Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-09-09
" A Happy Escape"

4 pert, pretty servant girl in a mob
cap, smart apron with the most fetching
pockets, in hich both hands are thrust
jsuntiIy, one of them holding letter.
The dusk of evening stftens her
florid beauty into sweetness which quite
subdues the heart of q young man in
the garb of u carpenter. They are con-
verslng beneath the shelter cf a wall
beside "a handsome mansion.
"In that hand which you have in
your pocket, Sue. is u letter, ss [ live.
Let ME SEQ it. Yon will not? Then l
suppose it is to some fellow. but | as
your future husband demand to see it.
Demand, indee,i!" answered the
girl, snuciiy. Ills early times, l
think. to be SO masterful. Ii yo0 talk
like that now, what will you do when
We are married, l wonGer?'
Twill you let me SEQ the letter,
Sue?"
"No, won't"
Well. then. goodnight. You'll be
sorry for tIis | expect"
And with rough, but sincere aifec
ton. he snatcheG the girl to his arms.
and in second was gone.
a jealous. silly fellow" cried Sue,
setting her dainty car airesh and hurry
i1g II to buster road, where hand
some shops glowed with light and life
She entered fret ous and Thea another,
giving orders at each with u merry
smile and saucy words for all. The
last she entered WAS that OF chemist
aud postoflice combiued. Here she
asked fer 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, aud then hur-
riedly retraced her steps, looking anx-
iously for the lost letter. but without
success. Then she went to the house
with 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, spoiled children
daily made life torture to tho pale.
sweet.faced girl who nov looked up at
the lady's entrance nervOusly.
The lady with the rustling robes
peeked at the upturned faces of her
offsprings, then seating herself III 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. l told you how it would be long
ago. A man in Sir Jasper behring's s
position could not stoop SO low as to
marry mere goverress. l knew how
his disgraceful attentions would end
and warned you against him; yet you
would continue to make such an exhi-
bision of yourself. YOU see your de-
voted slave has broken his letters and
flown off to the Esst-has, in fact. ac-
cepted an important post under the
Government. think this ought to be
. lesson to you not 10 allow your vanity
to run away with your discretion"
The young girl had taken up the
paper and read the notice referred to
with dry, agonizing eyes.
1t Was as though she read her death
warrant, for the man whom it referred
to had for months, to the chagrin of the
lady OF the house. paid the poor, de-
spised governets all the attention of u
lover. He was many years her senior
Ill IdCt, udu uceA hCI ocau ioeucI .
friend in their prosperous days, when
no idea of her present dependent posi-
tion bai come to mar bis content.
The little hands which held the paper
shook as with an ague; but with gentle
dignity she raised her head to it's just
level. saying, as she pointed TO the
nursemaid, Sasie, who stood by busily
dustipg the furniture:
81 think, madam, it would have been
kinder to have reproached me when we
were alone. II is not often that ask
you to remember the bond of blood
between US, but in SO delicate a matter
as this I should imagine that even q
stranger would merit consideration at
your hards."
Indeed. Miss PrengilI, since how
long have l appointed you my mentor
l trust time may bring you a more
humble spirit. or you will find few en-
plOyers patient with you"
With this parting shaft the lady left
her to resume her interrupted duties.
When she had gone the poor girl paused
ona weary moment from her work to
struggle to conceal her emotion. bat it
was of no avail, and with an excuse to
the astonished children she hastenod
to her own room to fight out the hard
fight alone, unseen and unmarked save
by the One who heals all wounds.
Maggie Prengill was not one to lie
down despairing beneath burden; she
had heart for any fate, and soon went
about serene and sweet as usual. but the
peach like bloom died from her gentle
face. and the soft, golden-brown eyes,
whose long, brown lashes seemed
tipped by sunlight, had a sad, panied
look; the sensitive mouth, too, showed
signs Of sorrow, melancholy to see in
one so young.
Thus weary months rolled on in the
household. of whom one was about to
depart. pretty Susie. The girl was
greatly attached to Maggie, who had
oLce nursed Ler through severe i'll
ness. Happy Sue was to be married
to the young carpenter, who detained
her while We opened our story. He
was emplOved On One Of the railwavs