The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-08-19

she would not let herself get horiiesick
and installed her In her beau tilul httlC
room, with its pink and drab ingram
carpet and chestnut suit, and dimity
curtains at the windows.
Then Minnie made some trifling
little alterations in her toilet, and pro
ceeded to take literal advantage of Mrs.
Carriscourt's invitation to make her
self at home in the great, beautiful par
lors below, where she made n charm
ingly sweet, little picture, as she sat
nestled in huge silken chair, the color
of the roses on her cheeks, aid at which
Miss Cleoha Carriscourt looked in as.
tonished, imperious disdain, and Mr..
Gcoflrey Fletcher in undisguised ad-
miration, as the two entered the room
AZ the iurthest entrance.
by Jove what q lovely grill Who
is she; Miss CarriscourtP" he asked In
a tone of unusual interest.
ClcOna's eyes looked unutterable
anger from Minnie to Mrs. Carriscourt.
What on earth is she doing here,
mammal is she crazyP"
Her sharp, cutting tone was distinctly
Leard, as she intended it should be, by
Minnie, who flushed painfully as she
rose, venturing just one glance at the
naughty beauty's face, and Mr..
Fletcher's eager, admiring eyes, whose
boldness startled her.
II am sorry to have made such a mis-
take. | thought Mrs. Carriscourt meant
was to sit here little while. Please
excuse me; will not come again"
Her voice was sweet, and just little
nervous, and she instantly crossed the
room followed by Cleona's cold, cutting
words, every one of which brought
sharp thrill of modification and pain to
her.
"Be careful you make no more such
mistakes, giri. Your place is among
the hired help, not in the parlors. Be
good enough to remember that"
And even Godfrey Fletcher's callous
heart gave thrill of sympathy at tie
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.
IN not be crushed by my first ex-
perience," she decided, resolutely, an
hour or so after, when her breast yet
heaved with convulsive sighs and her
eyes were all swollen from crying.
81 will not give it up and rush home
to mamma-my first impulse. l will
en0eavor to construe people less liter
ally and keep my place."
But there came flush to her cheeks
that all her brave philosophizing could
not control, at the memory of Cleona
Carriscourts cool insolence.
"Td not have spoken so to a dog,
Minnie said, as she repressed the bitter
tears that sprang in wounded indigna-
tion to her blue eyes.
Alter that there was no shadow of an
opportunity given by Minnie for Mrs.
Carriscourt or Cleona to lay any blame
to her charge. She performed her duties
rs no governess had ever performed
them, and the twins progressed to their |
mothers complete satisfaction.
Minnie never 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 |
herself into an uncon-
sCiously unselfsh, brave, patient
woman.
Her letters home were bright and
chccrful-untilone day Mrs. VesIor was
mortified to learn that her darling was
dangerously i'll; that the fever had
come suddenly upon her, and that in
fear and selfshness Mrs. Paul St. Eustice
Carriscourt had insisted that the raving
girl be taken from her house TO the hos
pital.
at will kill her to move her." DIR.
I.ethbridge had demonstrated, indig-
nantly.
"What nonsense, mammaw Cleona
retorted, looking fiercely at che physi-
clan. at will not hurt ner to be re-
moved nearly as much as it will for us
to keep her here. She is nothing but
the children's governess; she had better
die, even, than to risk all our lives any
longer. You will please superintend
her removal to-day" she added, i'm
periously, to DR.. Lethbridge.
He looked coldly, almost furiously,
Mt Miss Carriscourt's face as he spoke.
Then he bowed, and answered, quietly:
81 beg to agree with you. lnis poor,
suffering child had better to die than to
remain among such inhuman people,"
And DR.. Lethbridge personally super
intended Minnie's transfer-not to the
hospital but to his own house, where
his lovely, white-haired mother and
sister opened their hearts to the girl,
and nursed her back to health and
strength, and-the sweet happiness that
ever comes to girls heart, for Hugh
Lethbridge asked her to be his wife.
And the memory of those brief days
was hidden away beneath the glad sun
shine of her beautiful new life, and
Minnie in her new home was proud and
honored, and beloved as a queen.
The years passed-as years have
trick of passing bringing their burdens
Of JOY and sorrow, and to Hugh Leth-
bridge and his wife they were only land
marks of content to mark their fight.
Three dear children had come to
them, and matron Minnie was even