Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-12-02
THE LOST BANK NOTE.

James," said Mrs. Garret, while sit
ting at breakfast one morning, 81 dom
like that new girl. I have my suspicious
about her,"
"About Ami" returned Mr.. Garret,
in surprise. "Why, it's only a few
days ago that l heard you boasting t.
Mrs. Brenmer you had the best cook il
New York"
$50 she is a good cook. don't ex
pect to get such another for twice tn
wages. 1t is not about her work-sh,
does all that well--but I've no trust il
her,"
"What has she done2"
"What has she done ?" echoed tn,
lady, somewhat sharply. "Nothing, OF
course, or I'd soon send her packing
But she's shy, aud secret, and won
tell mo anything about herself and ha
ridiculous airs about sleeping alone,
and won't even allow Amanda inside he,
bedroom door. There's something
wrong, depend upon it. If there wasn'
a screw loose somewhere she wouldn'
be here for such low wages"
elf that's fault against her you car
raise them" suggested Mr.. Garret.
"There, James, you may as well &c
to your office, it that's all you have tt
say" cried the lady of the house. "But
mark my words, before you go, I'll fnd
Ann Walker out before long"
Mr.. Garret sighed as he rose to de-
part. He we'll knew that remonstrance
would avail nothing, for Mrs. Carrots
prejudices we're as the laws Of ths Medes
and Persians, that changeth not, so he
took himself off without another word.
"Amanda /" cried the lady, when left
alone, "bring Horace up"
In response to this summons large,
slatternly girl of eleven or twelve made
her appearance from the basement,
with little boy in her arms, who made
a snatch at an egg stand and knocked it
on the floor in passing the table.
"You awkward, careless gypsy |" cried
Mrs. Garret, with great spirit, "that's
the second thing you've broken this
morning. Who do you think is going
to pay for all you destroys Come here,
Horace, love, and have nice piece of
toast. What's Ann doing, Amanda"
"She's dressing the turkey, num-"
"Did she scour the front steps this
morning g7'
eyes, mum she got up at five
o'clock to do it."
$50 and tell her I expect her to
wash the drawing-room windows before
dinner. :"
"Upon my word" muttered Mrs.
Garret, resentfully, as Amanda retired
to carry her message, "Ill pull her
pride down for heh bit. Must wash
the steps at five in the morning forsooth
lest folks see her at all. I'll take that
out of her,
In few minutes Ann came upt to clear
the dishes off. She was tall and well
proportioned, about twenty years Of age,
her face pale, refined in features, not
handsome, but singularly intelligent and
earnest in its expression.
Shelookeda little anxious and troubled
as she noiselessly arranged the room,
and when she was ready to go, she said,
in very soft voice:
"May ask favor, ma am, that the
cleaning of the front windows be put off
till early in the morning ?"
"No," answered her mistress. curtly,
81 want them done now."
don't wish to be seen by passers-
BY" she urged, almost pleadingly. "It
is of importance for me not to be seen
by-by some one who might know me. F."
"You will obey my orders, girl, or
leave the housei" returned Mrs. Garret,
beginning to quiver with temper.
The servant courtesied and withdrew.
In few minutes she was at the win
dows, but in close sunbonnet, to Mrs.
Carrots unspeaksb'e disgust,
81 think can zee through my lady,"
was her inward comment. "She's some
jailbird the detectives are after. I'll lay
a trap for her, aud If she's not caught in
it, my penetration lent much"
Rising from her sewing machine,
which she had been busily plying in
Master Horace's behalf, while her brain
as busily revolved, she unlocked her
desk, took from it twenty dollar note,
carefully marked the number, and drop
ped it, as if by accident, under the edge
of the table. Then she cut and basted
some more work, making enough rub
bish about the floor to insure the SER
wants having to use her dustpan before
dinner. By the time this was accom-
plished she discovered little Horace and
the machine in such danger of coming to
grief together that, first driving that in
nocent to the other side OF the room,