The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-10-24
INTERESTING SKETCH.
THE HOUSEHOLDER

It's very strange J" said Edith Mills.
It's unaccountable ~ declared Helen
Sanderson.
But the things are certainly gone !" said
Miss Selwood
9 And they couldn't have got away with
out hands,, sagely added Abby Hilton.
Libby Lawes struck an attitude. :" Have
we traitor among us 2t' she exclaimed
tragically.
My poor little coral earrings" sighed
Alice Cakes. How could any one have
had the heart to steal them For their
money value was nothing at all !; but to me,
as my dead mothers gift, they never, never
can be replaced p
Madame has promised to have extra in
doors, said Edith Mills.
That won't do any good, said Miss Sci
wood, Struggling her shoulders.
What do you mean ?" whispered Abby
Hilton.
." Why, mean," Miss Selwood answered,
in the same mysterious soto Uoce, " that the
thief, whatsoever she may be, is here in our
very midst /"
The girls looked at one another, with a
strange, uncomfortable thrill passing
through their veins.
{" Oh, DEAR" said Bessie Rockwell 81
do wish Miss Meeker wasn't going away for
her summer vacation just now of all times
in the world. One felt safe while Miss
Meeker was here. Miss Meeker is such u
very superior woman"
Young ladies'" said the mild, well-mod-
ulated voice of the housekeeper of Melworth
Hall, at that moment, madame desires
your attendance at one in the gymnastic
hail.
"Oh, Miss Meeker," cried the girls,
trooping toward the tall, spare form in the
well-worn black serge gown, "did you
know that Alice Cakes had lost her coral
ear-drops and that nobody can find any
trace of Libby Lawes' valenciennes border
ed pocket-handkerchief I"
Miss Meeker nodded her head, and com
pressed her lips. She was fair-haired wo
man, with large light blue eyes, straw-yeL
low lashes, and complexion whose pdsse
delicacy was kept up by the liberal use OF
pearl-powder.
81 know it ALL my dear, :" said she. g Oh
dear oh, dear what are we coming to p
But Miss Meeker," cried Edith Mills,
don't they suspect anybody"
Miss Meeker shook her head oracularly
Such things are best not talked about, my
lear" said she.
ooh, Miss Meeker," cried the girls Ia
chorus, " do tell us. What does madame
say? Who can it possibly be? ?"
~ say nothing" said Miss Meeker
dropping the straw-yellow lashes, and screw
ing the thin lips together until they re.
sembled nothing but crimson thread,
who am l. dear girls, that l should ven-
ture to cast an aspersion ON any fellow Great
ure Pr
" But you must suspect somebody, dear
Miss Meeker," said Libby Lawes, coaxing-
ly. Who is it? It's 80 dreadfully un-
comfortable to have things disappearing in
this mysterious way, and not be able tc
imagine where they vanish to ~
I" / say nothing" observed Miss Meeker,
in scarcely audible tone. " But must
repeat--what have asserted from the very
irst-that it was scarcely a judicious pro
ceeding ON Madame Favallis part to take
into our midst girl of whose associates and
antecedents we know nothing"
The girls looked at one another.
=" It's, true" said Miss Selwood g Netjs
Holly is perfect stranger here"
g Poor dear" whispered Libby, " she has
neither father nor MOTHER
"She's only charity scholar anyhow
said Helen Sanderson, whose father was o
Judge, and who was generally considered
the leader of the sristocratic party in the
school. She helps in the dormitories and
hears the little ones in their French, out Of
school hours"
And she wears such shabby dresses"
said Edith Mills, with compliment glance
at her own pretty blue muslin gown, tied
back with ribbon loops and edged with
creamy lace. But never should have
thought her to be a."
just at this moment the door opened. A
rosy-cheeked young girl, with large black
ayes and smiling mouth, came in.
Miss Meeker," said she, madame
wants the key of the linen-room Immediate
IT,"