The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-05-11

And thus they parted.
"Going out of town, Miss Mabel'
and So early this season ~
The pretty lady's maid stood aghast
in her occupation of putting away the
laces in satin lined box of veined san
dial wood.
eyes. Get my trunks ready, Mil
dred."
"And when do we start, miss ?"
"I will not take you with me, Mil
dred."
"Not take me, Miss Mabel Aud
who is to arrange your hair and take
care of your dresses ?"
CT, myself.
"But, Miss Mabel -
"I choose to go alone, Mildred" said
tho young lady, a little imperatively.
"Take away the silks and grenadines;
I shall only require the muslins and one
or two light wrappers.
"Miss Mabel" exclaimed the sur
prised lady's maid, holding up both
hands in hopeless bewilderment,
"where can you be going?'
"To seek my fate, Midi ed" said
Mabel. in tone that was curious in
termingling of jest and earnest "There
how leave me to myself"
Mrs. Beckford, of Beckfordvlle Villa,
at Richmond, was sitting alone in her
comfortable parlor-musing on her far
off son, with total abstraction from all
outward sights and sounds-and when
all of sudden she looked up, a pretty
young person, clad in quiet style, stood
| before her.
"What is it?" said Mrs. Beckford,
somewhat curtly.
"Ii you please, madam, am anxious
to come as companion"
"Who sent you2" demanded the
lady, surveying the large blue eyes and
golden bands of smoothly brushed hair
rather distrustfully.
CT learnt from lady of your acquain-
tance that you wished a companion, and
I should like to take the situation"
"Hum -m-m," said the old lady.
"What's your name ?"
edith Moore"
"Moore-Moore Got any relations
in town-ah at Bayswater, mean2"
demanded the inquisitress, sharply.
"No, ma'am. am alone i'll the
world"
"I'm glad of that" murmured Mrs.
Beckford. 81 couldn't stand any one
belonging to the guitar playing girl who
but never mind that just now. What
are your references 2"
Edith Moore drew letter or two from
her travelling bag.
$50 Mrs. Carter, of Clapham, knows
you, eh p
"Yes, ma am"
SWELL" commented the matron,
glancing over the notes, "these recon-
mendations seem very satisfactory-I
don't know-but that you may come
and stay. The only objection l can see
is that you're too pretty, and 1 don't
think you are really to blame for that.
Take off your things"
And the roses that glowed into Edith's
checks at this very plain expression of
the old lady's sentiments did not make
her any the less lovely as she united the
blue bonnet strings, and laid aside the
neat but simple shawl, to enter upon
her probation.
More than year had crept over the
daily current of life at Beckfordville.
The trees were bare and leafess, the
snow lay white and deep in all the hol-
lows and dimples by the roadside, and
sharp December wind was sweeping
along the Thames, as the sun glowed
with momentary redness, ere it sunk
down out of sight.
"How soon it grows dark" said Mrs.
Beckford, with a little sigh. That's
right, Edith-draw the curtains; now
we're comfortable |"
ofo,tobla iplaaJ fbox, ,vara
the shaded lamp glowing softly on the
while Mrs. Beckford's spectacle glasses
shone like twin orbs of flame, and her
knitting needles glittered responsively.
Edith was sitting opposite to her,
fashioning narrow white ribbon into
bows for the old lady's new winter caps.
She looked wonderfully pretty in q dress
of sober blue merino, with blue ribbon
tangled somewhere in the braids of her
FURNISHED hair, while the delicate color
on her cheek was like the inside of a
pink shell.
"What's that you were saying while
ago about going back to London, my
dear 2" said the old lady, suddenly turn
ing round to Edith. 81 just want you
to understand that you can't go. 1 can't
spare you"
She put one arm round Edith's neck,
and drew the round cheek down on her
lap.
"Do you really love me, Mrs. Beck
ford2" asked the girl, earnestly.
Glove you, darling / could no more
get on without you than l could without
the sunshine. 1t seems as though you
belong to me. 1 don't know what you've
done to steal my old heart away, I'm
sure" went on Mrs. Beckford, musing
ly; "but you remind me somehow of
the little daughter 1 once lost. You
won't leave me, Edith, dear 2"
There was something almost pathetic
in her pleading voice, as she touched
her withered lips to the pure forehead
of the beautiful girl.
"You1l stay and be daughter to NE
in my old age, Edith What should L
do without the little feet that trip so
lightly about the house, and the hands
that are forever busy in my behalfa Tell
me you will stay, Edith"
"Dearest Mrs. Beckford," whispered
Edith, with the happy crimson dyeing
her cheek, "I'll never leave you will
stay with you always. Oh, am SO glad
you have learned to love me-more glad
than l can tell you. But, Mrs. Beck
ford -
"Well, dear r.
"Theres something l want to tell
you-something have kept back from
you," faltered Edith, with her fingers
nervously twining themselves around the
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