Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-02-22


often declare, glancing approvingly in
to the mirror at the fiat dyed bands
that made triangle of her high mar
row forehead, "Pd shave my head"
and "We'd certainly shave our heads, y
would echo Miss Georgette.
The kitchen floor finished, the rugs
shaken and returned to their places,
the bread put away in the big stone jar
in the cupboard, Molly sought her own
room (which, to tell the truth was no
room at ali, but a corner of the garnet
rudely partitioned of, with only sky
light to admit light and air-there were
rooms. empty, unused rooms, in the
attic, but "they were much too good
for servant" Miss Cameron said; and
every much too good for servant, y
agreed her sister to make ready for
her fitting. Molly looked around it as
che tied her straw hat over her rebel
lious tresses. and again the tears flIesi
her eyes. 1t ha0 been place of shell
er, and she had been glad to .have it,
fearing, to leave it less worse luck lay
beyond.
And she would not have been COM
PEELED to leave if it had it not been for
that unfortunate mirror, and the un-
ceasing conn plants of the old bachelor.
Why, he could not be Sc very old, after
all, for he was only one and twenty, and
she between five and six when he gave
her ribbons and books and silver pieces
and che gave him kisses.
But the sound of closing shutters
broke in on her reverie and reminded
her that her departure was waited for,
and taking her bundle in her hand, she
ran down stairs to the parlor, where
the maiden ladies sat, stern and erect,
their bonnets already in readiness for
the lecture.
'I'm going now," said Molly, stand
ing in the doorway, her sweet face, with
its pleasing gray eyes and quivering
lips in no way touching what her mis-
tresses was pleased to call their hearts.
Goodbye, ma'am. Goodbye, Miss
GeOrette."
But the only reply was "Bear in
mind that you are still indebted to us
eight and twenty dollars. IF, however,
you should prefer to purchase a mirror
yourself, in place of the one broken by
you, we will consent to receive it, pro-
vided it is every way as good as that lef,
us by our grandmother. And in that
case we will agree to refund the eight
dollars for last months wages, which
we have retained as the first Install
meut Of your debt, which is really
much more than you could have ex-
pected of u.s.
SOB, yes, indeed; very much more
than could have been expected of us
mdrmured Miss George,te.
"For such gross carelessness'-Miss
Cameron went on.
Indeed, ma am. interrupted Molly,
cheeks flaming and her eyes sparkling,
''as [ told you, never touched it
WASH t near it. I was sweeping the
other side of the parlor when it fell,
and the cord it hung by was all moth
eaten, and had broken just in the mid
die, as I showed you at the time"
"You should be punished" con.
tinued Miss Cameron, not paying the
slightest attention to the girl. @And
one word more. Please remember
that we have your signature to an
acknowledgment that you consider
yourself responsible for the break
age"
"You frightened me SO that I scarce
ly knew what [ was signing" said
Molly. 'But as I promised, 1 will pay
you, for it shall never be said that my
fathers daughter broke her word. I'd
give you the few dollars I have saved
if 1 had not to keep them for my own
support until l get another place.
Poor Aunt Nanny can only give me
sheher, for, as you know, she has de-
pended entirely on me for food and
clothes since my father died."
Eyes, and q very ridiculous thing
for both of you," snapped Miss Gamer
On. "She had much better sell the
house she lives in for kindling wood
and go to the Door house, and you
might much better save your wages
to pay for the things you break. For
break you will to the end of your days.
l never saw g. person with such fly
away hair as yours that was not vain,
careless and frivolous. You may 60"
eyes, indeed; you may CO." added
Miss Georgette.
And the poor child went out into the
road, homeless and almost friendless,
with shadow on her fair young face
and pain in her young heart. But
she had only turned into the lane that
led to old Nanny's cottage when some
one came quickly to her side, and said
in a kindly voice, 'Molly, my poor lit
tie Molly" and there was Mr.. Malcolm.
And Molly, in her grief, thinking only
of him as the friend of her childhood,
who had known her IS the darling of
the kindest of fathers, flung her bun
Gle down and bust into q passionate
food of tears.
"They were hard on me, your sisters,
Mr.. Malcolm" she sobbed, Every hard
on me, did my best for them. I
w0rked-and | am not very strong,
though I am blacksmith's daughter
from morning till night, and yet 1
could not please them. And it was
not my fault about the mirror. It was
mott was MOTT was not. Though
Miss Cameron insists that I stopped
sweeping to look at my curly hair-I
can't help its curling; | did everything
to make it straight. l tied it back
straight; I tied it back SO tight, over
and over again, that my head ached
awful-and Knocked it with broom.
She was a little better before you
came; but after you came, and COM
ulaoined SO much about the tea and cot
fee, and your shirts, and-snd every
thing"
81 complaint exclaimed the listener,