The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-08
THE HISTORY OF A LIFE.
~ THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER V.-(CoNTINUED.)


"Euphemia, woman of the name OF
Margaret Cell wants to see you. Won't
you authorize me to send her awayW
There was a long pause, and Mr.. Beloe
glanced interrogatively into the room.
Euphemia was there, just as he had left
her; but her face was turned toward him
now, instead of towards the fire. He
could not see her expression, for the
toilet candles were not yet lighted; but
when he repeated his question, the voice
with which she answered him was
actually frozen, with kind of despair
that tone can demonstrate as well as
words.
81 know her-let her come in"
'There!" exclaimed the woman, tri-
umphantly; "what did l tell you?" and
brushing past him, slammed and locked
the door in his face.
Mr.. Beloe stood hesitating moment,
surprised and bewildered, and then he
went to his own chamber, deciding in his
own mind that this Margaret Cell must
be some servant whom his daughter had
once befriended, and had not still the
courage to deny.
Alone with the woman, Euphemia held
out both her tremlous hands with a ges-
ture Of wild entreaty.
"Leave me, l beseech you. Your mere
presence is cruel torture"
The woman laughed little under her
breath.
81 suppose it is; we never like to be
reminded of our sins, do wew
"Or of our sorrows. Margaret, l never
harmed you, remember. Be merciful,
then, and leaye me- l can not bear much
more"
"You see what it is to be a fine lady"
said Margaret, scornfully. "What have
you had to bear, / should like to know,
compared with me? There was days to-
gether last winter when | never broke
bread"
~ would have helped you"
"That's pretty, too, when you never
even let me know where you lived"
"I thought you would be always COM
Ing" murmured Euphemia, humbly
"and they would begin to suspect in the
house that something was wrong. And
besides that, how could l tell where to
Address you?
81 left you an address,"
'True; but so long ago. A hundred
things might have happened since then -
perhaps you fancied that had acted
up to your kind advice, and gone to
Ameriky," replied Margaret, with a
sneer. "You tried hard to persuade me
it was the best thing could do"
because l really thought so. With
your habits, with could you do in Eng
land?"
"My habits, indeed! What was the
matter with them? Supposing l did
like a drop Of something comfort
ing now and then, that did not
harm any one but myself whereas
some peoples habits l could men
ton wasn't half so credible. There
I'd take some preaching from those who
was better than myself; but when you
begin to lecture, shall give you my
mind pretty candid, and so may as well
tell you at once"
'1s it money you want, Margaret?"
asked Euphemia. 81 will give you all l
have, willingly"
"No, it isn't exactly that. am tired
knocking about the world, and want a
home You'd better give your maid
warning at once, SO that | can come in
her place"
At this cool proposition, Euphemia,
who was not of patient disposition, nat
urally, felt her spirit begin to rise.
"You-my maid!" she answered, con-
temptuously. "You must know that
that is quite out Of the question"
"WhyY'
"You can't possibly understand alady's
maids duties; and besides, your man
ners-"
"I can behave myself well enough
when | like. Not that that has got
much to do with it, however; for you'll
either have me or go without, and SO you
can take your choice"
"What do you meanw
'I mean that you won't be likely to
have maid long, unless. you marry Mr..
Roper; and your marrying Mr.. Roper
depends upon me and my will, fancy"
Suppose l defy your
"You can, of course, if you like, and
in good many cases, dare say, it would
be the best thing to do. But when peo-
pie have only got to tell what they saw
to get you pto trouble, it's as well to
leave defying alone, and make friends
instead What is this bell?"
"It is for dressing. Ny maid will be
here in one minute, and you had better
60. Twill see you tomorrow, after Ihave
thought the matter over quietly, and let
you have my answer then"
"Well, where shall l see you to-mor-
roww replied the woman, sullenly. "Pm
willing enough to come to terms; and if
you can keep comfortable home over
my head elsewhere, don't 50 much care
about living with you. But | mean to
have my comforts after all l have gone
through; and il you can't spare me two
hundred year, I'll make up my mind
to servitude, that's ALL"
"Wait at the first gate into the park
you come to on your way out, taking 10
the right, and turning, of course, and be
there by eleven"