The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-22

impulse. | win endeayor to construe peo-
pie less literally and keep my place.
But there came flush, TO her cheeks
that all her bravo phiIosophizing could not
control, at the memory Of Cleona Carris-
courts cool insolence.
I'D not have spoken so to dog" Min
ME said, as she repressed the bitter tears
that sprang 10 wounded indignation to her
blue eyes.
After that there was no shadow Of an
opportunity given by Minnie for Mrs. Car
riseourt or Cleona TO lay any blame to her
charge. She performed her duties as no
goyerness 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 herself,
taking her solitary little walks when the
days duties were ended, and disciplining
herself into an unconsciously unselish
brave, patient woman.
Her letters home were bright aud cheer
ful-until one day Mrs. yelsor was horri-
fed to learn that her darling was danger.
oasly i'll; that the fever bad come suddenly
upon her, and that in fear aud selishness
Mrs. Paul st. Eustice Carriscourt had in /.
sisted that the raving girl be taken from
her house to the hospital.
sit will kill her to move her" DIR. Leth.
bridge had demonstrated Indignantly.
"What nonsense, mamma r. Cleona re :
torted, looking fercely at the physician.
'It will not hurt her tc u removed nearly
as much as II will for US to keep her tere.
She is nothing but the childrens govern
essi she had better die, even, than TO risk
all our lives any longer. You will please
Superintend her removal to-day" she ad-
ded, imperiously, to DIR. Lcthbridge.
lie looked coldly, almost furiously, at
Miss Carriscourt's face as he spoke. Then
he bowed, and answered quietly:
81 beg TO agree with you. This poor,
suffering child had better to die than to
remain among such inhuman people"
And DR.. Lethbridge personally supsrin.
tended Minnie's transfer-not to the hos.
pital, but to his own house, where his
lovely, white.h haired mother and sister
opened their hearts to the girl, and nursed
her back to health aud strength, and-the
sweetest happiness that ever came to a
girls heart, for Hugh Lethbridge asked
her to be his wife
Aud 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 n trick
of passing-bringing their burdens Of Joy
and sorrow, and to Hugh Lethbridge and
his wife they were only landmarks Of con.
tent to mark their fight.
Three dear children had come TO them
and matron Minnie was even fairer and
sweeter than the maiden had been, for she
had been benefited by the stern discipline
Of earlier days.
And as the years went by Doctor Leth.
bridge grew famous and rich, until ther,
were no comforts or luxuries he was oblig
ed to refuse 10 his wife or family-and
one of those coveted luxuries was resi-
dent governess at the home Of the chill
dren.
Il remember my own goyerness days SC
well, dear" Minnie said one day to hel
husband, when they were discussing the
feasibility of securing one. al feel as Il
never could be kind enough to any ons
in such position in my house. Aud vel
all the happiness Of my life resulted from
my position in Mrs. Carriscourt's family
And she looked the great unutternble
love she had for him, and DR.. Lethbridgc
kissed her lovely upturned face tenderly.
"Then VIII take this widow lady
whom Allison recommended, shall |, Min.
ME? He says she is Of good family, and
in very reduced circumstances. Her hus.
band was miserable drunken fellow, and
she has to support both herself and her
invalid mother. Il would be a charity. /
suppose; but Of course we must also look
to our own interests.
But the decision was to employ tho
widow lady Allison so confidently recon.
mended, and a day or so afterward an in.
terview was arranged.
1t was just at the dusk Of winters af.
teruoon that the servant announced 10 DIR.
Lethbridge aud his wife that lady wished
TO see them 10 the parlor--lhs lady whom
MIR. Allison has sent-and Minnie and
her husband went down to meet her-tall,
pale, bearing the unmistakable traces Of
misery and sorrow on her face-Cleona
CarriscOurt
Minnie gave little exclamation of as
tonishmcnt.
"Is il possible2 Miss Carriscourt-"
She interrupted quietly
"Mrs. Fletchcr-Mrs Geoifrey Fletcher.
And you are little Minnie Velsor. | had
no idea-I had no idea-I had forgotten
Dr. Iiethbridge's name-of course, I eau.
not have the position. Il Rould hardly
be natural that you should wish 70 be-
friend me-"
Mrs. Fletcher turned toward the door,
her face pale and piteous, her voice bitter
and wailing.
Doctor l.ethbridgo looked sternly after
her; but Minnie shot him an appealing
glance before she stepped toward the de-
parting WOMAN,
"Wait-just moment, please was
so surprised, Mrs. Fletcher. Pray sit
doWn; you are in trouble, and II we eau be
OF any service, | know the doctor will be
glad to assist you"
Mn. Fletcher's lips quivered second
as she turned her pitiful eyes on Minnie's
sweet, happy face.
81 am 10 need Of work, but l do not
expect Il Of you. You can only despise
me and bold me in hatred and contempt
for what did TO you. But that or some.
thing else has come home to me-"
II do not hate or despise you, Ms.
Fletcher. God has been loo good to me
for that Stay Doctor Lethbridee viii
indorse ny forgiveness, am sure, and We
viii make you as happy as We can. We
will forget all that was unpleasant and
start anew. Do stay aud teach my little
girls, Mrs. Fletcher
And Cleona sat down, overcome with
passionate tears, while the doctor, With an
indnlgent smile, and nod Of the head to
Minnie, left the TIVE wpmel sloae, upder
Ghe strange circumstances iuso which the
sarcasm Of fate had led them,
A correspondent Of the phliadalnhia