The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-04-05

fact of the matter is, my housekeeper-
an aged colored person I thought her
most estimable-is lying terribly into XII
Gated on the kitchen floor, and has been
for two DAYS, and things are-are-'
And Mr. Boutwell,, running short of
words, spread his hands abroad in pan
tomine descriptive OF chaos.
II understand" said Pamela, calmly,
where is your kitchen?'
Two hours afterward the master was
calmly writing in his study, and the
children, washed and dressed, were
listening to the stories Pamela told them
as she rubbed away at the washboard.
The housekeeper had been dumped
upon bed in a small bed room on the
lower floor to sleep off her intoxication,
and potatoes were boiling and a
couple of chickens roasting for the family
dinner.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Crump, having some
important document to inspect, had
come home unexpectedly, and, entering
the house, had found it empty. and in
the sitting room came upon sight which
petrified him with horror.
A little portable desk, which his
daughter had appropriated for her own,
was lying open on the table and in it the
cards we have described, and her account
book.
He read the card first:
MISS PAMELA CRUMP.-Laundress
House. cleaning done in best manner.
Then he ran his eye over the account
book.
Washed Monday. for Mrs. Pease;
Tuesday, for Mrs. Chalker; Wednesday,
for Mrs Mott; ironed, Thursday after.
noon; house. cleaning for Mrs. Downs on
Saturday.
All this in furious rage, and almost
foaming at the mouth, until he came to
the following items:
Dec. 5th-Bought the silk and fur for
cloak.
Dec. 1Oth-Made CLOAK. 1t fits we'll.
Dec. 25th-Wore cloak to church, and
thanked heaven hadn't had to beg it from
father.
Then Mr.. Crump closed the book, and
with a q ueer disposition to cry, sat down
beside his solitary hearth and looked
ut the fire for several hours, without
stirring.
When Pamela opened the door and
came in, she saw her father and knew
that he knew all.
pamela, come here" he said. Glow
long has this been going on?"
"Since October pa, the girl answered,
'Then you've been disgracing me ana
yourself for three months, said the old
man. "You, Crump! and all to spite
your poor old father for being careful of
his money"
Pamela was not afraid of her father
now. She came over and sat beside him.
"Pa," she said, lit was not for spite;
it was for need. 1 suffered so much
modification, not only from being shabby,
but having to beg. If there Is anything
in good blood. as you think there is, per-
haps that made it hard to beg from even
you. l WAS happier earning what
needed. Would you like to be u beggar,
pap"
You've done very wrong, Pamela, p"
said her father. Then he paused, and
added: "You shall tell me what allow
ance you need for your clothes, and l
will let you have it monthly. Now give
me those cards"
He burnt them in the fire when she
had handed them to him and hurried
away to get his tea, and no more was
said The Crumps were not good
takers.
But Pamela is not sorry for what she
did to this day. As for Mr.. Boutwell,,
he rejoices; for otherwise, perhaps, he
might, being a shy man, never have met
Pamela Crump, who is to marry him be-
fore long. Other people may blame her
for her "escapade," or call her odd" or
spiteful; he understands her and admires
her all the more "ThOuph Pamela +"
he often says. II should have offered
myself all the same had you actually
been lau ndress."