Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-09-10
Rena's Situation.

Rena'S Situation.
oh, l wish were rich,' said Rena
Lewis. out aloud. in the fullness Of her
heart. Il wish l could be fine lady
and play croquet in soft muslin edged
with lace, aud French kid boots, and
wear real birds Of paradise in my hat
like Miss Clara And leaning her ell
tows on the wide window seat she look
ed down through the morning screen of
Lamarque rose leaves at the merry par
ty on the lawn below.
Little Rena Lewis life had all been
one upward aspiration. She had no idea
where she was born. She only knew
that they had found her in basket on
the steps of the 'DorcsS Founding Asy-
lum,' with shawl wrapped around her,
and 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 secur'
ed her a good English education.
'Rena,' said Mrs. Brown. when she
was seventeen, you are too bright and
intelligent for mere servant'maid you
have more brains than are needed for
securing pots and busting chairs. How
would you like to become teacherT
'Oh, Mrs. Brown said she, 1T is
what have always dreamed Of
Mrs. Allen WAS here yesterday said
her mistress; she has = niece living
out at Georgetown Heights, who wants
a nursery goyerness for her little cir s.
Salary s25 a month-duties light and
agreeable. 1 think, Rena, you could
teach two little girls their reading and
spelling, and keep their ribbons fresh
and their pinafores cleans'
'Oh, know l couldv cried the girl,
with reddening cheeks and lips all gar
landed with happy smiles. 'But-my
clothes I've nothing but a dyed meri-
no and two faded calico dresses
'I'll see TO that, my dear said Mrs.
Brown, kindly. 'You have worked
faithfully for me and you deserve a
present. will give you an outfit; and
will tell Mrs. Allen, who has few
foolish ideas on the subject OF social ro-
sltion, that you are the orphan child oil
a friend of nine. It's little bit Of a
white lie, to be sure, but 1 don't think
the recording ange! will be very bald on
mo for it,
Sc Rena Lewis went TO the handsome
Italian villa on Georgetown Heights,
and fancied herself IN Eden. Mrs. Allen,
the younger, declared herself delighted
with the new governess. She's SC
pretty said Mrs. Allen, and has such
a soft, soaring voice, and Loo and Ollie
are so fond Of her. And she dresses
Clara's hair so exqulsltely; better than
.ny Partisan maid could do
For Miss Clara Allen, MIR. james
Alen's cousin from the South, was there
spending the summer, and it was Miss
Clara's dresses, Miss Clara's iewelry
and Miss Clara's general dash and gllt-
ter that had awakened all these longing
ideas in poor Rena's heart, especially
3 iuce Harold Reedc had begun to com,
there so much.
Harold Reede was the handsome
young rector Of a neishboring church
tall, dark and distingue. He had asked
Rens Lewis to take charge of a class il
the Sunday school he had escorted hel
home one rainy Sunday night, as court
eou.ly as if she had been one OF th'
royal prncesses and In her secre
heart Reua thought him the best, th'
noblest and the most beautiful Of human
beings. Just as the big round tear
were trembling on her eyelashes, be
hind the screen OF Lamarque roses, il
the still sunshine Of the August after
noon, Miss Aliens voice was heart
echoing on the stairs.
'Rena! Rena Lewis! are you deat
and buried. or what has become OF you 7
Rena started up hurriedly, brushing
the dew from her eyelashes.
Il am here. Miss Alen,' said she.
Can you play croquetP imperiousl.
called out the fair Clara.
"A little
Then come down at once said Mis-
Allen. Alice Harland tiresome thing
has gone home with a headache, and WI
want one more to finish the game.
don't suppose you are much OF a playel
but you will do better than nothing
Little Rena Lewis, far too much elat
cd by the prospect OF croquet to pa.
much hsed TO the ungraciousness OF tn
invitation, few to put On her hat, An
came blushing and smiling down stair
like an animated daisy. Rev. Hsrol
lReede, as it chanced, was her partner
and he thought he had never seen
fair and fresh creature as Rena, !
garden hat, with natures own roses o
her cheeks, and eyes that shone lik
stars beneath their dark fringes.
Am aiming rightf' she said, timit
lily, with uplifted mallet, one tiny fof
pressing the ball deep down into IN
grass.
Mr.. Reede smiled.
You could not have aimed more co
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