The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-30


idence Of Sir George Sammers was
called and not one of them lett with
cut q token OF kindness from the lady
of The muasion.
Little Ellen had something more
than toy TO comfort her, in the hope
that she might one day return to live
in the beautiful place. Aud her hope
had g good foundation, toe; for in
one month after her return the joyful
news arrived that she was to be pre-.
pared by The good matron aud sent
down as nndermaid to Lady Som.
mers
( 1t was JOYFUL day for Ellen when
she started IN the cab with her neat,
new box, aud clothes inside it, which
che thought. ionocsn,ly, would last
! forever.
You know, Felice,n said Lady
Sommers TO her maid, or the day
previous TO the arrival Of Ellen, II
pilied the poor little thing, and |
thought, if she were placed under
your training for some time, that she
would be so we'll able for her duties,
could recommend her to some one
who would value her, and where she
might fad home for years"
Yes, nv lady. It's just like your
goodness, my lady," replied The maid
FeIice, win Tightening Of her thin
lips.
"The matron says she can dress
hair nicely continued her mistress.
But she is certain TO require few
hints ffon you as to other duties /;
aud | nope, Feliee, you will be kind
TO the little orphan. aud leach her ali
that is required
les. ny LADY, replied Felice. in
Cat like, purFiBg voice. II always
try 10 please your ladyship to the
besl Of my poor ability And, as
she gave The finishing touch TO her
mistress 5 wayy golden hair, which
Tell iD natarai riDglets. she continued:
But ste must be very clever al
dressing heir before | trust her With
yours, my lady"
"On the contrary, intend to test
her skill on mine at once, Felice, =
replied the lady, good-nsturedly-
Do you, indeedl' muttered Felice,
after her mistress had left the room
Bring htgle brat here to suppiant
me. II lake csFe that she goes pretty
sooB, and TO Uoi quite 80 comfortable
a place as the 0spaaa Home"
After Ellea'z arrival Feice appear
ed 70 be her fieud; but Larrowly
Watched tie child, t. sBd if possible,
any apparent salIeaaess 10 her hich
sbs might twist iato rebellion.
No task she could eiFe was too
d.lEeuls for her .patienee-Do fault
6adiag where nc fault vas due could
provoke tie child 10 fetort OF resen,
ne Injustice aud at length Fell G
saw, slth modification, the listle maid
steal, day by day, into her LADY {
tg9od graessa
About this time iiitle articles which
child might fancy began TO dissp-
pear
Now il would be q bright ribbon,
now q pair Of my lsdy's gloves which
she would likely miss; +; again. fe =
yards Of valuable lace, or sweetmeaes
ffom the bo4sekeeper's room The
petty thefts were so well timed that
ho one in the large household could
be definitely accused F; but the atmos-
phere of the once bright home began
70 be oppressive for every oue
Poor Ellen time was telling upon
her, at all events for, instead of the
quiet, c0n;enied look she at frst wore,
her face, paler rnen ever. bad q
drawn, care wcrn expression. and
great dark circles we're Visible round
the beautiful eyes, from Which the
light seemed gone.
This change was owing to the hints
of Feliee, who, while protesting not
10 believe il herself, told Ellen that
the whole household believed her
guilty Of theft.
To ber sensitive nature the inabili-
ty Of ner proving her innocence was
torture and when at length Lady
SJmmefs kindly represented to ner
that she was very much disappointed
Ia hearing the evil report, but owing
to the interest she felt in her, wouid
tfy her little longer, Ellen quite
broke down, and, failing on her kuees,
declared her innocence.
IL would very much rather believe
you, my poor, ctild." said the lady
sindly; aad, indeed, | DO not under
stand why you should take what
does NOT belong 20 yoa, as believe
you have everything here you can
want; but the strange and uRaccount-
able lbiBy is that none of this hap
pened bsfJre you came 70 the place !;
and FeIice tells me you have been
frequesIly down TO tie village, and
seem TO know people there.
A strange, sudden light came over
the girls face, as she exclaimed
"Wby. my lady, Fe.ics sen: me her
self with letters and packets to q
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, deprecatiogly, IL did as / was
bid; and OH perhaps should not save
told you, nv lady"
Perhaps not, rom Felice's point
of view but l think it has given me
clew to the mystery
From this day there was marked
change in the manner of Lady Son-
mers 10 Ellen She was kinder than
ever she had been, and employed the
tie maid more frequently about her
person.
To Felice she was more reserved,
and, in fact, sh2 was quietly watch
iag that clever person, and mentally
comparing the story told by Der Of
Ellen with the one told by The child
in explanation.
The crafty Feliee noted this change,
and determined to take some more
certain method Of running Ellen in
the regard OF her mistress than the
petty thefts she had represented her
guilty Of, and which she found, some
how, had not the desired effect.
She had been in the habit of stealth
iIy visiting the little room OF the or
phan, alwsy hoping TO fad her box
open, but had never succeeded. Pass
ing one day she glanced 10, and to her
sha So NJ that tie kar NJ a iaf.