Connecticut western news., 1883-03-07
"But, Madam" "No-Sister Eliza.

"But, Madam"
 "No-Sister Eliza"
 ''Sistet Eliza, how is it possible that g lady of means, whose acquaintance made but yesterday, who awed me with her grand manners, her carriage, should wish to become 8 sewing woman ?"
 "Ask me no questions. This, how ever, promise you. The story of the old man ape is partially true, but there is limit to your endurance. In a month from now, swear to you, your passage home shall be paid you, and, besides that, there will be given you a handsome sum for you to start life with in your own country; only, for Gods sake, remember that just as you threw yourself on my mercy I now throw my self on yours. believe you have char acter and courage. No harm will come to you. I want refuge, and have found it."
 In a day learned to love that woman. All the naughty, proud manner was gone. She waited on me. She was the first up in the morning. She was al- ways busy. The porter of the house ev- identity mistook her for one of the two girls who had been in the employ of the sewing -machine company, for one or the other of them had often been in my room.
 More than once ventured to ask for an explanation, but Eliza would place her hand on my mouth so that my speech was interrupted. It distressed me to see how hard she worked, for felt sure this new life was hurting her. I could see that from her pallor. If anything more than another made me feel sorry it was for her beautiful hands. She seemed to take infinite pains in spelling them. ssThey are filthy-horrible," she would say, "and still think care for them more than I should-if only could get a thick, red, rough skin on them.'
 Work came to us in mysterious way left down stairs with the porter. By and-by fashionable dress-maker, who made dresses for the Court ladies, sent for me and gave me work. As what we had to do was well sewed, and we were always prompt, in less than three weeks we were doing good business. My companion, save for the daily purchases made in the immediate neighborhood for food, never went out. No one called on her she never received letter. A few days over the month had passed, when one morning as was running up seam in piece of cloth my needle struck something. It was a piece of paper.
 "It is for me, Sister Mary" said Eliza. She took the bit of paper, held it to the stove, appeared to read something, and then opened the stove door and burned it. I did not question her. She worked on cheerfully all day, chatting on indif- ferent subjects.
 That night when we were in bed, talk ing me in her arms, she said:
 "Poor Mary, your troubles, your anx. ieties, are now over. Tomorrow early apply for your passport. It will cost you to go from here to Liverpool, say, GAO, and the passage from Liverpool tc the United States as much mone; that makes ESQ, and you will have something to spare.
 'I wish it could have been more, but you will have altogether 93O0, which after deducting your travelling expenses will leave you some money to begin you life with again. From me--who have learned to love singularly honest anc simple-minded woman-you shall have this ring" and she slipped on my finger a ring, "but don't wear it, the diamond might betray me. So far, Mary, yor have run no risk, but next week you might be ruined forever, for you have harbored-"
 I was speechless with terror.
 "Only woman," she continued ''whose own life-or the life of any ont else who stood in her way-she would care no more of taking than would tn, cook who wrings chickens neck. D, not be shocked, Mary, I shall sleep a sweetly tonight as if death did no threaten me. My story as far as relate to you, is soon told. It became neces sary for me 8 month ago to disappear The simplest chance in the world thre1 you in my way. Had you been of an other nationality than an American, would never have trusted you. Yo might go out now, Mary, and sell m Judas-like for sum of money whic would make you rich for life." l chung convulsively to her and bad her be quiet.
 Through my veins, child, there run the best blood in Russia; but every dro of it I will shed for the cause. Than your God for your lowly estate. Yo must go away tomorrow, and now goot night"
 I begged her to come to the Unite States with me. She said:
 "No, my place is here. l should |
 useless there" Then she complained
 lassitude, and presently went to sleep.
 looked at her, her face pillowed on h
 arm, breathing as calmly as an infan
 and thought her the loveliest woman
 had ever seen.
 Next morning, out of package
 some rough material she produced, as
 by magic, 8 roll of notes, which, witho
 counting, she handed to me. .'Later
 the day there ought to arrive some flu
 for me, for poor Mary must not get col | No-r, will, uar o1J