Bismarck tribune., 1879-08-30
RENA's SITUATION.

kENA,Ss SITUATION. 1g4f
''Oh, I wish l were rich,'' said Rena
Lewis, out aloud IN the fullness of her
heart. ""i wish I could be fine lady and.
play croquet in soft muslin edged with
lace, and French kid boets, and wear real.
birds of paradise IN my hat like Miss
Clara And leaning her elbows on the
wide window seat she looked down
through the morning screen of Lanlarque.
rose leaves at the merry party 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 sDorcas Founding Asylum >
with a shawl wrapped around her, and
pair Of bright brown eyes staring up at
the sky. She had been ssbound out" at
ten years old, and her usual quicknesss s.
and spirit CHANGING to attract the atten-
tion Of her mistress, had secured her
good English education. ~. m . es ss
:sRena,' said Mrs. Brown, when she
was seventeen, ssyou are too bright and
intelligent for mere servant-maid; you
have more brains than are needed for
securing pots and dusting chairs. How
would you like to become teacher?' Z
"Oh, Mrs. Brown" said she, 1T is.
what have always dreamed off, 81
"Mrs. A,en was here yesterday "sald
her mistress; s'she has nice living out
at Georgetown Heights, who wants a
governess for her little girls, Salary $25
atmonth; duties light and agreeable: l
think, Rena, you could teach. two little
girls their reading and spelling, and keep
their ribbons fresh and their pinafores
clean?"
"Oh, know I could p cried the girl,
with reddening cheeks and lips all gar
landed with happy smiles. ''But-my
clothes; I've nothing but dyed merino
and two faded calico dresses"
sI'll see to that, my dea1,'' said Mrs.
Brown, kindly. "You have worked taith-
fully for me and you deserve present:
will give you an outfit; and I will tell
Mrs. Allen, who has few foolish ideas
on the subject of social position, that you
are the orphan child of friend of mine.
It's little bit of white lie, to be sure,
but I 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
tancied herself in Eden. Mrs. Allen, the
younger, declared herself delighted with
the new governess. She's so pretty" " said
Mrs.Alen, "and has such soft, soaring
voice, and Loo and Ollie are so fond OF
her. And she dresses Clara's hair so ex.
quisitely; better than any Partisan maid
could do"
For Miss Clara Allen, Mr.. James Aliens
cousin from the South, was there spend
ing the summer, and it was Miss Clara's
dresses, Miss Clara's jewelry, and Miss
Clara's general dash and glitter that had
awakened all these longing ideas in poor
Rena's heart. especially since Harold
Rcede had begun to come there so
much. ..a .a.-.
Harold Reede was the handsome young
rector of a neighboring church-tall, dark
and distingue. He had asked Rena Lewis
to take charge of class in the Sunday
school; he had escorted her home one raj
ny Sunday night, as courteously as If she
had been one of the royal princesses; and
in her secret heat Rena thought him the
best, the noblest and the most beautiful
of human beings. Just as the big round
tears were trembling on her eyelashes, be-
hind the screen of Lamarque roses, in the
still sunshine of the August afternoon,
Miss Aliens voice was heard echoing on
the stairs.
ssRena Rena Lewis are you dead and
buried, or what has become of you?''
Rena started up hurriedly, brushing
the dew from her eyelashes.
II am here, Miss Aleu-" said she.
.Can you play croquet? impcriously
called out the fair Clara.
"a little"
ssrhen come down at once said Miss
Allen. ssAlice Hartland. tiresome thing,
has gone home with headache, and we
want one more to finish the game. |
dent suppose you are much OF a player
but you will be better than nothing"
Little Rena Lewis, far too much elated
by the prospect Of croquet to pay much
heed to the ungraclousness OF the invita-
tion, flew to put on her hat, and came
blushing and smiling down stairs like an
animated daisy Rev. Harold Reede, as
it CHANGED, was her partner, and he
thought he had never seen so fair and
fresh creature as Rena, in a garden hat
with natures own roses Oh her cheeks
and eyes that shone like stars beneath
their dark fringes.
taAm l aiming right?'' she. said, tim.
div, with uplifted mallet, one tiny foot
pressing the ball deep down into the the
grass. :, ifnF
8 s:You could not have aimed more cor;
rectly,n" said be-; and asry7s Miss Allen, who
was watching them from the back ground
bit bel, lips and secretly regretted ne he1
haste in calling Miss Lewis to the rescue
Gan artful, flirting little pusFs" tho thought