The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-07


YOU share your supper with me, your
bed with me tonight, your breakfast
with me tomorrow, not for that day,
but for the next day, and the day after
that?' She said this very quietly as she
took nv hand in hers. was at a loss
how to reply.
ave are to work together for our liv-
ing-only Sister Mary make me prof.
Gent. will be so diligent."
But, madam
"No-Sister Eliza"
''Sister Eliza, how is it possible that a
lady of means, whose acquaintance |
made but yesterday, who awed me with
her grand manners, her carriage, should
wish to become a sewing-womanP
"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 month
from now, l swear to you, your passage
home shall be paid you, and, besides
that, there will be given you handsome
sum for you to start life with in your
own country; only, for Gods sake, re-
member that just as you threw yourself
on my mercy 1 now throw myself on
yours. | believe you have character
and courage. No harm will come to
you. | want refuge and have found
it. Teach me what you call the tension,
how to tighten the band when it slips,
how to gauge the stitch, and what to do
when the thread breaks"
In day learned to love that woma
All the naughty. proud marinefye, a.
gone. She waited on me. She was The
first up in the morning. She was al
ways busy. The porter of the house
evidently mistook herfor 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. Some small extra compensation
was given him for the new lodger. She
never spoke save in English, and her
coming to me had been so mysterious
that [ felt quite certain the porter was
entirely ignorant of her condition.
Certainly it worried me great deal.
More than once l ventured to ask for an
explanation, but Eliza would place her
hand on my mouth SO that my speech
was interrupted. 1t distressed me to see
how hard she worked, for l felt sure
that this new life was hurting her. l
could see that from her pallor If any
thing more than another made me
feel sorry it was for her beautiful hands.
She seemed to take infinite pains in
spelling them. They are tilthy-hor-
rible," she would say, land still l think
| care for them more than should-if l
only could get thick, red, rough skin
on them"
As she had said, the owner of the store
was only too glad to sell me machine.
Eliza furnished the money. Work came
to us in mysterious WAVELET down
stairs with the porter. By and by a
fashionable dressmaker, 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 COM
panion, save for the daily purchases
made in the immediate neighborhood for
food, never went out No one called on
her; she never received a letter. A few
days over the month had passed, when
one morning as | was running up seam
in a piece of cloth my needle struck
something. 1t was a piece of paper.
g 1t is for me, Sister Mary" said Eli
"a. She took the bit of paper, held it to
the stove, appeared to read something
and then opened the stove door and
burned it, l did not question her. She
worked on cheerfully all day, chatting
on different subjects.
rbot ,,iorbt u,bon wa ,x,o..> =.
ing me in her arms, she said: " Poor
Mary. your troubles, your anxieties are
now over. Tomorrow early apply for
your passport, 1t will cost you to 90
from here to Liverpool e40, and the pass
age from Liverpool to the United States
as much more; that makes ESQ, and you
Will have something to spare. | wish it
could have been more, but you will have
altogether f300, which, after deductine
your travelling expenses, will leave you
some money to begin your life with again,
From me-who have learned to love a
singularly honest and simple minded
woman-you shall have this ring" and
she slipped on my finger ring, 'but
don't wear it, the diamond might betray
me. Solar, Mary, you have run no risk,
but next week you might be ruined for
ever, for you have harbored ~
l was speeches. with terror.
Only woman" she continued,
''whose own life-or the life of any one
else who stood in her way-she would
care no more of taking than would the
cook who wings chickens neck. Do
not be shocked, Mary, l shall sleep as
sweetly to-night-as if death did not
threaten me. My story, as it relates to
you, is soon told. 1t became necessary
for me month ago to disappear. The
simplest chance in the world threw YOU
in my way. Had you been of any other
nationality than an American | would
never have trusted you. You might go
out now, Mary, and sell me Judas like
fora sum of money which would make
you rich for life"
chung convulsively to her and babe
her be quiet.
Through my veins, child, there runs
the best blood in Russia; but every drop
of it | will shed for the cause. Thank
your God for your lowly estate. You
must go away tomorrow, and now good
night"
l begged her to come to the United
States with me. She said: ''No, INV
place is here. l should be use
less there" Then she complained Of
lassitude, and presently went to sleen.
/ loci -,..I "a l. L. r