Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-02-25
A Deplorable Mistake.

"About Ann ]" returned Mr.. Garret,
in surprise. "Why, it's only few days
ago that l heard you boasting to Mrs.
Brenmer you had the best cook IN New
York"
$50 she is good cook. don't expect
to get such another for twice the wages.
It's not about her work-she does all
that well-but I've no trust in her."
'What has she done %
What has she done p echoed the la
dy, somewhat sharply. "Nothing, of
course, or I'd soon send her packing
But she's shy and secret, and won't tell
me anything about herself; and has RI
diculous airs about sleeping alone, and
won't even allow Amanda inside her
bedroom door There's something
wrong, depend upon it. If there wasn't
screw loose somewhere she wouldn't
be here for such low wages"
''lf that's fault against her. you can
raise them" suggested Garret.
"There. James, you may as we'll 90 to
your office, if that's all you have to say"
cried the mistress of the house. "But,
mark my words before you go, I'll find
Ann Walker out before long,
Mr.. Garret sighed as he arose to de-
part. He well knew that remonstrance
would avail nothing, for Mrs. Carrots
prejudices were as the laws of the Modes
and Persians, that changeth not, so be
took himself off without another word.
amanda p cried the lady, when left
alone, "bring Horace up
In response to this summons large,
slatternly girl of eleven or twelve made
her appearance from the basement, with
little boy in her arms, who made
snatch at an egg stand and knocked it
on the floor in passing the table.
"YOu awkward, careless gypsy !" said
Mrs. Garret, with great spirit, "that's
the second thing you've broken this
morning. Who do you think is going
to pay for all you destroy? Come here,
Horace, love, and have nice piece of
toast. What's Ann doing. Amanda ?'
"She's dressing the turkey, mum ?"
Ibid she scour the front steps this
morning?
"Yes, mum she got up at FIVE o'clock
go and tell her expect her to wash
the drawing-room windows before din
ner."
Upon my word" muttered Mrs. Gar
ret, resentfully, as Amanda retired to
carry her message. "I'll pull her pride
down for her bit. Must wash the steps
at five in the morning forsooth lest folks
see her at it. I'll take that out of her. "
In a few minutes Ann came up to
clear the dishes of. She was tall and
well-proportioned, about twenty years of
age, her face pale, refined in feature,
not handsome, but singularly intelligent
and earnest in its expression.
She looked little anxious and trou-
bled as she noiselessly arranged the
room, and when she was ready to 60, she
said, in very soft voice:
"May | ask as favor, ma'am, that
the cleaning of the front windows be put
off till early in the morning?'
"No," answered her mistress, curtly,
IL want them done now"
81 don't wish to be seen by passers
BY" she urged, almost pleadingly. dts
of importance to me not to be seen by
by some who might know me"
"You will obey my orders, girl, OIL
leave the house! !' returned Mrs. Garret
beginning to culver with temper.
The servant courtesied and withdrew
In few minutes she was at the win
dows, but in close sun bonnet, to Mrs
Carrots unspeakable disgust.
81 think can see through my lady,
was her inward comment. "Shes som
jail-bird the detectives are after. II
lay trap for her, and if she's nc
caught in it, my penetration isn't much.
Rising from her sewing machine
which she had been busily plying i
} Master Horace's behalf, while her brai
as busiIy revolved, she unlocked be
desk, took from it twenty-dollar not
carefully marked the number, and droI
ped it. as if by accident, under the tabl
( Then she cut and basted some mo-
p work, making enough rubbish about IL
e floor to insure the servants having
use her dust pan before dinner By IL
time this was accomplished she disco
Z cred little Horace and the machine
it such danger of coming to grief togeth
e that, first driving that innocent to Il
other side of the room, and then pickil
up her scattered shuttle and reels, 81
called Ann up stairs to put the parl
to rights, and left the room, taking He
ace with her.
When Mr.. Garret came home to di
g ner he saw by his wife's portentous ia
re that something dreadful had occurred.
IL james" said she, solemnly, Il ha
- found that girl out in theft.
in "Who? Amanda %
"Pshaw no. Your superior girl, Ar
II | Oh L. .,,nk l.I-zI