Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-06
THE LADY'S MAIDS STORY.

One nlgnG was walking IN the
garden, waiting, if the truth must
be told, for Thomas Trefoil, who
was paying attention to me, and
who was masters valet, as was
mistresss maid. Master was an
old gentleman, whom mistress had
married for his money, so it was
said; and it seemed very likely, for
one was not yet twenty and the
other sixty. They had been united
three years, and he was very good
to her. Strange enough if he had
not been, and always giving her
something handsome to wear, or a
book, or flowers, or anything she
thought of; and for her part she
always thanked him very prettily.
She behaved well to him, | am
sure, and he was perfectly satisfied.
He could not have expected her to
be in love with him, old enough to
be her grandfather as he was.
Well, | was walking in the gar
den, waiting for Thomas, who was
free after dinner-time, when sud
denly | heard a step close beside
me on the other side of the bushes,
and thinking it was my lover l
stood still, meaning to play a trick.
| crept close up to the bushes where
the shadows concealed me, and
waited, meaning to dart out and
frighten him as he passed but in a
moment more saw that it was not
Thomas, but a tall, fair young gen.
tleman, with a long mustache, who
looked about, putting up his eye
glass as though he expected Some
one. He was extremely pale, and
his eyes shone SO that they fright
ened me. And 1 kept very still, for
| am afraid of maniacs, terribly
afraid - not that / ever saw one,
only | should be. l kept still, and
held back my apron, so that it
should not hutter out and catch the
light.
The gentleman walked a little
way, and then back; and a little
way, and then back again.
Will she never come ?" I heard
him say to himself. "Will she
never come ?"
Who is he? l thought. And
who is he waiting for? Then it
struck me that it might be Cor
Miss Rushton-a young lady who
was visiting my mistress, and who
looked to me to be sly enough for
anything. So l waited-indeed l
could not help it now, unless | had
wished to be seen-waited, hidden
away among the bushes.
If it was a private garden, how
did he get in? you remark. Well,
there was no difficulty about that.
Our gate was never locked, and
master was good-natured about let
ting people come in and walk about.
1t was quite a park, as one might
say, with great trees and pretty ar
bors in it, and ever so many won
derful kinds of flowers. The SER
ingas grew where was hiding, and
the flowers futtered down over me
with their strong, sweet smell, as |
shook the bushes by leaning against
them. Always when l smell SER
ingas | think of that night, and of
how | saw a lady hurrying down
the path Il moment after, and could
scarcely believe it was my lady; but
it was.
She had a black lace shawl over
her head, caught by her tall comb,
as you see the mantillas in the pic
lures of Spanish women. She was
as dark as any Spanlard, am sure,
with such a pretty color, though
not pale or sallow-and with great
melting eyes, and a dear little red
mouth. | thought, as | looked at
the two, that they had been made
for each other, and when | heard
him cry out "Maud!" / knew that
he loved her. Just one word will
tell you that. l listened to hear her
voice. She said nothing, but she
held out her hand; not to take his
--oh, mol to keep him off. | think
he was going to kiss her.
Then they stood still, looking at