The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-06

wonder, as easily as DO ner.
ssYou were children when you last
metz
ssAbout twelve years old;but we
lived near each other for six years
before that. Will she look down upon
me now as scornfully as she did them!
Hush. you pain me!'' was the
reply. ::Try and forget the dark
days
NAY, for they make happy ones all
the brighter" was the gentle reply.
:'Bow to your partner.
For the music of the quadrille
sounded in the long room. and atten-
ton was required to the intricacies
through which Miss burlington and
her partner proposed to lead their
set.
When it was over, Esther leaning
on her partners arm. turned to tina
herself confronting Maude (Pierson.
With q sweet smile, she extended her
hand.
"Have you forgotten me-" she
asked.
Il remember you well,' was the
reply. in a freezing tone. land !
confess my surprise is very great to
meet a charity girl amongst my
friends
"a charity girl"' cried several
voices.
"You may doubt me. '15aid Maude.
answering them. ''but let Miss
Worthington deny, if she can. that
she was taken from charity school to
be the nursery maid of Mrs Thurston,
my aunt's cousin and neighbor. Let
her deny, if she can, that she did a
menial's work for years i'll their house.
She may palmiherself off as Mrs. Mortl-
mer's niece upon strangers. but /,
knowing her, decline the honor Of
her acquaintance.
The delicate, BEAUTIFUL Esther
Worthington grew very pale during
this insulting address but she drew
herself erect as haughtily as Maude
Pierson herself as that young lady
ceased to speak.
"All YOU have said is quite true.
she replied. land my only reason for
concealing the facts you now force
upon my friends was the request OF
my dear aunt, Mrs. Mortimer. Mrs.
Hursey, Lacy Ralston, and several
others of those who honor me with
their friendship know we'll the family
history you force me to relate to our
friends here. You will pardon me
for obtruding my private affairs upon
you; but since Miss Pierson has at
tackled my veracity. must defend it.
Nv parents were married against the
wishes of my mothers father, who
carried his resentment to the grave,
and cut my mother out of his will
When | was babe, my father died
and my mother, i'll, feeble, penniless
was taken to the workhouse where she
too, died. Her sister, Mrs. Mortimer
; was in Canada at the time. and una
ware of my existence.
"What Miss Pierson has SO delicate
lv told YOU of my childhood is quite
true. was taken from the work
, honuse to fill servants place: but
m, employers were kind, and | was
allowed to attend school in the winter
I think they will testify that if my
duties were mental, they were
faithfully performed. When | wa
thirteen, my aunt returned home ant
found me out. Since then | have beer
her charge. and the kindest love wa
layished upon me until, at her death
: became the guest of my friend
Mrs. Hursev. hope you will pardon
. me for taking up so much of you
time: and if YOU desire, Miss Pierson
Z to decline the further acquaintance 0
4 a workhouse girl, | can only accep
II your decision with some regret for
deceit that was only in accordanc
with the wishes of the dead.
II s.Stay a moment. said Lord Fred
erick Seymour. as the friends of til
) beautiful girl would have presse
II more warmly than ever around hel
.:let me speak one word. By the re
quest of Miss Worthington, | hav
= refrained from mentioning the homo
\ she has conferred upon me. and whic
{ is the browning pride and happines
= of my life. When | asked her to b,
! come my wife. to give me the prize,
> less treasure of her love. she told III
- the story you have just heard. and
u too. joined my entreaties to those {
= her aunt Not he added. haughtil,
: '.that valued my future wife the les
I but that ! understood that. even
=. our society there are some lgnob
- enough to count her early misfortune
= rs shameful fact, and ignore tt
~ beauty of character that could kee
her noble, pure and true. even in tt
=, lowlv home to which the misfortun.
II of her parents condemned her. Mi
!; Worthington will YOU take my ar
" to the conservatory l-you are pa
and need rest.
?. With an air of tender affection,
IL fond pride. he led her through tt
10 group of friends who spoke warme
& words as she passed.
Finding her seat near the fou
i tain, he said. in low tone: Il a
r glad they all know it. Essie for S
er cret is troublesome burden.
W But. you-oh, Fred, if it sham
n you"
e. Hush, | never honored you
=! highly, or loved you SO fondly, as l d
er when that girl found insulting taun
er answered by your own dignified fran
~ ness. We will not speak of it agai
ID Rest here till bring you an ice. al
d. we will return to our friends"
Il