Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-06-01
MISS DEMAR.

1 am Clotilde, Miss Demar's maid, if
you please, sir, and 1 can tell the whole
story.
You see. Miss Demar came here, to
the Surf House, last July. was out
OF a place, having been bred lady's-
maid, and not being ft for anything
else, was very uneasy, though 1 was
taking care of the landlady's children.
Mrs. Ray had said to me:
''Now, Clotilde, if you will take good
care Of the children, till the summer
visitors come down, I'll get you a nice
place with some of the ladies'"
was impatient enough for them to
come, and in June they began to ar
rive. But 1t was not until the 1st of
July that Miss Demar came.
1 was peeping through the blinds, as
her carriage came up. and when 1 saw
her step out, said to Mrs. Ray:
There's a lady I'd like to serve"
Its Miss Demar," said she. "What
does it mean that she's come and with
out a maid?"
was rocking little Harry to sleep,
that evening, when Mrs. Ray came in
TO the nursery.
"Clotilde," said she, "Miss Demar's
Marie was taken ill on the journey, and
she was forced to send her back. And
she wants maid.
"And may 1 apply to her, Mrs.
RayP" -
eyes think you had BETTER" she
said.
So lay the baby in the cradle, and
went Up and knocked at Miss Demar's
door. She called "Come," and went
in.
There she sat by theswindow, read.
ing.
., heard you wished lady's-maid,
Mis- Demar," said /. courtesying.
"Nnd are you Clotilde?"
les, maam."
Mrs. Ray has recommended you.
z viii engage you at once, IL you are
ready"
1 said that was, and then she went
on reading. and began putting the
dressing table in order. 1t was all
strewn with jewels, and ribbons, and
silver combs, and bracelets of gold lace,
as 'twere, they were wrought so fine,
like embroidery. And everything about
her, and belonging to her, showed her
the lady that knew her to be the mo-
ment set eyes on her. She read for
awhile, and then she said:
"Clotilde, will you take down my
harp My head aches"
No wonder, sir. That purple. black
hair came unrolling in my hands,
until 1t lay in coils on the floor. And
A. was fine and lustrous, and soft as
six. Nothing false in her makeup
sir, and was dumb with surprise.
While was combing her hair, she
asked me questions about myself, in q
pleasant, kind way-how long 1 had
been in this country. and had 1 any
home, and did 1 think 1 should b,
happy with herP Oh, in all her ways
she was thorough lady, sir!
didn't tell you she was handsome
did Ip Well, l didn't know it myself
mt first, for she had none of that flusl
and animation that makes you thin
women handsome when they are moi
Bat her face was just like one cut o.
n cameo. with all the lines smooth an
graceful. Her skin was dark, but fin
and shining like satin, and her eye
were steel-blue, steady and bright, wit
-curled black lashes, and wide brow,
remember that she wore black an
white. with pink coral ornaments,
great deal, and she was very fend &
roses in her hair.
Sometimes she would seem to thin
much of these things. and then sh
would be quite Indifferent, nor min
what 1 put her in, in the least. AL
sent and sorrowful.like she would b
And she would have these spells, Otter
when there were gay gentlemen
love with her, as was plain to be seel
How she managed 1t, or why it was,
never could see, but she never encou
aged any Of them.
She was fond of the place-of II
beach, and the rocks, and the Sc
There was place called Red Cliff, thl
she was fond of ascending; the wats
washed its base, and swept away, {
wild and free. She used often to tax
me with her, to stake care of her" sh
said; for she was apt to grow absen
minded, in such places, and to com
away and forget a shawl, or book, {
glove, and once she came near bein
cut OF from the shore by the tide.
The hotel was the only house
sight, except a stone one which stoo
upon the rocks, mile up the beacl
with three cedar trees before it. 9Th
Cedars," I've heard the place calle'
I'd heard something about the masts
of it but not much.
y Miss Demar was fond Of the beac
while there were few persons upon i
and would find her way to Red Gil
quite early in the morning. One mon
ing, as she sat there, she commence
singing an old song:
Why does fair Margaret so early awake,
And don her kirtle so hastily?