The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-06-18

teen tollliN per tlpnln. hilu ulpWtu nti
every other Sunday out"
"The wages will do. madam and, rs
for the Sunday out, | should like to 20 to
have no acquaintances, and, In New \ ork,
shall make none."
very we'll when can YOU Gomez
"As soon as can have my trunk brought
here, ma'am."
Nothing was said about reference, but
she evidently credited my story and, by
afternoon. | was installed as mistress OF
the kitchen, where | found all those mod
ern labor-saving contrivances which have
reduced kitchen toll TO Its minimum. |
found my fellow servant, the chamber
maid who had let me in, preparing to
leave. She had given warning TO Mrs.
Dartnell that morning. | inquired her
grievance.
"Ain't got none," was the reply. " No
thin much TO do-only three beds 10 make,
except when the old woman's nephew
comes here once a year but prefer fac
tory-work that I've been used to and, be-
sides. III get some society there"
So she went off TO her " lactory-work"
and her society" next day, and we got
another in her stead--one out OF four APP
plicants-a tidy, quiet girl. my pick, In
fact. for Mrs. Dartnell took her at my "a
vorable impression.
liked the mistress. and liked the place
from the first, and continued TO like 1t.
did not find the old lady TO be as disagree
able as she said. and she never found fault
except in the mildest and most hesitating
way. And so six months passed OF, and
my mistress and myself began TO approach
familiarity. Tired of her loneliness, she
fr. f1xfh bro o,hf lnr Lni oh nj
her needles with all the assiduity of Ger
man Frau--to the kitchen, and would sit
there while was engaged about my du-
ties, rarely saying any thing, but appar-
emily wrapped in reverie.
AT length there was little change In
my monotonous life. One Sunday | was
at the morning service In church, and had
been In pew in the gallery, taking my
seat as usual, where l could get il, and
was a little tardy In coming out. AS |
came to the vestibule, the rector came
down the aisle and passed by me, pausing
at the door moment to speak to the or
ganist.
"What was the trouble in the choir, Mr..
Esten ?" he asked.
Miss Patten, our contralto. has been
taken suddenly ill., and don't know how
| can supply her place at short notice for
the afternoon service"
THAT is inconvenient," said the rector.
and, after some other remarks, passed on.
/ stepped up 10 where the organist
stood with knitted brows, and tapped his
arm. He turned at once.
Excuse me for having overheard you
without intending it," l said "but per-
haps can get you out of your difficulty.
have contralto voice, am familiar
with the church-service, and l sing at
sight"
said.
/ followed him, and he signaled the
other members ofthe choir, who were still
there. A very short trial satisfied him,
and promised to come in the afternoon.
asked leave of Mrs. Dartnell, of course,
telling her the circumstances.
Will you not fail." the old lady in
quired.
| smiled negative.
Why, never knew you were musical.
| You never touched the piano.
1T Is not the business Of house-maids
to play on their mistresses' pianos"
"Very.good but you have been some
thing more than servant here. Will you
let me hear you sing nowy"
My fingers had been long itching 10
touch that piano, which was kept regular
ly in tune, though never used, and SAT
down to 1t willingly. / was out Of prac-
tice, my fingers were stiff; but excitement
more than made up for it, suppose, for
had never played better, and my voice was
In excellent order.
:" forsee you will get that place per
manently."
"Oh. MOI Miss Patten will be well di
rectly."
"No, mol see this Is your turning
point. and shall lose you"
You shall not lose me, Mrs. Dartnell,
| said for the old lady betrayed In hel
voice that she would really be sorry If
went.
NV singing that afternoon was a sue
cess. Mrs. Dartnell was right about Mis-,
Patten. She never returned to the choir
She had rupturea a blood-vessel, was sen
to Florida, remained there some months
and came back to die. | was engaged In
her place mt salary of five hundred dollar
a year-a little fortune to me but ! oil.
not lose my place In the house, which
liked, and did not find one occupation e
interfere with the other. Tony surprise
Mrs. Dartnell engaged another housemaid
and put her under my supervision. thu
promoting me to kind Of house-keepcr
did not demur to this. but insisted OF
serving without pay; and it was settle,
on that basis. The old lady, whose conf
dence In me was unbounded, gave me tn
keys. and we always took our meals TO
gether. was quite happy. though some
what uneasy about my brother, from
whom had heard nothing all this while
though my address had been sent to on
old rector with a request to forward an.
letters that might come.
One evening letter came to Mrs. Dart
nell.
Betty, my dear" she said, Erred IL bt
low in the bay, and IL coming to-morro,
to pay me visit. He has promised to sta
a week, and we must have the frontrOor
| shx.s.r ruadxr IA him y