West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-03-08

Further conversation on the subject
was interrupted by a message for Lady
SOmmers
" l wouldn't wonder, Ellen. said the
matron, as she met the girl half an hour
/ atterward, eff Lady Sommers would
do something for you. She asked me
about YOU"
" / would like to be maid to her, she
/ looks so kind replied the child.
When the shades of evening were clos
/ ing down, the children bade adieu TO
/ Suunymead Hall, as the residence of Sir
! George SOmmers was called and not
one of them left without a token of
kindness from the lady of the mansion.
Little Ellen had something more than
4 toy TO comfort her, in the hope that
\ she might one day return to live in the
| beautiful place. And her hope had n
/ good foundation, too; for in one month
after her return the joyful news arrived
that she was to be prepared by the good
/ matron and sent down as undermaid to
/ Lady SOmmers
1t was a joyful day for Ellen when she
/ started in cab with her neat new box,
and clothes inside it, which she thought.
innocently, would last her forever.
" You know, Felice, said Lady Som
mers 10 her maid, on the day previous
70 the arrival of Ellen " / pitied the
poor little thing, and / thought, if She
were placed under your training for
some time, she would be so well able for
| her duties, | could recommend her TO
some one who would value her, and
where she might find home for years" ="
' Yes, my lady. It's Just like your
goodness, my lady" replied the maid
Felice, with a tightening of her thin
lips.
The matron says she can dress hair
nicely" continued her mistress. But
she j. certain to require a few hints
from you as TO other duties; and hope.
Felice, you will he kind TO the little
orphan, and teach her all that is re-
quired."
" Yes, my lady," replied Fclice, in a
cat-likc, purring voice. always try
to please your lady ship TO the best of
my poor ability And, rs She gave the
finishing touch TO her MISTRESS wayv
golden hair, which fell in natural ring
lets, she continued But she must be
very clever at dressing hair before |
trust her with yours, my lady"
" On the contrary, intend to test her
skill on mine at once FeliCe," replied
the lady, good-naturcdly.
" DO you, indeedW muttercd Felice,
after her mistress had left the room.
Bring a little brat here TO supplant
me I'll take care she goes pretty soon,
and TO not quite so comfortable a place
as the Orphan Home"
After Ellen's arrival Felice appeared
TO I've her friend but she narrowly
watched the child, to find, if possible,
any apparent sullenness in her which
she might twist into rebellion.
No task she could give was too diff
cult for her patience-no fault-fndinC
where no fault was due could provoke
the child to rotort or resent the injustice :;
and at length Felice saw, with mortinca-
ton, the little maid steal, day by dav,
into her lady good graces.
about this time little articles which a
child might fancy began to disappear.
Now 1t would be q bright ribbon, now
a pair of my ladys gloves, which she
had liked, and would De likely TO miss ::
again, a few yards of valuable lace, or
swectmeats from the housekeeper's q
room. The petty thefts were 20 well
timed that no one in the large house
hold could be definitely accused but
the atmosphere of the once bright home
began 10 be oppressive for every one.
Poor Ellen time was telling upon
her, at all events; for, instead Of the
quiet, contented look she at first wore,
her face, paler than ever, had a drawn,
careworn expression, and great dark
circles were visible round the beautiful
eyes, from which the light seemed gone.
This change was owing TO the hints Of
Felice, who, while protesting not to be-
lievc it herself told Ellen that the
whole household believed her guilty of
| theft
To her sensitive nature the inability
Of her proving her innocence was tor
ture; and when at length Lady Som
mcrs kindly represented TO her that she
was very much disappointed in hearing
the evil report but owing to tn interest
she felt in her, she would try her little
longer, Ellen quite broke down. and.
taxing on her knees, declared her inno-
cence.
" would very much rather believe
| you, my poor child said the lady,
Kindly; and, indeed, ] do not under
stand why you should take what does
| not belong 10 you, az ] believe you have
! everything here you can want but the
| strange and unaccOuntable thing is that
none Of this happened before you came
/ 20 the place and Felice tells me you
/ have been frequently down 20 the viii
/ lage, and seem to know people there"
A strange, sudden light came over
\ the girls face as she exclaimed
=" Why, my lady, FeIice sent me her
\ self with letters and packets To a brother
| Of hers who lives there, and begged me
to tell no one Of it and as she was so
| good to me, said the child, deprecat-
ingly, "I did as / was bid and oh
| perhaps ] should not have told you, nv
ladyw
Perhaps not, from Felice's point of
view but ] think it has given me a
| clew 70 the mystery"
From this day there was marked
/ change in the manner OF Lady Sommers
/ 20 Ellen. She was kinder than ever she
had been, and employed the little maid
more frequently about her person To
| felice she was more reserved and. i'm
fact, she was quietly watching that
clever person, and mentally comparing
the story told 10y her Of Ellen with the
one told by the child i'm explanation.
The crafty Felice noted this change,
and determined to take some more GER
tain method Of running Ellen i'm the re-
gard Of her mistress than the petty
thefts she had represented her guilty Of.
and which she found, somehow. had not