The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-23
RENA'S SITUATION.

= W y ~ stAOoNS Ia Sl3S "a
heart. II wish l could be Il fine lady
and play croquet in soft muslin edged
with lace, and French kid boots, and
wear real birds Of paradise in my hat
like Miss Clara And leaning her ell
bows on the wide window seat she
looked down through the morning
screen Of Lamarque rose leaves at the
merry party on the lawn below.
Little Rena Lewis life had all been
one upward aspiration. She had n"
idea where she was born. She only
knew that they had found her in 4 bas-
ket on the steps of the "Dorcas Found
ling ASYLUM" with a shawl wrapped
around her, and a pair of bright brown
eyes staring up at the sky. She had been
bound out" at ten years old. and her
unusual quickness and spirit CHANGING
to attract the attention Of her mistress,
had secured her q good English educa-
ton.
"Rena," said Mrs. Brown, when she
was seventeen, "you are too bright and
intelligent for o mere servant-maid:
you have more brains than are needed
for securing pots and busting chairs.
How would you like to become 4
teacher?"
"Oh, Mrs. Brown" said she. ait is
what | have always dreamed Of"
Mrs. Allen was here yesterday" said
her mistress; "shc has q niece living
out at Georgetown Heights, who wants
a nursery governess for her little girls:
Salary 1925 q month-dutieS light and
agreeable. I think, Rena, you could
teach two little girls their reading and
spelling. and keep their ribbons fresh
and their pinafores clcan?"
ooh, l know l could!w cried the girl,
with reddening checks and lips all gar
landed with happy smiles. "But-my
clothes; I've nothing but n dyed merino
and two faced calico dresses"
IN see to that, my DEAR" said Mrs.
Brown. kindly. You have worked
faithfully for me and you deserve ::
present. I will give you IN outfit; and
| will tell Mrs. Allen. who has a few
foolish ideas on the subject of social
position, that you are the orphan child
Of q friend Of mine. It's a little bit of I
white lie, to be sure, but / don't think
the recording angel will be very hard
on me for it."
So Rena Lewis went to the handsome
Italian villa on Georgetown Heights,
and fancicd herselfin Eden. Mrs. Allen,
the younger. declared herself delighted
with the new governcSs. "Sle's so
pretty" said Mrs. Allen, land has such
n soft. soaring voice, and Loo and Ollie
are so fond of her. And she dresses
Ciara's hair so eXquisitely; better than
any Partisan maid could do"
For Miss Clara Allen, Mr.. James
Aliens cousin from the South, was there
spending the summer, and it vas Miss
Clara's dresses, Miss ,Clara's jewelry,
and Miss Clara's general dash and gilt
ter that had awakened all these longing
ideas in poor Rena's heart, especially
since Harold Reede had begun to come
there so much.
Harold Reede was the handsome young
rector of a neighboring church-tall,
dark and d%istingue. He had asked Rena
Lewis to take charge OF q class in the
Sunday-school; he had escorted her home
one rainy Sunday night, rs courteous
" rs if she had been one of ;he royal
%princesses; and in her secret heart Rena
thought him the best, the noblest and
the most beautiful of human beings.
Just rs the big round tears were trem-
bling on her eyelashes, behind the screen
of Lamarque roses, in the still sunshine
Of the August afternoon, Miss Aliens
voice was heard echoing on the stairs.
"Rena.Re Lewis! are you dead and
buried. or what has become of you?"
Rena started up hurriedly, brushing
the dew from her eyelashes.
Il am here. Miss Allen" said she.
"Can you play croquet9" i~mperiously
called out the fair Clara.
"a little"
"Then come down at once" said Miss
Allen. "Alice Harland tiresome thing.
has gone home with a headache, and we
want one more to finish the game. l
don't suppose you are much of a player
but you will do better than nothing"
Little Rena Lewis. far to much elated
by the prospect of croquet to pay much
heed to the ungraciousness of the invita-
tion. flew to put on her hat, and came
blushing and smiling down stairs like
IN animated daisy. Rev. Harold Reede,
rs it CHANGED, wa her partner, and he
thought he had never seen so fair and
fresh q creature as Rena, in garden hat.
with natures own roses on her cheeks.
anu eyes that shone like stars beneath
tnelr lark frlnScS.
Am I aiming right" she said, TIM
idly, with uplifted mallet. one tiny foot
pressing the ball deep down into the
grass.
Mr.. Reede smiled.
You could not have aimed more
correctly" said he; and Miss Allen, who
was watching them from the back
ground, bit her lips and secretly re-
GREETED her haste in calling Miss Lewis
to the rescue.
An artful. flirting little puss."
thought she. But at this moment Mrs.
81. Jcrcme--a fine lady, with 4 be-
rnpged countenance and a costume like
unto the French plates in the magazines
called out. t~ragically:
It's the very one"
Dear me, Mrs. st. Jerome" said
Clara, with 4 nervous Start. what can
you near by frightening one out of ones
wits?"
II have seen her ut Mrs. Browns,
cried the fine lady. ~ knew her coun-
trnance was familiar to me- never yet
was mistaken in Il farr-scourinS the
front doorsteps and sweeping out the
hall"
"WhO on earth DO you mean crIeC
Mrs. Allen, half inclined to believe her
friend was going mad.
Il mean her" said Mrs. St. Jerome,
pointing straight at poor b.ushing Rena
with the handle Of her pearl-and-silver
fan.
But you must be mistaken" said
Mrs. Allen.
"She is not mistaken" said Rena,
with burning cheeks. III was Mrs.
Browns servant-maid before 1 came
here"
Miss Allen recoiled from the contact OF
Rena's futtering scar. Mrs. St, Jerome
sank upon a garden seat, with her
smelling-bottle pressed to her nose.
Mrs. Allen, drew herself up haughtily.
You never told me tlis." said she.
Rena's lips quivered, the tears rushed to
her eyes.
Was it any disgrace:?" said she: -.
"Of course you won't keep her" said
Clara. :.
land I shall never forgive Mrs. Brown
for nracticing such a deceit as this upon
me- ., -.
Little Rena dropped her mallet on the
ora. and ran into the house, scarcely
waiting until she had reached her own
room, to burst into the bitterest tears
she had ever shed. ,,u
"is is such a cruel world" she
sobhed: "oh! why will people look
IA sneat so unkindly? oh, / wish that