The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-18
A Sarcasm of Fate.

An elegant looking letter lay l!l little
Minnie Nelsor's hand-a letter that bore
delicious perfume of violets-a letter
addressed il a fine flowing hand, aud
the envelope Of which was stamped
with an intricate monogram, that, IN
less Minnie had known, she could never
have deeiphered as Mrs. Paul ST. Eus-
tace Carriscourps initials. The girls
small, pretty hand grew Just trifle cold
and trembling as she took up the letter
toopen il, because so much, oh, so much,
depended upon what was in the letter /;
because IL either meant a new, inde-
pendent life, in which she would not
only earn her own living, but very ma
terially assist in taking care Of the dear
boys of five and seven, or il doomed her
to the old tiTesOme routine, out of
which Minnie felt at times she must fly.
Mrs. NelsOr looked up from a stock
ing she WAS darning, aud said nothing,
seeing the nervous glow in Minnie's
eyes. Then, with little, half desperate
laugh, the girl tore open the thick satin
envelope.
"Its almost like an ice-cold plunge
bath, but here goes, mamma ~
She hurriedly read the short, friendly
note, and by the quick tears that gath
cred in her ewes, and the smiles that
DdlAEu ucl lAH1f auN AlE nAHu illhk
bloOmed like red roses on her cheeks, il
was quite plain that the news was good.
Then she dashed the letter on the floor,
and rushed over to her mother, and
kissed her, laughing aud crying at the
same time.
80, mamma. Mrs. CarriseDurt has
given me the position, and she wants
me 20 come immediately-tO-m morrow
just think Five hundred dollars a
year, and she assures me / must make
myself perfectly at home In her house /;
and she says ] am to have a room to
myself, and TO eat with Pauline aud
Pauletta in the nursery. Oh, it will be
glorious Arn't you glad and delighted,
mammal"
Her blue eyes were dancing, and her
cheeks glowing like a roseleaf.
Mrs. NelsOr's sweet, sad voice was In
such odd contrast 10 her child's eager,
animated tones;
"How eau be delighted to have YOU
60 away from me, dear? Besides, | am
so afraid you will not realize your vivid
anticipatiOns. The outside world,
which seems to you so rose-colored aud
golden, will not be what you thiuk.n
"Oh, mamma, what Jobs comforter
you would be J But how can l help be-
ing happy-perfectly happy, except be-
ing away from yOu-in New York, in q
magnificent house, among people oi
wealth aud distinction, aud with thes,
two sweet children my only care
Mamma, l will ride with them, and
am to make myself perfectly at home
the letter says; and you remember wha
charming lady we thought Mrs. Car
Tiscourt was, when she was visiting
Doctor Mansfield in the Summer"
Mrs. Nelsor sighed softly. 1t seemed
so cruel to pour the chill water Of disap-
pointment on Minnie's bright hopes.
well, dear, perhaps / am growinl
cynical as ] grow older. Certainly yoI
deserve fair fate; and now, To descend
TO matters OF earth earthly, suppose yOt
see if the beans are boiling dry.U
The third day thereafter-a day fra.
grant with smell of frost in the airs
day when the turned leaves sailed
slowly, stately, down through the ten.
der golden atmosphere, and the hush oi
mid-October was all over the earth and
sky, Minnie VelsOr went away from the
little cottage where she was born and
had lived, into the world waiting 10 re-
eeive her-all her girlish hopes on glad
dest hopes wing, all her rosiest dreams
bursting in fOndest realizatious.
Il was a splendid place, Mrs. Paul St.
Eustace Carrisc0urt's palatial residence
on Fifth avenUe-a house that seemed
to Minnie's fancy Ike a translated hit of
fairy story, with its prnfusion of flow
ers aud lace draperies, its luxuries and
elegance, Of which she had never
dreamed, and OF whose Uses size was
equally ignorant.
MIS-. Carriscourt received her with a
charming graciOusness, aud rafting her
on the shoulder, told her She hoped
she would not let herself get hosne- sick,
ana Installed her in her beautiful little
room, with its pink aud drab ingram
carpet and chestnut suit, aud dimitv
curtains at the windows.
Then Minnie made some trifiup little
alterations in her toilette, and proceeded
to take literal advantage of Mrs. Carris-
courts invitation to make herself at
home in the great, beautiful parlor bs-
low where she made a charyninglv
sweet, quaint little picture, as she sat
nestled IN huge silken chair, the color
OF the roses on her cheeks, and at which
Miss CleOna Carriscourt looked in as
tOnished, imperiOus disdain. and Gaof-
frey Fletcher in nndisguised admiration.
as the two entered the room 1t the fsrthest
entrance.
'By Jove, what q lovely girl Who
is she, Miss CarriscOurt ?" he asked, in
a tone Of unusual interest.
CleOna's black eyes looked unu,tetable
anger from Minnie to Mrs. Carri-court.
''What Oh earth is she doing here,
mamma? IL she crazy >"
Her sharp cutting tone was distinctly
heard, as she Intended il should be, by
Minnie, who flushed painfully as she
rose venturing just one glance AZ the
naughty beauty's face. aud Mr.. Fletch-
ers eager admiring eyes, whose bold
ness startled her.
u am very sorry to have made such
mistake. | thought Mrs. Carriscourt
meant l was 10 sit here q little while.
Flease excuse me / will not come
her voice was sweet and Just a little
nervous and she INSTANTLY crossed the
room followed hy CleonaIs cold. cutting
words, every ous of when brought q
her. p''''i "
''Be careful that you make 10 more
such mistakes girl. Yuar plaee is
among the hired help, not in he nar-
And even Godfrey Fleteber,s q. .l,,,,-
heart gave a thrill Of sympathy A. LII
Of the scarlet pain on the sweet yo5ng
face.
Once safe in her room, poor little Min
ME fought and cOnqured her first battle
with fate.
''I'll not be crushed by my first ex-
perience," she decided, resolutely, an
hour or so after, when her breast vet
heaved with convulsive signs, and her
eyes were all swollen from crying. "I
will not give it up and rush home to
noanna-ny first iuDulse i will en-