Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-11-15


large silver forks with their engraved
crests displayed, as though that were
lrrefragable evidence Of negligence.
Well, ma'am, I'm sure-that is,
thought l put a small fork there; l re-
member wiping the dust off it," STAN
mered Eliza, as she produced another
from the plate basket and laid it where
the other should have been.
Don't be so persistent, Eliza. The
| fact speaks for itself"
land for Eliza, too" chimed in a
young hopeful, who liked a jolly row.
! But the young woman retired, max
ing no reply, and the threatened storm
blew over.
When Eliza came with my supper,
and some arrowroot for little Charlie.
the others were all in bed and he SEEM
ingly in doze. Setting down the tray,
she whispered to me in considerable
perturbation:
DO you know. Mrs. Marbury, |
cannot find that fork high or low? I'm
sure put 1t on the table, but what's
gone with it would puzzle saint
"lou will find it somewhere or
other tomorrow, l dare say" said |,
treating the matter lightly.
Eyes, but missis always counts NE
the plate at bedtime, and I'm afraid
| there II be noise about 1t.
| Sure enough there was ga noise
about it." Mrs. Coates could not 90
to rest with the weight of that silver
fork upon her mind, and she insisted
on Eliza, who had daily charge of the
| hnt oh 10, 10,
Nursery, kitchens, scullery, pantry,
were searched. No fork was to be
| found.
There was an ominous cloud on the
brow of Mrs. Coates when she came up
stairs next morning to ascertain how
Charlie had slept, and asked if her
darling was any easier; and no sooner
had Mr.. Coates gone to the city than
the storm broke out.
Mrs. Coates was not loud and vul-
gar, but sharp and incisive. eff that
fork be not forthcoming by this time
| tomorrow, l shall be convinced that
it is stolen, and hold you, Eliza, ac-
counta.le." was the ultimatum she
laid down.
The poor housmaid' distress during
the day was something pitable She
was tender-hearted girl, and had
been very kind to the scalded boy. In
his turn he was sorry for her.
Don't cry, Eliza" he whimpered
himself" don't cry; I'll give you
new half-crown out of my money-box
to buy fresh spoon WITH and he
put up his white lips to kiss her.
But Mrs. Coates was stern and in
flexible. She owed duty to herself
and society, and could not overlook so
| fragrant a delinquency. Cook and
ho,lsemad both offered their boxes for
inspection, and she watched them turn
everything out, assuring the cook that
"no suspicion rested on her."
There was no sign of the missing
fork, and thereupon Mrs. Coates Jelly
babe the housemaid pack up her boxes
and leave the house at once.
The distressed young woman came
sobbing to me, begging my interces-
sion, but neither my pleasing nor that |
of Charlie was of any avail. Mrs. |
Coates evidently thought she was deal
ing with an artful thief.
You Will give me a character,
missis, will you not? asked Eliza |
imploringly.
Character. What character do
you suppose ! could give? BE thank
full you do not leave in charge of a |
Policeman
The girl shuddered. "What will |
become of me? Where shall | go?
| dare not go home to my poor honest |
father and tell him - Thief, Oh. |
DEAR dearn
"You should have thought of that
before, CURLY answered Mrs. Coates. |
giving her the wages due to the day. |
And ordering Eliza to "quit the house
in less than half an hour she sailed |
yirtuously from the nursery, oblivious
of Charles entreaties, or his crying,
which | had much ado to stop
The young woman went out, and in
about twenty minutes came back ac-
coHpanied by man with truck. |
The baker, she said, had kindly prom
lSed to take charge of her boxes |
whilst she looked for lodgings.
| shook hands and said few cheer
ing words to her as we said good-by, |
advising her to 90 to her father at once
as her safest course.
She shook her head muttering
something did not catch, and went
my regret and compassion going with
her.
That afternoon Mrs. Coates was
busy drawing up advertisements and
taking a round of register offices; a
charwoman being called in--the al
ready overworked cook threatening to
follow Liza"
The next morning Mrs. Coates.
wearing the stylish morning dress !
hnI nLunf-,rnl an Lo AInrnl.n,-