Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-19

I 81 must,'' gasped Mary. 'It's relic
to my feelin's. You men aint got no feel
D in's, so you don't need to cry; but must
Poor dear My Lady wish had disc
: with her!'
r "No you DON'T" said Richard, passing
his arm around the pretty maids slender
. waist. and giving sounding kiss on either
t cheek-''no, you don't; cause if you had
1 should have been left disconsolate wild
over"
~ don't believe it, said Mary. saucily
| as she struggled to free herself from the
? butler's embrace. 'sYou've been paying
great attention to the new housemaid late.
{ Iiy. was thinking about that when took
5 up the wrong plate basket
!, "And you was crying for that t.also, my
dear?" asked Richard in all insinuatlng
voice.
"Perhaps I was, Mr.. Himpudence,' re-
piled Mary tossing her head.
, .'Well, don't think about it again, my
love, remarked the lover, accompanying
, his Recommendation with another kiss, or,
rather, with succession of small inter-
rupted sounds not unlike the twitterng oi
} dozen hungry little birds 10 nest
''don't think about it, I say. She can't
hold candle to you.''
j ''No, she can't indeed" assented Mary,
!; with a very red face and quite undecided
| 30 4o1 20 1o
the light for M mute last night, and IN
blest if she did not let the grease drip right
down upon my dress. It's pretty mess,
can tell you.''
i every trying, indeed darling murmur-
ed Richard, gazing lovingly at the girl of
his choice; "but there's some consolation
in it having happened at the right moment.
OF course VIC shall all have new suits of
black for my poor lady. There's always
some comfort in great sorrow. My best
coat was little seedy; it's taken a sight
of 'terps' to clean it lately
"Ah," exclaimed Mary, with the air of
one who had just made discovery, II
thought you had been investing in great
quantity of cheap scent this last week!
'Terps' amt SO good for taking out spots
as benzoline, Richard
"Well, love, benzoline it shall be-" re-
piled the Adonis of the pantry.
And again there was a peculiar sound,
which might have been smacking or kiss
ing, which you please.
'Don'tp' cried Mary-"don't! You'll
have John after me if you keep me any
longer"
81 should like to see John after youp'
replied Richard, oninously. ''He wouldn't
be able to show off his fine calves with a
broken head, 1 fancy; and I'll break his
head, as sure as eggs are eggs, if catch
him looking after my sweetheart; that l
would!'
"Would you?" laughed Mary. "Just
you don't boast, Master Richard. l have
an idea tall John woui1 be ono to many
for you. Let me go, or I'll set him oa to
try; will, indeedl pretty time I've been
fetching that plate basket to be sure! But
there, there! things are certain to be out Of
tune with corpse in the house. Poor
Lady Maudr'
The last words were accom- panied by o
sob-so quickly follow tears upon the heels
of laughter-and the echo of this express
sion of grief had not died away against
the white walls of the pantry when Mary
disappeared.
The artful little mink had beard footsteps
approaching.
1t was Roland Cavel in search of some
one to carry q message which he did not
care to entrust to the fcotman.
Hearing movement in the butler's PAN
try, he paused and looked in, inquiring, is
that you, Richard Browne?'
set is sir" replied the butler, respect
fully. 'sDid you want anythingp'
''Yes," replied Roland, with a little hes
itation;' Zone of the maids"
81 will call Mary instantly" responded
Browne, Hinging aside the cloth with which
he had been diligently polishing lumber.
s'She was hero not minute ago after
plate basket; so if you had happened to be
a little sooner, sir, need not have kept
you waiting.'
~ thought / heard voices" replied Ro-
land, refectively; "but think-I feel sure
Janet Mason would do what l require
best"
"Janet M"sonI' echoed the butler, open
ing his eyes with as5onishment. ''Lor'
bless you, sir-excuse me, sir; Miss Janet
don't know any work but her own, and
that ceased with my lady's breath. She
was always tied so mighty fast to my lady's
apron-string, and kept to her last'--as the
proverb goes about the cobbler-that she
hadn't an opportunity of learning"
"Well, Browne, never mind; have an
inclination to ask her to DO my bidding"
'sBetter command one of the other maids,
sir, replied tho butler, in quite distress
ed tone; 'for, begging your pardon for the
suggestion, Miss Janet is SO very uncom-
mon proud that she might have the impu-
dence to refuse your request. She won't
say half-adozen words to the like of us
lest we should ask her to walk with us,
which, to be sure, would crafty one Of us
exceedingly, for she is beautiful as an an
gel. Pray alter your mind, sir, and let me
bring Mary, for Mary's sharp and quick,
and has no scruples.''
"No.' answered Cavel speaking decided
ly, though he suiled; "Janet must attend
me in this business; so no more arguments,
Browne. If she remains here she will have
to undertake other duties, l suppose, until
I am married, as there will be no lady's
maids work.
Certainly, sir; quite true, sir; replied
Browne, briskly. ''And fsuch is the case
she may as we'll put her shoulder to the
wheel as once. No offence, l hope, for
proposing some one in her place; I'll have
her here in minute.
s'And tell her to come into the little pri-
vate drawing said Roland, walking
, away. ssTell her to come instantly"
u 4 n. n