Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21


resting the progress of my recovery by
putting-in spite of repeated prohibi-
tions-the crippled member to the
ground. At last, 1 begun to learn
little philosophy, and resigned myself
to the sofa with groan.
The loss of my liberty was bad enough;
but the loss of Julia's society was a
hundred times worse. Here father came
often to see me. and brought me kind
messages from his daughter but, if I
had no more substantial consultations,
1 believe that 1 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 womanly
kindness. The messenger employed on
these occasions was Miss Harper's maid.
She was generally enjoined to deliver
the letters and parcels into my own
hands, and sometimes to wait for an
answer. She came, therefore, into my
drawing-room, and if she had occasion
to wait, would always desire her to be
seated. The girls name was Rachel.
She might have been old, or ugly, or
deformed, for anything cared, or, in
deed, that l knew about her. had o
dim consciousness that she had very
pleasant manner of speaking; but 1
give you my word that, after she had
been half dozen times into my room, L
should not have known her if had met
her in the streets I; regarded her only
as an appendage to the fair Julia, whose
image was ever before my eyes, shutting
out all else from my view.
This, however, did not last forever
1t happened one day that when Rachel
brought me parcel, lin my lover
like enthusiasm-started up from the
sofa, and incautiously planted my in
iured foot on the ground. The result
was spasm of such acute pain that l
fell back upon my couch with an in
voluntary cry. and face as colorless as
marble. Rachel Immediately stepped
forward and, with q cordial expression
of sympathy, asked if she could do any
thing for me, and proceeded, with a
light, gentle hand to arrange the pillows
under my crippled limb. I felt very
grateful for these ministrations, and as I
gave utterance to my gratitude, looked
for the first time inquiringly into
Rachels face.
thought that, altogether, she was q
very pretty girl, and, moreover, q very
genteel one. observed now what /
had never observed-indeed, had had
no opportunity of observing-tbat she
had charming little figure. Her shawl
had fallen off while she was arranging
my pillows, so that I could So her deli
cate waist and the graceful outline of
her lightsome form. / was INTEREST," d
in her now for the first time and was
sorry when she took her departure, with
the expression Of hope that I might not
suffer further inconvenience.
hoped that she would come again on
the following day, and was not disap-
pointed. She came with note and a
bouquet from Julia; but before deliver
ing either she inquired after me with
what L thought-genuine concern. l
answered kindly and gratefully; and be-
fore opening her mistress note asked
her several questions, and drew her into
conversation. The more I saw of her the
better liked her. She was at first a
little reserved-perhaps embarrassed
but after few more visits this wore off,
and there was quiet self-possession
about her which pleased me nightly.
[ could not get rid of the impression
that she was something better than her
social position seemed to indicate; at all
events, she was very much unlike all
the waiting maids | had ever seen. I
soon begun to delight in her visits. She
came almost every day with some letter
or message from her mistress. looked
forward to the time of her coming, and
felt duller when she was gone. I
thought that it would be delightful to
have such handn alden always about
me, to smooth my pillow and bring me
my meals, and talk to me when she had
nothing better to do.
l was interested in Rachel, and enjoy
ed her visits !; but, believing still in
Julia Harper's fidelity, was faithful to
the core myself. But circumstances soon
occurred which shook my faith, and then
my love begun to dwindle.
Rachel brought me note one day,
and a parcel containing pair of worst
ed work slippers, which her mistress
said she hoped I would wear for her
sake until was able to leave my room.
She did not actually say. but she i'm
FLIED that she had worked them for me
herself. When I said something to
Rachel about the time and trouble Miss
Harper-I never said "your mistress
now-must have expended on them, I
observed very curious and significant
expression on the girls face. I had OBJ
served it once or twice before, when I
had said something indicative of my con-
iidence in Julia's sincerity. It was an
expression partly of pity-partly of dis
gust; and seemed to be attended, fer I
could see the compressure of her little
mouth, with painful effort to repress
the utterance of something that was
forcing its way to her lips. was think
ing what this could mean, when piece
of folded paper fell from the parcel; I
picked it up, and found it was a bill-a
bill for my slippers, which Miss Harper
had bought. knew now the meaning
If the look. Rachel saw that l had got
a glimmering of the truth, and thought
that she seemed more happy.
She had wished me "good morning."
and was about to depart, but I told her
that | could not suffer her to go. It
was altogether deplorable day, what
we call in the log squally. There was
great deal of wind-a great deal of
rain; and just at this moment the latter
was coming down in torrents. After
some persuasion she consented to re-
main. Then / asked her if she would
do something for me; and, with bright
smile, she answered eyes" had
new silk neckcloth waiting on the table
to be hemmed. She took it up, and
then turning to me, asked naively how
she was to hem it without needle and