The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-09-29
A LITTLE RUSSIAN SERVANT

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Who's that % said the countess,
stopping in front Of a young girl of IS or
10 years of age, bent over an embroidery
frame. The young girl rose, Frustrated
herself thrice before her mistress, then
getting up remained standing, her hands
hanging by her side, her head slightly
bent forward under the investigating
gaze OF the countess, who through her
eye-glass closely scrutinized her.
- II Is the new girl, your hlghness,s
answered the head lady's maid, coming
forward with the air of importance that
thirty years employment gives to no mat
ter what funetionay. She is the
daughter of Foma, of the village of Iko-
nine. She comes in her turn to pay her
fathers obyok-he is in Moscow"
These peasant girls can do moth
ing, said the countess, with wearied
air +; "wha, do you expec, to get out of
this ones"
she doesn', embroider badly, your
highness; pray look yourself. She
can be put down to embroideries to
the ground, but to the trimmings.
This is for the toilet table Of madame la
countesse."
The noble lady, who could hardly see.
being short-sighted from her birth, ex-
amined the embroidery frame so closely
that the tip OF her nose grazed the CLOTH
That's not bad" she said. Come
here, little girl"
The little girl advanced, and the coun-
tess inspected her as infinitely as she had
done the embroidery.
- How pretty she is. What's your
manner"
Mavra"
The word came like a breath from the
rosy lips.
You must speak louder if you want
us to hear you," said the head lady S
maid, angrily.
Mavra turned her large blue, startled
eyes toward her, let them diop, and said
nothing.
Sit down to your work." said the coun-
tess, amused at her new toy. With a
quick, graceful movement the young girl
and, the needle firmly held between her
agile fingers, went in and out Of the stuff
with that short, sharp noise that stimu-
lates the action Of the hand.
That's right; you may 60 on" said
the countess, her nerves irritated by the
regularity Of the movement.
Then, turning her back upon the young
girl and trailing the heavy sumptuous
folds of her dressing-gown along the
carefuliy-washed pine-wood floor, she
disappeared through the door, which was
respectfully closed after her by the head
lady's maid. The countess, an accom-
plished mistress of house. made prae-
tlce of paying daily visit to this room,
which was reserved for the women of her
service. Mavra was left alone in the
work-room, large, well-lighted chamber
furnished simply with tables and chairs
for the use of the innumerable women
and girls invariably attached to the ser
vice of those noble ladies who knew SO
well how to maintain their rank in thai
blessed time Of serfdom. AT this hour
the work-room was empty. Some Of the
women were washing, others ironing
some cleaning and turning upside down
everything in the private apartment the
countess had just left. The young peas
ant girl, with her needle uplified, rested
her ruddy hand upon the edge of the
frame and looked around her.
What multitudes Of embroidered gown.
with their rich lace trimmings hung ther,
on the wall. waiting some slight repairs
What endless petticoats with their orna
mented hounces all freshly ironed OF
cords along the huge room. VIVA
countless lace laps, worn hardly an hour
pinned to pin-cushion as large as pill
low, used only for this purpose; ana
there, in a basket on the corner Of tn,
table, what piles Of cambria chemises
delicasely piped and plated, trimmes
with valenciennes lace and ornamentes
with bright ribbons. And all this for on,
person, without counting the silk stock
ings in that other basket, and the ring
by dozens worn by the countess on he
thin fingers In this world Of living be
ings under Gods heaven, what import
ance given to one person, that needed q
many other persons to serve her, and hov
the noehingness Of these was mad,
more emphatic by the dominance Of that
Mava sat wonder-stricken. The heae
lady's maid coming into the room found
Al =