Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-05-18
The Master Of Milldean
..Becky are you in earnest %

& Nv ny hot, ndInLhd boH / SVO oCO
/ it's self-evident fact that money must
| be obtained in one way or other, unless
we prefer starvation to death an alter
native which l, for one don't relish -
Becky Martin tied the shaker bonnet
resolutely over her silky brown euris
which would have driven Broadway
hair-dresser frantic with envy, and drew
back the curtains of the kitchen window
admitting food of bright May sunshine
over its we'll secured boards.
Well, after all, there may be as much
romance in kitchen as in boudoir.-
Don't YOU believe it !? Then ] wish you
could have seen the bunch of purple Ii
lac plumes in the pitcher on the table,
and the tin teakettle pressing on the
stove. and the glowing scarlet peppers
that hung above the chimney, and above
all, Becky herself ''in madder red cali
co that fitted as prettily as if it had
been the royal purple velvet that Mrs
Lincoln wears on Reception Days. AS
for jewels, she had not one-what need
of Jewels when her hazel eyes were all
instinct with diamond light and her
cheeks like blush roses against white
velvet, and her pretty mouth touched
with vivid crimson such as you see
where ripe peach is cleft away from
its stone.
So Becky Martel stood looking out on
the little garden border where May-pinks
crowded the shrinking yiolets out into
l the path, and silver green southernwood
shook its head solemnly at the varnish-
ed gold of tossing buttercups; but she
E did not see the bright spring blossoms,
Mrs. Martel groaned dolorously as she
: surveyed the stocking she was darning.
' a never thought daughter of mine
would be reduced so low"
n .'As what. mamma ?'' said Becky,
Il turning around quickly.
t ''As to work for living"
'.ls that all ?" laughed Becky, sud-
: denly kneeling down so as to bring her
: cheek close against the old lady's cap
7, border.-'.My gracious mamma, what dc
}, you suppose these my hands were given
| I
y damsel, l should shed few tears and
Q take to poetry and the guitar, and SEE
) you suffer, and consider myself general
Y ly. in the light of a victim . But an
not !'' pursued Becky, setting her little
n white teeth close together land so I'm
e going up to Milldean to try and get {
It situation there
; "As seamstress or as a companion
= to the housekeeper.'
If Neither, said Becky; 'as nymph o
ic the kitchen and lady president of tn
9 pies and pastry Now mamma, don
le pray, look so Mortified Six dollars
q month is quite sum. and | tell you W
t. must have money Mrs. Martel di
lg not answer, taking refuge in disconsolat
n series of sighs, and Becky put the stra
l. curl back under the shaker, and wake
TX away up the country road, to where th
H. Milldean cleaned Whitley through tn
e, evergreens upon the hill side.
in The superb Bourbon roses hung
ne crimson drapery over the terrace in from
Mt the honey suckles were all alive wit
yn murmuring, the close shaven grass b
en- fore the portico was sprinkled with
ad shower of bright dandelion blossoms, f;
to Becky's madder-red dress brushed ligh
nd ly over them and her elastic foot presse
down their bright disks.
"Why, Becky Martel, is that you 2
ed Miss Anastasia Brown, the housekee
his er's daughter, sat in the curtained b;
window, reading a yellow covered boo
in an elegant dishabille of blue musl
y y, and futtering azure ribbons-a pa
- :, young lady with light eyelashes and re
w. dish brown hair, whom you would ha
pronounced '.rather pretty" in virtue
" her blue eyes and wax-like complexion
'.Good morning Anastasia is yo
- mother in ?''
Mamma Yes, believe so. She
a., up stairs laying out the summer el
- tains. Did you wish to see her %
Wy "Yes, said Becky. Il understa
the kitchen maids situation is vacant
1T Is" drawled Miss Anastasia. &c
you recommend any suitable person
nm us ?''
81 can recommend myself p
:, yourself ="
Becky Martel laughed at Miss Brow
- look of dismay.
"Why not am poor and must
II something
~ "But I thought Mrs Martel b
shares in such Company or other Il
= rendered you independent q
1.-The Company had unfortunately fl
ed"
In "Oh :" said Anastasia. "But, Bee
sing you are lady-or have been broul
they up as one.
ke well. cannot be lady still. e
lard though it should be in kitehen?''
hem Anastasia shrugged her shoulders.
wax why don't you teach, or take
~ -. &c .Io+ sor+ p,