Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-11
A Sarcasm of Fate.

l
"A letter addressed in a bold, flown!
hand and the envelope Of which wa
stamped with an intricate monogram
that unless Minnie had known, sh
could never have declphered as Mrs
Paul St Eustace Carriscourt's initials.
The girls small pretty hands grew
Just trine cold and trembling as sh'
took up the letter TO open it, because 81
much, oh, so much depended upon wha
was in the letter; because it eithe
meant a new, independent life, in whicl
she would not only earn her own living
but very materially assist in taking care
of the dear boys of five or seven. or i
doomed her to the old tiresomo routine
out Of which Minnie felt at times sht
must fly.
Mrs. Velsor looked up from a stock
ing she was darning, and said nothing
seeiug the nervous glow in Minnie
eyes. Then, with little, half-desper-
ate laugh, the girl tore open the thicl
satin envelope.
"It's almost like an ice-cold plung'
bath, but here goes, mammal
She hurriedly read the short, friendly
note, and the quick tears that gathered
in her eyes, and the smiles that pa-tet
her lips, and the flush that bloomed like
red roses On her cheeks, it was quite
plain that the news was good news.
Then she dashed the letter on thC
floor and rushed over to her mother
laughing aud crying at the same time
oh mamma! Mrs. Carrlscourt
has gwen me the position, and she
wants me TO come immediately-to
morrow! Just think Five hundred
dollars a year, and she assures me
must make myself perfectly at home
in her house; and she says l am to have
a room to myself, and TO eat with Pau
line and Pauletta, in the nursery. Oh
mamma, it will be just glorious Aren't
you glad, delighted:'
Her blue eyes were dancing, and hel
cheeks glowing like rose leaf.
Mrs. Velsor's sweet, sad voice was
in such odd contrast TO her child's ami
mated tones.
How can l be delighted 10 have you
60 away from ne, dear? Besides,
am so afraid you won't realize your
vivid ant:cipations. The outside world,
which seems to you so rose colored and
golden, will not be what you think
oh, mamma, what Jobs comfort
er YOU would be But how can l helT
being happy-perfectly happy, except
being away from you-in New York, ii
a magnificent house, among people oI
wealth and distinction, and with these
two sweet children my only care P
Mamma, l will ride with them, and
am to be perfectly at home, the letter
says, and you remember what a charm
ing lady We thought Mrs. Carrisccurt
was when she was visiting Doctor
Mansfield last SUMNER
Mrs. Velsor sighed softly, 1t seem
ed so cruel 10 pour the chill water o.
disappointment on Minnie's bright
hopes.
w ell, dear, perhaps l am growing
cynical as l grow older. Centalnly you
deserved fair fate, and now, to de-
scend to matters Of earth earthly, sup
pose you see if the beans are boiling
dry
The third day thereafter-a day fra
grant with the smell of frost in the all
day when the leayes sailed slowly,
stately down through the tender colder
atmosphere, and the hush of mid Octo
was over all the earth and sky, Minnie
Velsor went away from the cottagt
where she was born and had lived, into
the world waiting to receive her-al
her girlish hopes on gladdest wings, al
her rosiest dreams bursting IN fondest
realization.
1t was splendid place, Mrs. Pau
st. Eustace Carri,court's palatial resi-
dence on Fifth avenue-a house thai
seemed to Minnie's fancy like trans
lated bit of a fairy story, with its proiu
sion of flowers and lace draperies, i'll
luxuriance and elegance, of which sh'
had never dreamed, and of whose useI
she W as equally ignorant.
Mrs. Carrlscourt received her with
charming graciousness and patted he
on the shoulder, and told her she hope
she would not let herself get homesick
and installed her in beautiful littl
room, with its pink drab ingrained car
net and chestnut suit, and dimity cur
tains at the windows.
Then Minnie made some trifling llttl
alteration in her toilette, and proceed
ed 10 take liberal advantage OF Mr'
Carriscourt's invitation to make herse
at home in the great, beautiful parlc
below where she made charmlngl
sweet, quaint little picture, as she %
nestled in q huge silken chair, the colt
of the roses on her cheeks, and at whlc
Miss Cleona Carnscourt looked in al
tonished, imperious disdain, and M
; Geofrey Fletcher in undisguised adm
ration. as the two entered the room
the fatherest entrance.
BY Jove. what a lovely girl! Who
she. Miss Carriscourtf' be asked in
tone of unusual interest.
Cleona's black eyes looked unutter
f.oro Minnie To Mrs. CARR