The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1876-11-23
$eletted STORY.
MISS HARPER'S MAID


went into dock for thorough re-
fitting, and had longer spell ut
home than I had enjoyed for many
years. I would not chnnge this way
of life for any in the world; but I
was glad for once to stretch my legs
fairly on dry lend, and SEQ some
thing of green fields, brick and
mortar, and my shore going friends
in the neighborhood of Canterbury.
Among the families in which I
WAS most intimate was that of q
Mr.. Harper. He had made COM
Portable fortune by trade, and now
WAS enjoying his oti,xn cum digni.
tate in n good house on the out
skirts of the city. An only daugh-
tor kept house for him; for he was
n widower. Now Julia Harper,
when I first knew her, was q fine,
handsome girl of two-and-twenty !;
tall, we'll made. but on rather a large
scale, with bright, restless eyes, and
profusion of dark hair She had
Il great many admirers, some of
whom there is every reason to sup
pose, admired tho old gentleman's 8
money as much as the young lady's
eyes, but they met with no great
encouragement.
I often met with Julia ut the
house of mutual friends / certain
ly liked the girl; and my vanity was
tlattered, because, with so many adj
mirers around her, she showed me,
as thought, q decided preference
She seemed to lie never tired of talk
ing about the sea. She wearied ms
with one 'tions about it; and on
more than one occasion said--very
unguardedly-that she thought a
voyage to India would be the most
delightful thing in the world. Of
course, L made fitting answer, that
with congenial companion, a
voyage anywhere would be delight
full; and, more than once, opportu-
nifty being favorable, I was on the
point Of declaring myself, when an
internal qualm of conscience arrested
the dangerous avowal.
Atfnirs were in this state, when an
accident befell me which brought
matters to crisis There was
steeplechase one day in the neigh
borhood Of Canterbury, which J.
attended on foot. During the
excitement of the race, I attempted
difficult cut across the country,
failed at n leap which was beyond
my power. and had tho misfortune
to sprain y ankle. The injury was
IL very severe one, and was laid up
for many weeks in my lodgings.
You have often laughed ut me for
taking everything SO coolly. 1
assure you that I did not tnke this
coolly at all. I chafed, indeed, like
a lion in the tolls; and WAS continu-
ally arresting the progress of my
recovery by putting-in spite of
repeated prohibitions the crippled
member to tho ground. At last. l
began to learn u little philosophy,
anal resigned myself to the sofa with
groan.
The loss of my liberty was bad
enough; but the loss Of JUL vs.
society was hundred times worse.
Her father came often to see me,
and brought me kind messages from
his daughter but, if had no more
substnntial consolations, I believe
that I should have gone mad. Julia
did not actually come to me; but
she wrote me repeated notes Of
inquiry, and often sent me flowers
and books, and other tokens of
womanIy kindness. The messenger
employed on these occasions was
Miss Harpers maid. She was gen
orally enjoined to deliver the letters
and parcels into my own hands, and
sometimes to wait for an answer.
She came, therefore, into my draw
ing-room, and if she had occasion to
wait, 1 would alway desire her to be
seated. The girls name was Rachel.
She might have been old, or ugly,
or deformed, for anything I cared,
or, indeed, that know about her.
I had dim consciousness that she
had very pleasant manner Of
speaking; but I give you my word
that, after she had boon half dozen
times into my room, should not
have known her if had met her in
the streets; I regarded hor only as
nm appendago to tho fair Julia,
whose image was ever before my
eyes, shutting out all else from my
view.
This, howe YER, did not last for
ever. It happened one day that
when Rachel brought me parcel, T
in my lovor-like enthusiasm-
started up from the sofa, and in
cautiously planted my injured foot
on the ground. The result was
spasm Of such acute pain that I fell
back upon my couch with an in
voluntary cry, and face as colorless
rs marble. Rachel Immediately
stepped forward; and with q cordial
expression of fsympathy, asked if she
could do anything for me, and pro-
cecded, with light, gentle hand to
arrange the pillows under my
crippled limb. / felt very grateful
for these ministrations, and rs I