The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-08-22
NY Maid Marie.
by MRS. HARRIET A. ouEEvER, IN "Ex.
AMINER'


believe her correct in each case. She
might perhaps have had as splendidly
lustrous eyes, had her father been of a
different nationality, and her voice
been rs musically sweet had her moth
er been reared under less sunny skies;
but it was not altogether the liquid
eyes with their faultlessly pencilled
brows nor yet the song-like voice
which constituted the nameless charm
characterizing my maid, Marie
Although not much of talker, she
seemed at first possessed of an unusual
degree of intelligence, rendering her
pleasant companion, as well as most
desirable assistant.
Sometimes vaguely wished the
blue veins in her pure olive temples
were less prominent, and in the same
vague way rather disliked, without
stopping to think Just why, to see the
labored dilating of the delicate nos
tril after any little exertion.
But after awhile, | began regret
fully to fear that Marie was hardly the
sensible girl had had taken her for.
She was invariably good-natured, al
ways on the alert to serve me in any
possible manner, never tired of run
ming on "wlling errands."
Alb, my maid my own maid, Ma
rie where shall l ever find such will
ling feet again
But, as was saying, had begun to
suspect there was something's kind
of romance tingeing Mares thoughts
and lending a false glamour to her
dream of the future.
She never went anywhere except to
the little mission chapel in the next
block, fact / deplored somewhat as
being so fond of pleasure myself in
those days, it was matter of wonder
how any pretty young person could be
satisfied without certain amount of
amusement but one look at her con-
tented face would set her mind at rest.
One morning she was in my room
placing in its ample box the beautiful
gauzy dress had worn to my particu-
lar friend Lucy Deane's party the night
before, and as with deft fingers she
folded each soft plat nicely away, a
sudden feeling of pity seized me, that
there should exist such difference in
our lives, for we were both young, and
she more like dainty little lady than
one who waited and served, so l ven
tured the kindly meant remark
81 suppose you like pretty things as
well as any one, don't you, Marie p
She ceased her skillful touches for a
moment, and raising her great lovely
eyes to my face replied almost raptur-
ously
"Ah, my lady she always aoould
call me ''my lady'-"my dear lady
such a garment as is making for Marie
mortal EYES had never seen its like
and He who has ordered it for me--ah,
my lady, how shall speak to you of
Him p
Her soft voice quavered, that excit-
ed dilation seemed catching her breath,
she choked up and said no more, but as
she bore the box from the room, her
face wore. an expression which made
me think of the face of an angel.
But understanding her so little, my
mental ejaction was, "Poor little sim
pleton, what thousand pities she
would delude herself with unlikely
fancies !"
The circumstance was nearly for
gotten, however, when some time af-
terwards she went with a message to
Lucy Dean, whose father had Just
built a princely new house. Upon her
return | inquired half sportively
"Well, Marie, what did you think of
Lucy's home 2"
A great wistful, fearful longing to say
something she hardly knew how to
say seemed 10 seize the girl then she
replied with the slightly foreign accent
habitual with her :
"Su-perb grand very $40 perb
but oh, my lady nothing to the
home that awaits Marie ! Ny lady"
she broke out in an eager, impulsive
way that surprised me-"my lady
dear will you not come to Marie af-
ter she leaves you for her beautiful
home Poor Marie loves and would
welcome you so y
Then she pressed her hand against
her heart, and turned deathly pale,
while blinded and half frightened as l
was, again mentally calculated
"The poor, pretty little ninny to
have such dreams y
And that evening when, thinking it
over, ma said, "a penny for your
thoughts, dear !" l replied:
"Ma, I'm afraid Marie has some
queer, high-fown notions that will
spoil her in time unless they are check
ed "and mother said she had noticed
something about the girl little unus-
nal, she went about with such a rapt,
absorbed expression much of the time
but ma added in her kind way
"But there it's no fault perhaps,
after all and l do wish she wasn't
quite so frail-looking for a more
faithful, obliging little creature never
lived"
Marie could you hear me, dear,
it tried to tell you hoao faithful I've
learned to think you now p
Matters came to painful crisis only
few weeks later.
Lucy Dean was in my room, saying
pretty bantering nothings concerning
me and my friend Harry Bacon and l
was conscious that the wistful,
longing eyes of my Spanish Italian
maiden were regarding me with their
dewy gaze the while-a gaze which
she had often followed me of late, as if
wanting to say something she scarcely
knew how to word Alright.
After Lucy had gone, Marie turned
to me with a coaxing smile, completely
dispelling an idea of undue familiarity,
as she asked;
Sand Mr.. Harry Bacon is worthy,
my lady? You are sure p
"Oh, he's considered splendid
splendid young gentleman l answer
ed gayly, "none better, it is thought
"Yes, one is better" my lady Ma.
ria's only love among men, is Chief
| had sensitively turned my head
away. thinking she was about to make
one of her silly speeches, and as the
pause came, thought her trying to find
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