Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-21

the hand thai was Tree. lie puSned me |
from him, and without a word |
left the room Then Clarice fell into my |
arms, and sobbed as though her heart were
breaking.
81 think it was during those fewa gitating |
moments that l became a woman. was
but sixteen years of age, but'my girlhood
was ever forever, and the map of woman's
life was spread before me ; understood 1t,
and prepared to battle with the base and
bitter reality. After put Clarice to bed
picked up the knife; there was blood
upon it.
''Our master did not appear again that
night the next morning he said that, Clar-
ice being better, we must be on the move
again. We owed him much, he in
formed us, for our weeks of idleness.
1 glanced at his hand; it was band
daeed, and there was a mark on his face
l was both glad and afraid, but was care
full not to exhibit the slightest symptom of
fear or regret. | seemed to be suddenly
possessed of truer knowledge of the
character of the man we were bound to.
No reference was made to the occurrence
until the evening, when my master said,
striving to impart lightness to his voice
"' You are strong, Margaret
Il replied, Thank God for it I shall
know how to use my strength. Be careful
not to provoke me-
"That was all that passed between us,
and when next he spoke to Clarice it was
In his usual tone, that of master to his
servant.
g He did not deceive me nor throw me
off my guard, and l think he was not
aware how often 1 detected him looking at
Clarice with certain thoughtfulness in
his face | could not rightly interpret at
the time. l did not let Clarice out of my
sight, and little story my father used to
read to US of wolf, lamb and faithful
watchdog sometimes crossed my mind in
IOl"Uioh w o'iSO4NOo' was uCICliliiCi
the wolf should not hurt my lamb; he
would have to tear me to pieces first.
81 had need of all my wits Keep
ing watch as did upon our masters move
ments, regarded every new and unusual
thing he did with suspicion. He was most
careful in his behavior to Clarice, and sell
dom addressed her, making me the medium
of communication between them, saying,
Tell Clarice this or that A day or two
after her convalesence, he remarked that
her illness had left her somewhat weak
and that she required nourishment; and
he gave US wine with our dinner. We
drank only little, for the wine was strong
and mounted to our heads. Under its in
fiuence we both laughed and talked too
freely, and our master appeared to be
pleased with our gayety, and encouraged
US to drink more, filing our glasses for us
with merry words. But 1 happened to
look at him as he poured out the wine, and
VIC eApISsSlou VI ueNlilsh SAulldtioH III
his face chilled and warned me. pushed
the full glasses away.
Come, Clarice, I said, and we walked
from the room.
"We drank no more we were saved
For week, wine was placed ON the
table at every meal but we never touched
it.
"'You are grateful, you girls, our
master said, with surly look, you de-
serve kindness. Why don't you drink
your wine?'
''We prefer water, l replied save
your money, master. You will not per-
suade US to love wine.
Have your way he muttered, in a
brutal tone, and raised his hand as though
be would have liked to strike me. But he
dared not; he saw that l would no longer
tameIy submit to his blows. We suffered
in other ways for our rebellious conduct,
but we bore all patiently.
"One night, at the end of long day S
| Journey, we saw in the distance the lights
of larger town than we were in the
habit of stopping at. To ourinexperienced
eyes it looked like fairy illumination
in some parts the houses were very numer-
Gus, and quite close together; hills and
terraces were dotted with tiny stars, and
as we approached near the town saw a
sheet of silver water in which the lights
were reflected. 1t was a beautiful sight.
[ was filled with curiosity, and wondered
to myself what our masters purpose could
be. Clarice's eyes sparkled.
care We going to stop in that place.
she asked.
"'Yes, said our master, we are going
to play there. We shall remain a week
if you please me you shall have new
dresses
"The news set me thinking, but 1 saw
no reason to suspect anything wrong 1t
was good news, decided; to play in a
town meant better Judgment and better
food for Clarice; and, don't know how it
was, but had vague idea that in large
city some one who had known our father
might see us and take pity on us. Itnever
happened. Something more terrible did.
"The hall we were engaged to sing and
dance in was situated in the worst part OF
the town, and was frequented by fast men,
and by women it made me blush to come in
contact. The first nights experiences were
a sufficient indication of the kind of theater
our master had sold our services to, and l
was careful that Clarice should not ex-
change a word with soul but myself. l
was curious to know what particular reason
had induced our master to depart from his
! nsual nractice of exhibiting our talents only