River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-02
COMFY FOR HIS SAKE"


She was handsome woman, who
wore diamonds and velvet a. a queer
wears her royal robes; u wealthy wo
man used to command and control
naughty and dogmatic IN her positive
ness.
And this evening She was in hel
most positive, impcrlOus mood, rs she
sat there making her decision about
Lila Barton
Then she rang for lights and by the
servant sent Il message for Miss Barton
to wait on her rs soon as Master
Horace and Miss Ginevra could dis
pense with her services.
1t was ten minutes later when Lila
obeved the summons and came mo
Mrs. Jerningham's presence slender
pale-faccd girl of sixteen or seventeen,
with lovely brown eyes, soft rs velvet,
and a mass Of brown hair on her small
graceful head-a delicate refined
thoughtful looking girl, who bore the
indisputablc traces of having worked
almost beyond her strength.
She came quietly near to Mrs. Jer-
bingham, and stood awaiting that lady ;
pleasure.
Il sent to have word with you on
a subject very distasteful To me, indeed
Miss Barton Mrs birmingham began,
coldly, / refer toa display Of forward
ness and boldnesS on your part towards
certain gentlemen | might name.
which has been called To my attention
more than once. ! desire to say that /
shall not tolerate amy further attempts
on your part, Miss Barton, to flirt with
gentlemen visiting mt the Households
bly, with DR. Dormer ALI, do not in
tcrrupt me, and ann Indignantly sorry
To say, my son alSo,'
Mrs birmingham, YOU
Lila attempted to gasp her protest ;
but the cold, relentless voice rcsOlute-
" hushcd her.
"Dcnials are more than useless Miss
Barton 1t isa notorious fact that you.
a mere servant common nursery
goyerncss and scamstrcss. boldly at
tempted To- cngross Doctor Dormer's at
tention last night and one or TIVE even
ngs last week when you were ordered
to attend to the children in the drawing
room Again, upon more than one &C
casion. YOU have invcigled my son into
conversation with YOU YOU. whom his
mother hires ~ 4 servant Miss Bar
ton have
Lila was standing there, white and
shivering. her eyes full Of Mortified
modification and insulted pride.
Mrs birmingham, She interrupted,
hotly, 81 cannot permit YOU to launch
such Il torrent Of abuse mt me. 1t is
not true that | have tried to ilIrt with
your guests or your son. Doctor Dor
mer spoke to me, and ! answered, rs
anyone would have done. As 90 your
son"
And her lips curled involmtarily-a
gesture which did not escape Mrs. Jrr-
ningham's eyes.
I'VE will not discuss the subject
further. You have acted disgrace
fully, and, in Justice to my little inno-
cent children, have decided to remove
them from your care over them. You
are discharged from tonight, and III
place of months notice you can have
a months wages, rs Is my custom with
all nv servants As To- Il character,
and the cold ewes tool, malicious look
ut the pale, trembling girl, "of course
that is out of the question: That will
do. Miss Barton
She pushed some gold pieces towards
her, but Lila did not touch them.
Instead. her face grew suddenly cold
and naughty, and she walked out with
ont any further protest.
And, somehow. Mrs birmingham re-
allied that She had done something
more than simply discharge a servant
Its a ~hame-a burning shame
Aunt Tabitna said. Indignantly. 1t
seems to me that nowadays the rich do
nothing but grind the poor. You pool
child, YOU don't cry amy more about
it, That birmingham woman isn't any
very great shakes herself. YOU take my
word for il. or she'd not he thinking
such things about YOU Don'tcry, Lila.
Cheer up. and We'll 90 out for walk
in the park this afternoon. CHI
But Lila would not cheer up, nor did
She go with dear old aunt Tabtha for Il
walk to the park Instead, She had
cried and worried herself into a hot
fever that detlcd all home remedies
fever that ran higher and hotter, until
even aunt Tabitha thought it was best
To send for a doctor: and Il doctor wa-
sent for by little Tony Winton. next
floor above.
And bc qm kabout it. too, Slipping
a penny into M erimy little paw. You
can run round To Doctor Browns IN i
few minutes. | know, and tell him &c
come round
But DR.. Brown wasn't nj home-out
Of town for several dayS-aud Tony i
wits were puzzled to know whether, g
long rs Miss Lila was 50 awiully i'll, one
doctor wasn't Just aS good rs another
and. in that full belief, he rushed of
for his mothers family physician. To
find DIR. sampson also not available
And then. To stand diSconsolately NJ
a street corner, wondering what on
earth would become of Miss Lila. Just
rs a doctors carriage passed hlnl-evl-
IDENTIFY q doctors, and Il we'll TODD one
too. aS witness the wcll-appolnted
braugham. the proud-stepping horse
the handsome robe.
And ragged little Tony, all unaware
he was an instrument of unalterablC
fate. succeeded in attracting DIR. Dorm
Cr'S attention
Iii, stop, You're wanted At Miss
Lila Bartons Ne. - Cnnford street
sharp too Gone"
Lila Barton. Roy Dormer was sur
prised. and conscious of pleasurahlC
sensation along with it.
"All right. my boy, III he there be
fore YOU are.
And sure enough when Tony reach
Cd home. there stood the doctors car
iage ut the door, an object Of envious
admiration for Il score of urchnS
while Roy pormer was sitting IN aun
Tabitha'- snug little parlor, explaining
the cause of his appearance. and listen
ing to her account of Lla'S illness.
And now. if you'll allow me 10 set
my patient he said.
And then he went in, To- find Lila de
lirlous and talkative, and entirely un
conscious
~Of course it Is not true, she said
rs lie sat down beside the pure whit,
cot II never tiirted with Martin Jer
ningham. or Doctor Dormer, either. /
wasn't fair of her To- turn me off with0u
a character, WAS it? And aunt Tahith;
and / are 81 poor.
And. although he knew there was II,
recognition in her bright eyes still hi
face flushed.
"She is very i'll, he said, gravely
Il will see her again this afternoon
Mrs LAWSON