Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-11

me. If you have not enough for two, l
will 90 out and buy what is wanted. What
shall it bep dare say can shop better
than you. Will you lend me your shawl,
your furs and your overshoesp
Before | could say word she had them
all on. Then she laughed for the first
time and curtsied to me.
Sister Mary, Sister Mary, she cried in
great gec, our co-partnership begins from
to-day. am to be capital and you brains.
Little sister. good.by | shall not be gone
more than quarter of an hour.
l was so astonished as to he speeches..
In trice she was back loaded down with
packages.
| have II samovar, but it was to heavy
for me 10 carry. The man | bought it of
will bring it here at OF ce. 1t is second
hand, but as good as new. ] SEQ you have
n tea. pot. Come let US eat. | can arrange
everything. am to wait on you.
Then up came the man with the copper
urn and charcoal, and she made the ire
and prepared the meal.
We don't drink out of cups when we
belong TO the people. and we are OF the
people, but swallow it in tumblers.
Before l conclude my first days lesson,
Sister Mary, let me ask you something.
Did you ever read Arabian Nightsp
1t is quite well known in the United
States. All children read it and Robinson
Crusoe.
The story l wish you to think about is
Sindbad, the sailor, and the old man ape
he could not get rid of. You are the
sailor, Sister Mary, and l am the ugly old
man ape, and she made SO comica
grimace that could not help smiling.
assure you that this is my character.
and you will never get rid of me until you
break my head. Sister Mary, will you
share your supper with me, your bed with
me to- night, your breakfast with me TO.
morrow; not for that day, but for the
next day, and the day after thatP She
said this very quietly, as she took my
hand in hers. was at a loss how to
reply. We are to work toget her for our
living only, Sister Mary, make ne prof.
cienl. will be SO diligent.
But, madam
No-Sister Eliza.
Sister Eliza, how is it possible that
lady of means, whose acquaintance
made but yesterday, who awed me with
her grand manners, her carriage. should
wish to become sewing womanP
Ask no questions. This, however,
promise you. The story of the old man
ape is partially true, hut there is limit
to your endurance. In month from
now, swear to you, your passage home
shall be paid, and, besides that, there will
be given you handsome sum for you to
start life with in your own country, only,
for God sake, remember thai just as you
threw yourself on my mercy l throw
myself on yours. believe you have a
character and courage. No harm will
come TO you. l want refuge, and have
found it.
In day learned to love that woman
All the naughty, proud manner was gone.
She waited on me. She was the first up
in the morning. She was always busy,
The porter Of the house evidently mistook
her for 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.
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 felt sure that this
new life was hurting her. l could see
that from the pallor. If anything more
than another made me feel sorry 1t was
Ior her beautiful hands. She seemed to
take infinite pains in spelling them. They
are tillhy-horrible, she would say, and
still | think | care for them more than
should-if only could get thick, red,
rough skin on them.
| Work came to US in q mysterious way
left down stairs with the porter. BY
and by fashionable dressmaker, who
made dresses for the court ladies, sent for
me and gave me work. AS what we had
to do was we'll sewed. and we were
always prompt, in less than three weeks
we were doing a good business. My
companion, save for the daily purchases
made in the immediate neighborhood for
food, never went out. No one called on
her; she never received letter. A few
DAYS over the month had passed, when
one morning as was running up seam
in piece of cloth my needle struck
something. 1t was piece OF paper.
1t is for me, Sister Mary, said Eliza
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 moi question her. She worked on
cheerfully all day, chatting on Indifferent
subjecls.
That night when we were in bed,
taking me in her arms, she said:
Poor Mary, your troubles, your ankle
ties, are now over. Tomorrow early
apply for your passport. 1t will cost you
to 20 from here to Liverpool, say, G40.
and the passage from Liverpool to the
United States as much more; that makes
ESQ, and you will have something to
spare.
l wish It could have been more. but
you will have altogether 93OO which,
after deducting 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 have this
ring, and she slipped on my finger ring,
but don't wear it, the diamond might
betray me. So far, Mary, you have run
no risk, but next week you might be
ruined forever, for you have harbored-
was speechless with terror.
Only woman, she continued, whose
own life-or the life of any one else stood
in her way-she would care no more OF
taking than would the cook who wrings
chickens neck. Do not be shocked,
Mary, shall sleep as sweetly tonight
as if death did not threaten me. My
story as far as 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, l would never have trusted
you. You might 60 out now, Mary, and
sell me Judas. like for sum of money
which would make you rich for life.
l clung convulsively to her and bade
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 to- morrow, and now goodnight
l begged her to come to the United
States with me. She said:
No, my place is here. should be
useless there. Then she complained OF
lassitude and presently went to sleep.
looked at her her face pilloWed on her