The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-07-16
THE CAMEO.


sound, coming from Mrs. Monsoon,
thin lips and acid voice. Felici,
came slowly UP the stairs to wher.
Mrs. Monson stood, talking volubl,
with her lodger, Mr.. Thornton.
"Felicie. walk q little fasterr' sale
Mrs. Monson, sharply. 'sHerc is Mr.
Thornton, that has missed his fines
cameo. You were in his room dust
ing yesterday"
at was a head of Apollo" sale
Mr.. Thornton. II bought it in Ma
Piles. Could you have swept it be
hind the furnitureY
At the first mention Of the cameo
Felicie put her hand in her pocket
she turned deathly pale, and o hal
cry escaped her.
'9Eave you got it?' cried Mrs. Mon
son, shrilly. "If you have, out o
these doors you shall pack. Troubl,
enough have had with you already
and all your relations"
She seized her by her shoulders
and attempted to put her hand into
her pocket. Felicie resisted dcsper
ately. And she was as white as ;
ghost"
s.Come, come, Mrs. Monson. The
cameo is not worth all that" sale
Mr.. Thornton.
1t was really worth enough to have
made Felicie open her innocent eyes
wider than they had ever opened be
fore.
Mr.. Thornton had often noticed
Felicie. He believed her to he hon
est. and he saw that she was terrified
at Mrs. Monson's violence.
"But / mean to get at the bottom
of it," said Mrs. Monson.
Thornton caught her by the wrist
and forced her to unloose Felicie
He gave her a look, before which the
shrewishness vanished away like
smoke.
"You had better go down stairs =
said he, quietly, II will settle this
with Felicie."
Mrs. Monson walked submissively
down stairs, and left Thornton and
the girl alone.
"Now," said Thornton kindly, but
with determination in his voice, "tell
me how all this happened.
Felicie put her hand in her pocket,
and handed out the cameo.
II know YOU won't believe me-
she said, bursting into tears, "btt !
did not steal it,
Il believe you," said Thornton.
go on"
II was busting in your room. ]
put my handkerchief on the mantle
piece. When / took it up did not
notice that l took anything with it.
When | got down stairs / felt it in
my pocket. I was hurrying to put
it back when found you and Mrs.
Monsrn here"
She was very pretty when she
cried. She had a delicate beauty
very different from Mrs. Monson's
buxom daughters. He wondered
how two types so different could be
produced in the same family.
''Are you Mrs. Monson's necey
he asked.
Nor she answered, with ring
of Indignation. "My mother was
Mr.. Monsons sister, and a lady. My
father was French.
"How came you here?'
"My father and mother both died,
and l had nowhere else but here to
co.
She began to cry again.
Mr.. Thornton had never before
felt so sorry for any human being.
"And have you never been educat-
ed?"
81 can read and write and speak
French. My father was a French
teacher, and he used to say to me,
when l was a little thing: 'Felicie,
you must study hard some of these
days, and you must play and sing;
but l canpot play, and l have no
heart to sing"
Thornton looked at her in silence
for some time.
81 have never benefited others
much, but this is a chance 1 will not
let slip. Felicie, how would you like
10 go to school, and then learn some
business that would make you indie
pendent-fower making, for exam
pie"
"Or dress making," responded the
practical Felicie.
Every well," said Thornton, ~
know of respectable place where
you can live. Let me see-you are
lbout fifteen.".
''Nearly eighteen" replied Fell
lie.
Thornton stared.
She was, then, quite a woman, and
IN uncommonly prenty one, too, he
laid to himself
"You are sure you will not repent?
But perhaps | am wrong in taking
'ou away from your natural guar
lians in this manner"
'sYou may take me away or not"
aid Felicie, coolly. 'But if some
me does not take me away ! shall
axe myself away. / am going now
o get everything / have,a and nothing
will induce me to sleep another night
lndcr this roof"
That ooff1a1 n