Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-19
A Sarcasm OF Fate.

A Sarcasm oi Fate.
A very elegant looking letter lay in
little Minnie Nelsors Lsnds-a letter
that bore u delicious perfume of vic.
lets-a letter addressed III q fine, flow.
ing hand, and the envelope Of which
was stamped with an intricate mono
gram, that. unless Minnie had known,
she could never have deciphered rs
Mrs. Paul St. Eustace Carriscourt mi
tails.
The girls small, pretty hands grew
Just trihe cold and trembling as she
took up the letter to open it, because
80 much-oh, SO much !-depended
upon what was in the letter because it
either meant new, Independent life,
in which she would not only earn her
own living, but very materially assist
in taking care of the dear, gentle little
mother, and the two boys Of five and
seven, or it doomed her to the old, tire
some routine, out of which Minnie felt
at times she must fly.
Mrs. Velsor looked up from stock
ing she was darning, and said nothing,
seeing the nervous glow in Minnie's
eyes. Then, with little, half-desper-
ate laugh, the girl tore open the thick,
satiny envelope.
cts almost like an ice. cold plunge.
bath, but-here goes, mamma
She hurriedly read the short, friend.
ly note, and by the quick tears that
gathered in her eyes, and the smiles
that parted her lips, and the flush that
bloomed like red roses on her cheeks,
it was quite plain that the news was
good news.
Then she dashed the letter on the
floor, and rushed over to her mother.
and kissed her, laughing and crying at
the same time.
"Oh mamma! Mrs. Carriscourt
has given me the position, and she
wants me to come immediately-to-
morrow I! Only think Five hundred
dollars q year, and she assures me I
must make myself perfectly at home in
her house; and she says 1 am to have q
room to myself, and to eat with Pau
line and Pauletta, in the nursery. Oh,
mamma, it will be just - glorious |!
Aren't you glad, delighted ?"
Her blue eyes were dancing, and her
cheeks glowing like roseleaf.
Mrs. Velsor's sweet, sad voice was in
such odd contrast to her child's eager,
tones
How can be delighted to have you
go away from me. dear? Besides, I
am so afraid you will not realize your
vivid anticipations. The outside world,
which seems to you so rose-colored
and golden, will not be what you
think"
"Oh, mamma, what Jobs comfort
er you would be! But how can I help
being happy-perfectly happy, except
being away from you-in New York, in
magnificent house, among people of
wealth and distinction, and with these
two sweet children my only care =?
Why. mamma, will ride them, and I
am to make myself perfectly at home, ;
the letter says and you remember
what charming lady We thought Mrs.
Carriscourt was, when she was visiting
Doctor Mansfield in the summer"
Mrs. Velsor sighed softly. It seemed
80 cruel to pour the chill water of dis.
enchantment on Minnie's bright hopes.
Well, dear. perhaps I am growing
cynical, as l grow older. Certainly
you deserve fair fate; and now, to de.
scend to matters of earth earthly. SUP.
pose you see if the beans are boiling
dry"
The third day thereafter-a day fra.
grant with the smell of frost in the
ara day when the turned leaves
sailed slowly. stately down through the
tender, golden atmosphere, and the
hush OF mid-October was over all the
earth and sky, Minnie Velsor went
away from the little cottage where she
was born and had lived, into the world
waiting to receive her--all her eirlish
hopes on gladdest wing. all her rosiest
dreams bursting in fondest realization.
1t was Q splendid place, Mrs. Paul
Of. Eustace Carriscourt's palatial resi-
dence on Fifth Avenues house that
seemed to Minnies fancy like a trans.
lated bit OF fairy story, with it's pro.
fusion OF flowers and lace draperies. its
mirrors, its glittering silver, its luxu-
mes and elegance, of which she never
~~eeSus ouu Vi NuOSc uses She
was equally ignorant.
Mrs. Carziscourt received her with q
Charming graciousness and pstted her
on the shoulder, and told her she hoped
she would not let herself get home-sick.
and installed her IN her beautiful little
room. With its pinE and drab ingram
carpet and chestnut; suit, and diuitr
curtains at the windows.
Then Minnie made some tritlnz LIT.
lie alteration II her toilet. and pro
oeeded to take literal advantage Of Mrs
Carrlseourts invitation 10 make herself
al home IN the great. beautiful parlors
oeios, where she made q chsrmingly
sweet, quaint little picture. as she sa.
nestled IN huge silken char, the col
or oi tie rpees on her cheeks. and at
which Mise CieouA Carriscourt looked
IN Astonished, lnperious disdsir. and
M. Geofrey Fischer II undisgui.ed
sdnirauon. a. they two entered the
room al the farttes, entrance.
by Jove. What . lovely glrl Who