
learned not whit more of her history.
She lived a quiet life and was a very
regular worker. She left her cottage at
certain hour in the early morning, and re-
entered 1T as regularly each evening, never
Tar deviating from her accustomed time.
She gained no friends, and made no enc
mics. Her home was as neat and trim as
herself, and she was the perfection of SIM
pie, almost severe, neatness
"Hew are Ne to ca thee, lass9" asked one
OF the boldest of her fellow-workers. cart
tina we'd or silgle!'
Thee may call me Phillis Denhamv she
said, tiickerng color touching her fine,
white skin; that is my name"
SO they telt t wiser to ask no more ques-
tons, and she vas called Phiilis Denham
this sort of life br three months when there
came to the mill Few banda handsome
woman year OF two older than herself-a
woman Of clss widely set apart from
her-a woman wlDse early fading beauty was
shame, and whorebelled against the world
and tried to famt boldly, despite the bag
gard misery slowly creeping upon her.
They knew her At the mills. The over
seer himself knew her, and greeted her
with rough familiarity when che appeared
at the office and demanded work almost as
ii she had right to expect it.
What !" said he Back again! Going
to try work for while, are you! Well,
suppose we shall have to give you place.
There, 60 along and behave yourself" And
then he turned to the owners eldest son,
who stood by, and spoke to him half apollo
he said, "but she can do work that few Of
them are up to, and if she was steady we
eheuld De glad enough to keep her at good
wages: She has worked here, OFT and on,
ever since che was girl. and handsome
girl she was, tOo-tOO handsome for her
own good, as it turnedout."
The woman was not in Phillis Denham's
room. and in the crowd that passed out OF
the IRON gates at the ringing of the great
eral days each was hidden from the other.
But at the end of the week, in going alone
down the stairs one evening, Phillis found
herself face to face with the newcomer.
The woman started back, with something
like an oath upon her lips, flush, half
anger, half shame, reddsnipg her cheeks.
Phillis whitened percephbly, and drew
back also, Strengthening her fine, slight
form. and holding aside the folds of her
dress with an unconscious gesture which
spoke worlds.
"Thee-Janet Arrest" she said.
The woman laughed-a laugh whose an
cry, scornful sound had yet an undertone
Of miserable humiliation.
"Aye," abe answered, cts me, Janet
Ayresl Has tina owt to say agen it, If tina
has, soy it, an be done wi it-though