Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-08-21

would often declare, glancing ap-
provingly into the mirror at her fiat
dyed bands that made such a triangle
of her high narrow forehead, stPd
shave my head;'' and s'We'd GER
tainly shave our heads,'' would echo
Miss Georgette.
The kitchen floor finished, the rugs
shaken and returned to their places,
the bread put away in the big stone
jar. in the cupboard, Molly sought
her room (Which, to tell, was no
room at all, bnt corner of the gar
ret rudely partitioned off, with sky
light to admit light and air-there
were rooms, empty, unused rooms in
the attic, but s'they were much too
good for a servant,'' Miss Cameron
said: and livery much too good for
a. servant" agreed her. sister )t7tei
make ready for her fitting. Molly
looked around it as she tied her straw
hat over her rebellious tresses, and
the tears filled her eyes. 1t had not
been a happy place of rest to her,
but it had been place of rest, and
shelter, and she had been glad to
have it, fearing to leave it lest worse
luck lay beyond.
And she would not have been COM
PEELED to leave it had it not been for
! that unfortunate mirror, and the un-
ceasing complaints of the old bache-
lor. Old bachelor! Why he couldn't
be so very old, after all, for he was
only one-and-twenty (she was then
between five and six when he gave
her the ribbons, books and silver
pieces, and she gave him kisses.
But the sound of closing skaters
broke in on her reverie, and remind
ed her that her departure was waited
| for, and taking her bundle in her
hand, she ran quickly and lightly
down the stairs to the parlor, where
the ladies sat erect and stern, their
bonnets already on in readiness for
the lecture.
"I'm going now," said Molly,
standing in the doorway, her sweet,
pathetic face, with its pleading gray
eyes and quivering lips, in no way
touching what her mistresses were
pleased to call their heart. "Good-
by, ma'am. Good-by, Miss Georg-
ette.''
But the only reply she got was :
''Bear in mind that you are still in
debted to us eight-and-twenty dol
lars. If, however, yon should pre-
fer to purchase mirror yourself in
place of the one broken by you, we
will consent to receive it, provided ii
is in every way as good as that left
US by our grandmother. And in that
case we will agree to refund the eight
dollars, your last months wages,
which we have retained as the first
installment of your debt; which is
really much more than could have
been expected of u.s."
"Oh yes, indeed, very much more
than could have been expected OF
u.s." murmured Miss Georgette.
"For such gross carelessness, .
Miss Cameron went on.
"Indeed, ma'am," interrupted Mol
ly, her cheeks flaming and her eyes
sparkling, 'Eas | have told you,
never touched it; / wasn't even neal
it. / was sweeping the other side OF
the parlor when it fell, and the cort
it hung by was all moth-eaten, ant
had parted just in the middle, as
showed you at the time.'
Should be punished," contin
ued Miss Cameron, not paying tht
slightest attention to the girl. "Ant
only one word more. Please to re
member that we have your signature
to an acknowledgement that you con
slider yourself responsible for tn,
breakage."
"You frightened me so that
scarcely knew what was signing,
said Molly. 'sBut as l have promis
ed, 1 will pay you, for it shall neve
be said that my fathers daughte
broke her word. I'd give you tn
few dollars | have saved, if / hat
not to keep them for my own suppor
until / get another place. Poor Aun
Nanny can only give me shelter, fo
you know, she has depended almos
: entirely on me for food and clothe
> ever since my father died."
"Yes, and a very ridiculous thin:
for both of you," snapped Miss Cam
; eron with a cold snap. "She Nigh
much better sell the hut she lives il
for kindling wood, and go to tn
, poor house, and you might save you
: money to pay for the things yoI
break. For break you will to th
;, end of your days. l never saw
! person with such fy-away hair a
yours that was not vain, careless ant
frivolous. You may CO.
eyes, indeed, you may go, adde'
! Miss Georgette.
! And the poor child went out int
!. the road, homeless and almost friend
less, with shadow ON her fair youn;
! face, and pain in her young heart
But she lad only turned into the Ion:
lane that led to old Nanny's cottage
when some one came quickly to he
! side, and said, in a kindly voice
9 ''Molly poor little Molly!" am
thara was Mr. Malcolm And MOll-