Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-13
HILDA'S TRIAL.
BY F. G.

turquoise locket round her neck, and
TO have six-buttoned white kid gloves,
stitched with pale blue on the backs. -
Won't it be exquisiter' said Jane
Torrington, clasping her plump hands.
The seven young girls who were that
day month to take part in the half-year-
IL examination at Minerva House were
sitting, schoolgirl fashion, under the
bowery beeches on the lawn-seVen fair,
human pearls, happily unconscious of
all the pitfalls and trials of life that
lay before them-seven half opened
blossoms, basking in the sunshine of
school-life, whittier as yet no, haunting
shadow had followed them!
But" said cautious Mabel Hill,
''will it be expensive?"
'.Not at ALL" said Carrie, loftily.
1.-THE whole won't cost more than ten
guineas each, as there are seven of us.
And
Just then, Hilda Reynolds, who had
been absorbed in letter which the
blue-ribboned parlor-maid had brought
her, looked up.
''Wait minute, Carrie,' she said.
tI-I am afraid cannot afford so eX-
pensive a dress.
What nonsense, Hilda," called out
Miss Nelson. ''You, the heiress, to
talk about not affording paltry ten
guineas.'
"But [ am an heiress no longer" said
Hilda; with q curious culver in her
voice. ''This letter is from my guard
ian. It seems something is wrong
about some investments that have been
made, and-and / am as poor as q fac
tory-girl. l must go out as goVerness,
isuppose, or companion, or something
of that sort"
She burst into tears, with her face
hidden in her hands.
For second or two the other six
girls sat looking at one another in dire
dismay
Then Carrie Nelson sprang up and
threw her arms impetuously around
Hilda's dropping neck.
''You shall do nothing of the sort
darlingr' she cried. ''You shall come
and live always with me. Inever had
sister, and shall treasure you with
the fondest affection"
But Hilda shook her head.
''No, Carrie she said; 81 must 90
home at once"
And she went; and Mrs. Clarendon's
class for examination numbered only
six that year.
Hilda's guardian was grim and I'M
communicative. The loss of the invest
ments, he stoutly maintained. was no.
ibody's fault. No one could have fore
seen the depreciation of stocks; no hui
man provision could have guarded
against the calamity. 1t was the for
tune of war, neither more nor less.
~ Hilda went to her aunt, who had al
ways declared that she loved her dar-
ling niece as if she were her own
child.
'Dear aunt" she said, ''you will at
9east give me a home"
81 am very sorry, my dear, "said Mrs.
Carlyon, ''but your uncle has been I'M
fortunate in business, and we are COM
PEELED to retrench in every possible
way. An additional member to our
family, just at this time, would be an
absolute impossibility."
But what shall do?' inquired poor
Hilda.
-'Oh, get situation somewhere, my
DEAR said Mrs Carlyon, smiling
sweetly. "Any girl who has received
SO expensive an education as yours
ought to be independent of the
world
''Shall ADVERTISED" said Hilda.
''Mydear, l really know nothing of the
way people do such things" said Mrs.
Carlyon, beginning to grow impatient,
So Hilda advertised; but apparently
no one wanted either q governess, OF a
1'wel-qualifed ladies' companion"
Her little stock of money began to
dwindle. Her earnings failed her. Not
lone of her relatives cared to assume
the burden of her support. No one else
took the responsibility of advising her.
One day she timidly entered the
nlate-glass doors of mammoth fancy
warehouse and asked for the proprietor,
TO whom she explained her wishes.
Perhaps hesitated the poor, shrink
ing Hilda, ''you can help me to situa-
zion. If there should be vacancy
among your lady-clerks-"
"How-har' said Mr.. Cartwright,
feeling his lank cheek thoughtfully.
sHad any experience in the businessP'
1.No."
''Oh, then the idea is quite impracti-
cable" said Mr.. Cartwright. 1--WE
don't take apprentices here.'
And he civilly bowed Miss Reynolds
out of his little sanctum.
Hilda applied at neighboring shop
for fine, silk embroidery. She worked
Aweek at childs cloak, and was paid
seven shillings!
'.But this is very httle,n said Hilda,
piteously regarding the silver pieces.
sour usual rates." said the forewo-
man, frigidly. '.If you are not satisfied
with them, you need not come again.
We have plenty of hands,"
Hilda crept home in the frozen, win
ter twilight, crying softly behind her
veil as she went. And, her eyes being
blurred with tears, she did not see an
il-omened piece of orange-peel on the
pavement but slipped and fell breaking
her ankle and losing consciousness
through the intensity of the pain.
When she came to her senses she lay
In little white bed, No. GIG, Oft great.