Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-07-31
Rena's Situation.

"Oh, I wish I were rich" sal,
Rena Lewis, out aloud, in the full
ness of her heart. 81 wish | coul,
be fine lady and play croquet il
soft muslin edged with lace, ant
French kid boots, and wear rea
birds of paradise in my hat, lik,
Miss Clara" And leaning her ell
bows on the wide window seat sh,
looked down through the morning
screen of Lamarque rose leaves a
the merry party on the lawn below
Little Rena Lewis lite had al
been one upward aspiration. She
had no idea where she was born
She only knew that they had found
her In a basket on the steps of the
Dorcas Founding Asylum, with d
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 hel
unusual quickness and spirit chanc
ing to attracting the attention of
her mistress, had secured her a
good English education.
"Rena,' said Mrs. Brown, when
she was seventeen, ''you are too
bright and intelligent for a mere
servant-maid !; you have more
brains than are needed for securing e
pots and busting chairs. Low
would you like to become teach
er 90
ooh, Mrs. Brown said she, "it
is what | have always dreamed Of"
"Mrs. Allen was here yesterday
said her mistress "she has a niece
living out at Georgetown Heights,
who wants a nursery governess for
her little girls. Salary $50 u
month-duties light and agreea-
BILE. l think, Rena, you could
teach two little girls their reading
and spelling, and keep their rib
bons fresh and their pinafores
clean e.
"Oh, I know could !'' cried the
girl, with reddening cheeks and
lips all garlaEded with smiles.
"Bu.-my clothes; I've nothing
but a dyed merino 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 o 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 | don't think
the recording angel will be very
hard on me Tor it.
So Rena Lewis went to the
handsome Italian villa on George
town Heights, and fancied herself
in Eden. Mrs. Allen, the younger,
declared herself delighted with the
new governess. "She's so pretty
said Mrs. Allen, "and has such a
soft, soaring voice, and Loo and
Ole are so fond of her. And she
dresses Clara's hair so exqnisitely;
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
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 Reede had begun to
come there SO much.
Harold Reede was the handsome
young rector OF neighboring
chulch-tall, dark aud daStingue.
He had asked Rena Lewis 20 take
charge of class in the Sunday
school !; he had escorted her horne
one rainy Sunday night. as cour
teously as if she had been one of
the royal Processes and in her
secret heart Rena thought him the
best, the noblest and the most
handsome of human beings. just
as the big round tears were tremb-
ling on her eyelashes, behind the
screen of Lamaique roses, III the
still sunshine OF the August after
noon, Miss Aliens voice was heard
echoing on the stairs.
"Rena Rena Lewis are you
dead and buried, or what has be-
come of you ?"
Rena started up hurriedly, brusL !.
ing the dew fiom her eyefashes.
81 am here, Miss Allen" said she
can you play croquet ?' impe-
riously called out the fair Clara.
ga little"
''Then come down at once" said
Miss Allen. "Alice Harland tire
some thing, has gone home with a
hn.ll.l.l1l and W., ,rnnt nl,n ,n.,r.,