Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-16

iady, remarkably popular woman, in
somuch that Whatever she proposes at
any time is considered of great lmpor-
tance, and sure to end in way agreea-
BILE to her views
When Lima woke the sun was sinking
in u wealth of glory. streaks Of ambient
and gold stole softly in through the hall
closed curtains. and trembed here and
there on the bright-unted carpet as if
they were 10th to ieare their cheerful
prison. Lima got up instantly and made
herself ready for tea. She had jus,
given the finishing touch to hasty
toilet. when some one knocked a. her
door. On opening it neat little servant
girl. who called herself Cleo, presented
herself, and said that tea was ready,
and the family was waiting her in the
draWing-room, aud she had come to
show her down. Without q word Lima
followed her down stairs. and was intro
duced to Mr. Dupont and tho three
beautiful children Minnie, the Oldest,
was twelve years old. Nettie eight and
Ella, the youngest. was only six. They
seemed at first very shy ftheir teacher,
but in lew days this difIidence wore of,
and the little things learned to love Lima
with an affection that both surprised
and pleased her, Tor the timely man,fes-
tation OF their love assured Lima that she
had something to interest her, and while
away the otherwise tedious days. For.
by this time. she was fully aware that
her situation there was regarded by
Madam Dupont as one not allowing her
equal footing with herself, but regarded
and treated her simply as the hired girl
that she was. For some reason Lima
was g lad Of this. for she considered Mrs.
Dupont coarse. vulgar woman; and
furthermore. she felt that an intimate as
sociation with one so incongenial with
herself must needs be disadvantage to
her. Therefore, she was perfectly sat
i,tied. when school hours were over, to
take walk with the children and do all
that was in her power to amuse and
please them; Tor. as regards the children,
Lima determined to do her duty in every
sense OF the word.
With the exception Of meal-times. she
saw but little OF the rest OF the family.
Now and then. rs the notion took her.
Madam Dupont would send for Lima to
come and play for her. IL this attain
ment. as well rs many others. Lima was
very proficient. The first few weeks of
her stay passed pleasantly enough. She
was Tar more COZ tented than she had apy
idea, from the first appearance of things,
than che dared to hope that she could
possibly be. She had pleasant room.
comfortably furnished in this she had q
good piano and guitar. On both OF
these she gave the children lessons; be-
side, she had an assortment of music
tor both Instruments, and good selec.
ton OF well-assorted books. This, Min
nIe said. was done by order of papa
when cousin Clara Morton was visiting
them. Lima believed this for two rea-
sons: first and foremost. she did not
think the childrens' mother had sense
enough to exercise such superior taste
In the selection Of books and music; and
finally she did not think that Mrs. Dupont
would take that trouble on herself for
only poor soverness; but it mattered
not to Lima who it was done for. one thing
was sure. she reaped her share of good
from them ; tor to one OF Lina's ambition
these were positive luxury.
When Lima first went there she was
awakened several times very early in
the morning by great noise and confu-
sion down stairs. These outbursts
frightened ber very much at first, aud
she thought that surely burglars were in
the house. and the police was taking
them into custody. Imagine her con-
sternatlon when she found it was Madam
Dupont scolding poor Mr. Dupont, and
threatening all manner of things against
HIM. and chastisipg in a heartless way
the unfortunate domestics who CHANGED
to aggravate her in the least. Lima be-
came accustomed. however, to this dis.
order in the family. and setting it aside
as one OF its jars" she would not a.
low 1t to disturb her. Yet. she never
heard them fussing but what che
thought of her own happy home. whose
Tranquil and unpretentious quiet was
never marred by such harsh, rough
words. but love and peace united there,
taught the soul that even on earth there
Is high and holy existence for those
who choose to ennoble their lives by
to that powerful influence which
attends THU gs Of chaste. refined ma
ture The most odious duty which Lima
had to perform WAS that of reading
French to Mrs. Dupont. That amiabIe
lady s susceptlbilltes would only allow
her meagrc approximations OF merit;
therefore. much of Lina's goo reading
was lost to all save herself. for Mrs. Du-
pont invariably went to sleep before
Lima read two pages. and usually our
youthful reader closed her book with the
that she was the most bene
Fited by the daily exercise with which
she went through.
As said In previous chapter, that
at Madam Duponts was
hrown into state of the direst conIu-
'ion, on account OF an expected visit |
rom her brother, and / do think that |
'verv person about that household must |
lave been glad when everything was in
'rder and waiting his arrival, from the
irst house-maid down to the cook How
ver, they were not to wait long. tor
hat evening brought the visitor. Just
8 he was in the act of getting out OF the
arrlage, Lima walked casually to the
no, thinking OF seeing any one,
ut to admire the beauty OF the evening.
'as the soul object that called her
ither. She retreated hastily, but not
efore she had seen him sufficiently to
ssure herself that he was a thorough [
,an ,,T tho ,vorI1 ond r,no {or ho-. | ,