The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-05-06

"Nonsense! cried the spoiled beau
ty. "Time, indeed 1t is her busi
mess; and if she don't send it home
this afternoon, I'll give my. futinE
and laundry work to some one else.
Tell her so; for I certainly shall no
wait upon tho convenience Of Mad
amoiselle Julie Renoux,' or any othe,
washer-woman!"
| So Melicent returned to her novel
whle Hester, dressed in gray, like &,
sober little nun, sailed forth, with {
weH-fllcd basket on her arm, upor
the errand Of mercy to No. l3 Molly
nedx street.
| ut is q dismal little street,
thought Hester, "and a dismal little
house. I wonder how people endure
to live in such places alwaysp
| Pushing opon the door, which al
ways stood ajar, Hester assembled the
uncarpeted stairs. go. .a.a
"Does Miss Renoux live here?' she
asked of a slatternIy girl who was
toiling up stairs with pail of water
4 fes, mum, she do" replied the girl,
Refreshing her eyes with q good stare
at the visitor. "Third floor, front
room, MISS"
And following these directions,
Hes ter Atheling knocked at the door
Julio Renouxs herself opened it.
Hes ter knew her we'll by sight-a
pretty, slight girl, with great black
eyes, transparently fair skin, and a
pleasant, smiling mouth.
"lfiss Atheling!" !" she cried. 81 am
so sorry about Miss Melicent's dress ;
put !our Estelle lies so i'll. Look !"
And with a true French gesture
she pointed to the shadowy, colorlcss
young creature, who lay, supported
by pillows, at the further side of the
room.
"She can hardly breathe, at times"
whispered Julie, as Hester stood in
plying silence. "I have to fan hor
by the hour. Once-twice-I began
on Miss Melicent's dress; but she
called to me. Julie she said in her
poor, faint voice, i shall not be with
you long. Do not leave me now"
And the tears streamcd down Ju-
lies checks, answered by bright drops
on Hester Atheling's own lashes.
Knecling quietly down by the bed
side, she unpacked her few little trea-
sures of wine, jelly and fruit.
"Pcrhaps you can taste of these,
EsteIle," said she, kindly. "Will you
let me paro an orange, and cut off a
few white grapcs?"
Estelle looked gratefully up.
"They arc beautiful !" sbe faltered,
"and am so much obliged, madam
oiselle; but my throat is so bad that
l can swallow but little. By-and-by,
porhaps.-and, in the meantime, leave
them on the table. They are like
2rctty picture 10 my eye"
i"Ah!" aighhed Julie, Eve poor folks can
not buy such things. The landlord
clamors for rent, the grocer will not
scLd starch or coal until the back
bills arc paid. And yct-tho poor
must ,live!" ,..... ...--.
"Julic," said Hester, drawing her
aside, "my sister wants her dress to-
night"
at is not possible" said Julie.
:'Look there !" and she pointed to the
dying girl.
Hester hesitatcd. She knew how
dcspotic and obstinate tho beautiful
soft.eyed Melicent could be. She saw
the full wretchcdncss Of the poverty
in which these poor young foreigners
dwelt.
"Julie," said she, "you arc right.
Do not leave poor Esteelle while she
lives. But tho dress must be COM
pletcd and scnt home tonight"
GLOW ?" :. '
aWhcre are your irons? Bring
out the table. L will do the dress"
"You, Miss Hester ?"
eyes, [. Why not? I will prom
ise you to be very quiet and not dis
turb Estelle; and my sister will never
know that you were not the laun-
dress. For Melicent is very capri
cious and willful, and if you disap-|
point her, she would probably take
away her custom. Quick give mo
tho irons !''
miss Hester, you are an angel
from heaven cried Julie, as from
pillow she watched tho snowy
drifts of muslin grow into folds OF
glimmoring beauty, beneath Hcstcr's
quick and not unskillful hand.
u am nothing Of the SORT" said
Hester, laughing; "tut l do believe l
am a tolcrably good laundress. How
long have I been doing this ? Three
quarters of an hour. Does it look
right, Estelle ?"
But at the same moment one OF tho
hot irons slipped from its
stand, and fell across her arm. She
uttered cry, which was echoed by
Julie Renoux.
"Oh, Miss Hester, you arc hurt"
"Not seriously" Hester bravely an
swered. "Indeed, Julie, it is nothing:
Put the dress in its basket, and will
send O. servant for it as 1 reach home"
But EstelIe motioned weakly for
the young visitor to approach her bed,
side, and pressed her lips to tho red
scar raised by the iron.
"God bless you!" sho murmured.
"God's saints have you in their keep
ing, gentle ladyH
And the pain seemed less IN her
burned arm after Estellc's lips had