Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-22
"You were children when YOU last

"About twelve years old; but we live
near each other for six years before tina
Will she look down upon me now ,
scornfully as she did then ?' -
"Hush, you pain me ?u was the repl,
'Try to forget the dark days."
: NAY, for they make happy ones a
the brighter" was the gentle reply
"Bow to your partner"
J For the music of the ouadrille sounG
ed in the long room, and attention ws
required to the intricacies through whic
Miss Worthington and her partner prc
posed to lead their set.
When it was over, Esther, leaning o.
her partners arm, turned to find herse]
confronting Maude PiersOn, With
! sweet smile, she extended her hand.
"Have you forgotten me 2" she asked
i II remember YOU welI.n was the re
ply, in freezing tone, land I confes
my surprise is very great to meet
charity girl among my friends"
"a charity girl ~ cried several voices
"You may doubt me,n said Maude
answering them, "but let Miss Worth
ington deny, if she can, that she wa
taken from charity school to be th,
nursery maid of Mrs. Thurston, my
aunt's cousin and neighbor. Let hel
deny, if she can, that she did a menial'i
work for years in their house. She may
palm herself off as Mrs. Mortimer's
niece upon strangers, but 1, knowing
her, decline the honor of her acquaint.
ance." .#.,..a .r.-. f..-...rt
The delicate, beautiful Esther Worth.
lngton grew very pale during this in
sulting address, hut she drew herself
|
herseif, as that young lady ceased to
| speak.
"All you have said is quite true,n she
replied, and the only reason for conceal
ing the facts you now force upon nv
friends was the request of nv dear aunt.
Mrs. Mortimer. Mrs. Hursey, Lady
Ralston, and several Others of those who
honor me with their friendship, know
well the family history you force me to
relate to our friends here. You will par
don me for obtruding my private affairs
upon YOU but since Miss Pierson has
attacked my veracity must defend it,
My parents were married against the
wishes of my mothers father, who car.
rled his resentment to the grave, and
cut my mother out Of his will. When
I was babe, raY father died. and my
mothsg, i'll, feeble and penniless, was
taken to the work house where she, too,
died. His sister, Mrs. Mortimer, was in
Canada at the time, and unaware of my
existence.
What Miss Pierson has so delicately
told you of my childhood is quite true.
L was taken from the wOrkhOuse to fill
servants place; but my employers
were kind, and was allowed to attend
school in the winter. think they will
testify that IF my duties were menial
they were faithfully performed. When
was thirteen, my aunt returned home
and found me out. Since then 7 have
been her charge, and the kindest love
was lavished upon Ma until, at he=
death. became ths guest of my friend,
Mrs. Huysey. ! hope you will pardon
me Sor taking up SO much of your time;
and if you desire, with Miss Pierson, to
decline the further acquaintance of
wOrkhouse girl, 1 can only accept your
decision with some regret for a deceit
that was only in accordance with the
wishes of the dead"
"Stay moment" said Lord Frederick
Seymour, as the friends of. the beautiful
girl would have pressed more warmly
than ever around her; ''let me speak
one word. BY the request of Miss
Worthington, + have refrained from
mentioning the honor she has conferred
upon me, and which is the crowning
pride and happiness of my life, When
l asked her to become my wife. to give
me the priceless treasure other love, she
told me the ssaIy you have just heard,
and GOO, Joined my entreaties to those
of her aunt Mot" he added haughtily,
"that I valued my future wife the less,
but l understood that, even in our So
ciety. there are some igHohle enough to
count her early misfortunes as a shame
ful fact, aAd ignore the beauty of charac-
ter that could keep her noble, pure and
true, even in the lowly home to which
the misfortunes of her parents condemn
ed her. Miss Worthingtop, wilKyou take
my arm to the conservatory ?-you are
pale and need sest."
With an air of tender affection, of
fond pride, he led her through the group
of friends who spoke war,sest words as
she passed.
/ Finding her 8 seat near the fountain,
he saI6, An low tone: II am glad they
lall know it, Essie, for secre. Is trou-
blesome burden"
"But, you-ah, Fred, if it shames
you"
"Hush I never honored you so high
ly, or loved you so fondly, as did when
that girl found insulting taunts answer
ed by your own dlgnified frankness.-
We will not speak of it again. Rest here
till bring you an ice, and we will re-
turn to our friends"
"Maude," Cora said, as the girls un-
bound their hair in their own room be-
fore retiring, II don't think your little
scene was altogether success. From
the warmth of her friends, when Esther
Worthington returned to the drawing
room, and Lord Frederick Seymour's
devotion, I really imagine you placed
that lady upon higher pedestal of fa-
vor than ever, in your amiable endeavor
to take her down."
A WORD TO HUSBAND.-D0n't think
when you have won wife, you have
won a slave