The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-08-09
Selert Stury.
A HAPPY ESCAPE. !"

ID AAhAa b AA0AbA 2a
A pert, pretty servant girl in a mob
leap, smart apron with the most fetching
pockets, in which both hands are thrust
jauntily, one Of them holding letter.
The dusk of evening softens her Aorid
beauty Into sweetness which quite sub.
dues the heart Of Young man in the
garb of carpenter. They are convers-
ing beneath the shelter of a wall beside
han1some mansion.
"In that hand which you have in your
pocket, Sue, is letter, as live. LIE,
me see it.. You will notp Then l sup.
pose it is to some fellow; but /, as your
future husband, demand to see it,"
"Demand. indeed" answered the CIR
saucily cts early times, l think. to
be so masterful. II you talk like tha,
now, what will you do when we are mar.
ried, / wonder p
"Will you let me see the letter, Sue p
"No, / won't"
"Well, then, good night. You'll be
sorry for this, I expect"
And with rough but sincere affection
he snatched the girl to his arms and in q
second was gone.
ga jealous, silly fellow" cried Sue,
setting her dainty cap afresh and hurry
ing off to buster road where handsome
shops glowed with light and life. She
entered first one and then another, Civ.
ing orders at each with merry smile
and saucy words for all. The last she
entered MAS that OF chemist and post.
office combined. Here she asked for q
stamp. As she came out Of the shop
she felt for the letter to post, and, 10 It
was gone. She turned hot and cold by
turns, then hurriedly retraced her steps,
looking anxiously for the lost letter, but
without success. Then she went to the
house with a burning face and heavy
heart.
A few days later lady entered one of
the many rooms Of the mansion-a room
the proud. idle lady scarcely visited, for
it was the school-room, where troop of
noisy children daily made life a torture
to the pale. sweet faced girl who now
looked up at the lady's entrance ner-
vously.
The lady with the rustling robes peck
ed at the upturned faces of her offspring,
then seating herself in the only easy
chair in the room saying, as she threw
the Times on the table, with an exulting
sneer:
"You see your noble lover, like the
rest of his kind, has loved and rode
away told you how it would be long
ago. A man in Sir Jasper Dering's po-
sition could not stoop so low as to mar
ry a mere governess. ] knew how his
attentions would end and
warned you against him yet you would
continue to make such an exhibition of
yourself. You see your devoted slave
has broken his felters and flown off to
the east-has, in fact, accepted an i'm,
portant pest under Government think
this ought 10 be lesson to you not to
allow your vanity to run away with your
discretion"
The young girl had taken up the pa
per and read the notice referred to with
dry, agoDiziug eyes.
1t was as though she read her death
warrant, for the man whom it referred to
had for INC nths, to the chagrin of the
lady of the house, paid the poor, despis-
ed governess an the attentions Of low
er. He was many years her senior-in
fact had been her dead fathers friend in
their prosperous days, when no idea OF
her present dependent position had come
to mar bis content.
The little hands which held the paper
shook as with ah ague; but with gentle
dignity she raised her head to it's just
level, saying as she pointed to the nurse
maid, Susie, who stood by busily dust
ing the furniture:
81 think, madam, it would have been
kinder to have reproached me when we
we're alone 1t is not often that l ask
you 10 remember the bond OF blood te.
tween us, but in so delicate matter as
this should imagine that even stran-
ger would merit consideration at your
hands,"
"Irdeed, Miss Prengill since how long
have l appointed you my mentorP ]
trust time may bring you more humble
spirit, or you will find few employers pa
tient with you.''
With this parting shaft the lady left
her to resume her interrupted duties
When she had gone the poor girl paused
one weary moment from her work to
struggle to conceal her emotion, but il
was Of no avail, and with an excuse to
the astonished children she fastened to
her own room TO fight out the hard 6ght
alone, unseen and unmarked save by One
who heals all wounds.
Maggie Prengill was not one to lie
down despairingly beneath burden
she had heart for any fate, and soon
went about serene and swee. as usual
but the peach-like bloom died from bel
face, and the soft golden brown eyes
whose long brown lashes seemed tipped
by sunlight, had sad, panied look; the
sensitive mouth. too, showed signs o
sorrow, melancholy to see in one sc
young.
Thus weary months rolled on in The
household, OF whom one was about t.
depart, pretty Susie. The girl was great
ly attached to Maggie, who had once
nursed her through severe illness
Happy Sue was about to be married tc
the young carpenter who detained bel
while we opened our story. He was en-
ployed on one of the railways, and since
that night had been away on importan,
and profitable work. ~
Maggie, woman like, took great inter.
est in wedding, and 1t was to her Susie
came for advice in many matters of mil
linery and such like. She received &C
many useful presents from the COVER.
ness, who really liked the girl,and griev
ed to lose even that one humble FRIEND
out OF the uniriendly household where
she felt so utterly alone.
A few nights before Susie was to leave
she sat with her sweetheart alone in tht
pleasant kitchen talking much happy
nonsense with her lover, when suddenly
( she thought OF the last time she saw hin
before he left London, and, remember
| ing bis groundless jealousy, rated hin
soundly for his absurdity in her sauoies
manner, rightly believing that
"Iittle quarrels often prove