St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-16

out for you, and so be saved all
trouble
81 don't know about trusting Crecy
'to give out No, | mean about put
ting one servant over another"
Nonsense it's the commonest thing
in the world to have a colored house,
keeper, and Crecy can be trusted with
untold gold"
was having an audience with the
new cook, the accomplished Therese."
She was a French mulattO, and it was
evident at a glance that she was a
woman of strong passions, of much force
of character, altogether of uncommon
mould. She was large and well built
little stout, without losing the sym
metry for which any one would have
remarked her. Certainly she was a
knowledge that. Her magnificent black
hair lay in heavy waves under the folds
of the bright handkerchief which was
arranged on her head with as much
elegance as an Eastern turban. Her
large eyes looked forth at her new mis-
tress without drOop of the heavy lid,
commanding, full of fire, and with any
thing but the expression young and
PClIChSCo NOuiu llhO w
see in them. | took it all in as she
stood before me the queenly head, the
fine falling shoulders, the well formed
hands folded as if in mock humility, as
she stood before me: all this | saw, and
l turned an implOring look toward my
husband who was standing behind me.
His eyes we're fixed on Therese, who
looked to him as did. The look was
stern, and she saw she had a master
even though she did not entertain a
high opinion of me as mistress. But
her eyelids did not fall even before him,
only the expression in them gave place
to one of defiance.
summoned what courage and digni
ty could, asked her "A few questions,
and gave my order for dinner for the
day. Then l said, as carelessly as l
could,
"Why do you not stay in Mr.. Scran-
toms kitchen, Therese? He tells Mr..
Hamilton that you are much better
cook than old Aunt Cely."
"That is little to say, Madame" she
replied, in the rich tones which were as
remarkable as her look. "Mrs. Scran-
ton sent for the Marshal one day when
Mr.. Scranton was away, and had me
whipped
| fairly shivered as | pictured in my
mind the lash descending on the being
before me. "Why did your mistress do
this ?"
81 struck her; l threatened to poison
her."
''Therese :"
"Madame, she said my children were
whittier than | !; that their father had
been white man."
"Where is their father p
"My husband was sold when my mas
ter's estate was divided. Do they sell
white men p bitterly, and with shut
teeth.
'You have not always lived in this
country, Therese ?"
''No, Madame. l was brought here
from the West Indies; but have not
lived there always either"
had no time for further questioning
then, so dismissed her and went out
to the yard into which the laundry
opened, and where, under a great spread
ing mimOsa tree, | found Therese's
children. The little one, Ettie, was
asleep, pillOwed Oh the lap of the boy
Philippe, lad of ten, perhaps. The
little girl was plump, and had a rosy
tinge on her soft olive cheek Philippe
was wonderfully handsome, with large,
sad eyes and grace evident in his
position.
took the little girl up, saying that
the day was too cool for her to be
asleep out of doors, and carried heI
myself to the comfortable cottage sep
, arated from the house, as were all the
servants rooms, where l had decided
to place the mother and children.
had given Therese two rooms, intend
ing one to be used as play room fol
J the children in bad weather. A little
bed had been made up for the boy
which delighted him. On this placed
5 Ettie without waking her, and Philippe
l took his attentive station beside her.
r This done, l returned to the house
l and entered the library where my hus
= band was writing. | stood by the table
till he looked up, little impatiently.
81 am busy just now, dear"
: "But can not wait to know wht
this singular creature is, with her lovely
D as good language as l do, and | an
actually awed by her queenly manner
: 1t is a very uncomfortable impression
" EcCclNc llOul OuO COOhJ
q Did you know why Mr.. Scranton would
+ not keep her in his kitchen ?"
81 heard something of the story thi
morning, but it did not deter me from
e hiring her. Mrs. Scranton is woman
of violent temper. Therese has no
t been well treated. She had more lady
= hood than her mistress, who doubles
was coarse and abusive, and reused al
= the evil passions of a woman of high
= strong feeling. | knew you would trea
e her far otherwise that she would hav
t a different nature called out here tina
= you could soften her and make her
- good woman, as she certainly is re
= markable woman. But | was sterl
:, with her, for l do not know but sh
t might presume, and she must feel tha
S it will never be allowed here, hOweve
(; gentle you are. And now go, dear wife
e | am very busy. By-and-by you ca
t win her story from her own lips.
Il have heard it only in part"
e 1 departed not half satisfied. Regi
d nald was going away from home sOOn
d to be gone some weeks, and then, an
n indeed at any time, must be suprem
: in my house and over my family.
# was young and inexperienced woman
S | hardly knew whether / was courage
it Gus or not. certainly did not like tn
if looks of my new cook any better tina
e | should have fancied a liOness for
o household pet. Yet something attract
d ed me to her; the magnetism whic
g one strong wOmanly nature has owe
is another, no matter how they are re
lated.
: The dinner was superb; no less sig
# nificant word would describe it. Tl