Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-11
What on earth is she doing here,

she rose, ventured just one glance al
the beauty's face, and Mr.. Fletcher's
eager admirihg eye, whose boldness
startled her.
Il am sorry to have made such mis-
take. l thought that Mrs. Carrlscourt
meant that was to sit here a little
while. Pleace excuse me; p will not
come again.
Her voice was sweet, and just little
nervous, and she instantly crossed the
room, followed by Cleona's cold, cut
ting words, every one Of which brought
a sharp thrill of modification and pain
to her.
BE careful you make more such mis-
takes, girl. Your place Is among hired
help, and not IN the parlors. BE good
enough to remember that
And even Geoffrey Fletsher's callous
heart gave a thrill OF sympathy at sight
of the scarlet pain on the sweet young
face.
Once safe in her room, poor little
Minnie fought and conquered her first
battle with fate.
I'll not be crushed by my frst expe-
rience,' she decided resolutely, an hour
or so after, when her breast yet heaved
with convul-ive sighs, and her eyes
were all swollen from crying. I will
not give 1t up and rush home 10 mamma
my first inpul.e. l will endeaver to
construe people less literally, and keep
my place.
But there came a flush 10 her cheeks
that all her brave phllosophising could
not control, at the memory Of Cleona
Carrisc6urL's cool insolence.
I'D not have spoken so to dog
Minnie said, as she repressed the bitter
tears.
After that there was no shadow ofan
opportunity given by Minnie for Mrs.
Carriscourt or Cleona to lay any blame
to her charge.
She performed her duties as no COVER
ness had ever performed them, and the
twins progressed to their mothers COM
plete satisfaction.
Minnie meyer was seen in the rooms
Of the family, but lived entirely to her
self, taking her solitary little walks
when the days duties were ended, and
disciplining hersely into an unconscious
ly unselfsh, brave, patient woman.
Her letters home were bright and
cheerful-until one day Mrs. Velsor
was Mortified to learn that her darling
was dangerously i'll, that the fever had
come suddenly upon her, and that in
fear and sclfshness, Mrs. Paul St.
Eustace Carriscourt had insisted that
the raylng girl be taken from her house
to the hospital.
1t will kill her TO move her, DR..
Lethbridge had demonstrated indignant
ly.
What nonsense, mammal Cleona
retorted, lookin. 6ercely at the physi-
clan. 1t Will not hurt her to be moved
nearly as much as it will for US to keep
her here. She is nothing but the chill
dren's goYerness; she had better die,
even, than risk all our lives any longer.
You will superintend her removal to-
day. she added, imperiously, to DR..
Lethbridge.
He looked coldly, almost furiously
at Miss Carriscosrt's face as he spoke.
Then he bowed and answered quitelyi
4 beg to agree with you. This poor
suffering child had better die than re-
main among such inhuman people
And DR.. Lethbridge personally su-
perintended Mlnnie's transfer-net 10
the hospital, but to his own house,
where his lovely, white-haired mother
and his sister opened their hearts to
the girl, and nursed her back TO health
and strength, and the sweetest happi'
ness that ever camo to girls heart,
for Hugh Lethbridge asked her TO be his
wife.
And the memory Of these brief days
was hidden away beneath the glad
sunshine of her beautiful new life. and
Minnie in her new home was proud and
honored and beloved as queen.
The years passed-as years haye a
trick of passlng-bringing their burdens
of ioy and sorrow, and to Hugh Leth-
bridge and his wife there were only
land marks of content to mark their
fight.
Three dear children had come to them,
and matron Minnie was even fairer and
sweeter than the maiden had been, for
she had been benefited by the stern
discipline ofearlier days.
And as the years went by DR.. Leth-
bridge grew famous and rich, until there
were no luxuries he was obliged 10 re
fuse his wife or family-and one Of
those coveted luxurles WAS resident
poyerness at the home Of the children.
Il remember my own governess days
so we'll, DEAR Minnie said one day 10
her husband, when they were discuss
| Ing the feasibility Of securing one. i
feel as If 1 never could be kind enough
| to any one in such position IN my
house. And yet all the happiness Of
nv life resulted from my position in
Mrs. Carriscurt's family
And she looked the great unutterable
love she bad fer him, and DR.. Leth-
bridge kissed her lovely upturned face
tenderly.
Then / will take this widow lady