West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-03-06

I
meant that l was 10 sit here "A little while.
/ Please excuse me; will not come again. ."
Her voice was sweet, and Just little
nervous, and she instantly crossed the room.
/ followed 10y CieouaS cold. cutting words.
every one of which brought sharp thrill
| OF modification and pain to her.
he careful YOU make no more such mis-
takes girl. Your place is among the hired
help, and not in the parlor. BE good
enough to remember that"
And even GeoiIrcy FlctChcr's callous
heart gave IA thrill of sympathy at sight of
the scarlet pain ON the sweet, young face.
Once safe I'm her rOOm, poor little Minnie
/ fought and conquered her first battle with
| fate.
IN not bc crushed by my first expert
oncc, she decided, rcsolutcly. am hour or
50 after when her breast vet hcavcd with
convul>ivc sighS, and her ewes were all
swollen from crying. 81 will not give II
up and rush home to mamma-mv first
! impulse. / will cudcavcr 10 construc pco-
pie less literally, and keep my place"
But there came flush TO her checks that
all her brave philosophlziug could not con
troll, at the memory of Clcuna Carriscour,' 5
I cool iusolcnCc.
I'D not have spoken SO To dog" Min
ME said, as she rcprcsScd the bitter tears
/ that sprahg in wounded Indignation to her
blue eyes.
After that there was no shadow of an
/ opportunity given 10y Mianic for Mrs.
| Caruscourt or Clcoua 10 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 complete
satisfaction.
Mlnnic never was seen i'm the rooms of the
family, but lived entirely to herself taking
her solitary little walks when the DAYS
duties were ended, and disciplining herself
into AN uncousciously unscltish, brave,
patient woman
Her letters home were bright and cheer
iul-until one day Mrs. Nclsor was Mortified
TO learn that her darling was dangerously
Ill, that the fever had come suddenly upon
her, and that in fear and sclhshncss. Mrs.
Paul St Euslacc Carriscourt had insisted
that the raving girl be taken from her house
to the hospital
''lt will Kill her to move her" pr. Lcth-
bridge had demonstrated Indignantly.
What nonsense, mamma. Cleoua re-
tortcd, looking fierccy at the physician.
'lt will not hurt her To be moved nearly as
much as il will for us To keep her here.
She is nothing but the childrcn's S governcss:
She had better die, even. than to risk all our
lives any longer You will please superiu-
tend her removal today" she added. i'm
periously, to DR.. Lcthbrdgc
He looked coldlv, almost friouslv, AT
Miss Carriscourt's S face as she spoke Then
hc bowed, and answered quietly:
II beg to agree with YOU This poOr.
I
among such inhuman people"
And DIR. Lcithbridgc personally super
intended Minnies transformed to the hos
pital, but to his own house, where his love
ly wmte-haircd mother and his sister
opened their hearts 10 the girl, and nurscd
her back to health and strength and-the
sweetest happiness that ever came to girls
heart, for Hugh Lcthbridgc asked her to be
his wife.
And the memory of those brief days was
hidden away beneath the glad sunshine of
her beautiful new life. and Minnie i'm her
new home was proud and honorcd and be-
loved as "a queen.
The years passcd-as years have a trick
OF passing bringing their burdens Of Joy
and sorrow, and 10 Hugh Lcthbridgc and
his wife there were only landmarks of con
tent TO mark their fight
Three dear children had come 10 them,
and matron Minnie was even falrer and
swcctcr than the maiden had been, for she
had been benefited by the stern discipline
of earlier days
And as the years went by DR.. Lelhbridgc
grew famous and rich, until there were no
comforts or luXurics be was obliged 10 re-
fuse to his wife or lamily-dnd one of those
coveted luNuries was a resident gOvcrncss
at the home o. the children.
81 remember my own govcrness days 80
well DEAR Minnie said one day 20 her
husband, when they were discussing the
feasibility of securing one. ~ feel az If
never could ke kind enough 20 any one i'm
such position in my house And yet all
the happiness of my life resulted from my
position in Mrs. Carriscourts family"
And she looked the great unultcrablclo
she had for him, and DR.. Lethbndgc kissed
her lovely upturncd face tcndcrly.
'Thcn will take this widow lady, whom
Allison recommended shall ], Minnie
lie says she is of good family, and i'm very
reduced circumstances Her husband was
a miserable, drunken fellow, and she has
10 support both herself and her invalid
mother 10 would bc % charity. ] suppose;
but, of course, we must also look to our
own interests
But the decision was tO employ the wild
ow lady Allison, 50 confidently recommend
ed, and day or so aftcrwald an interview
was arranged
IL was just at the dus, Of % winters ar.
temoOn that Jhe servant announced 90 Or.
Lethbridgc and bis wife that % lady wished
20 see tbem in the pariOr-thc lady whom
Mr. Allison had sant-aud Minnie and her
husband went down to meet her-tall, pale.
bearing the unmiGakaby traces of misery
and sorrow ON her face Cleona Clrris-
court
Minnie gave q litlc exclamation Of as
constituent
els 10 possibc2 Miss Carrisc1url
She interrupted quietly.
"Alrs. Fletcher Mrs. GcoGrcy Fletcher.
And you are little Minnie NcIsor had
uoide bad forgotten Doctor Lcthbridgc's
name of course ] caunot have Che posi-
ton 10 would hardly Doc natural that you
should wish 90 bcir.cnd me-
Mrs Fletcher turned toward lbc door.
her pale face piDcJus. her voice bitter and
waIhng
Doctor Lcthbridge looked stcrnly after
her; but Minnie shot him au appealing
glance before she stepped toward thc de-
parting woman.
t'MaifA inst a moment rIaoeof I troe