The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-11-20
THE COAL SPRITE.

THE COAL SPRITE.
''Jette, mamma, says you must take
the washing down to the spring this
morning, for a new corps of engineers
have just arrived and are going to
board here, and the administrator is
coming to divide the estate to-day; so
you see there is plenty of work to do,
and the washing falls to YOU"
''And what has fallen to you, Lepla?
Nothing more tiresome than reading in
the hammock, has there?" was the re-
ply of the little dark-eyed girl who had
just finished tidying the breakfast
room.
What if there hasn'tp" spoke up
blonde Leola, haughtily. "You can
not expect me to do the drudgery.
Mamma boards you and you must ex-
pect to repay her in some way.
Not quite like an own daughter"
answered Jette, with some spirit; land
if the estate is ever divided I'll be
slave no longer; I'll take care of my
own. and that is all | will attend to-"
That is all that might be expected
of you Jette Hastings! Ungrateful as
ever, after all mamma has done for
YOU"
Il am not ungrateful, said Jette,
beginning to pack her dinner in little
tin pail to take with her to the spring.
"But that great washing of cOal-be-
grimed bedding and miners clothes is
more than days work for two strong
women. But l will do it this time, and
if the estate Is divided to-day it will be
the last one / will do"
Leola Maybee's only reply was
little sneer, and Jette left the room to
make preparations for her work.
This conversation had occurred in a
clearinghouse known as the Mountain
House, in the coal region of Pennsylva-
mia. It's former owner had been Har-
vey Hastings. Jette's father, who had
recently died, leaving an extensive
trast of land on tho mountain side
where he had kept large dairy. His
will had given Jette One-third of this
property, and the remainder to his
widow, who was Jette's step-mother,
and who had been a widow with one
daughter when she married Harvey
Hastings
This daughter Leola Maybee, was
about Je:te's age, but she was brought
up as lady, while Jette toiled at the
baking and the laundry work as the
veriest slave.
This, Jette had often thought ex-
tremely unjust, and this morning, as
she departed with her load for the
spring, her thoughts were very bitter,
and she noted not the handsome young
civil engineer who was stretched out
on the piazza just under the window of
the breakfast room, and must have
heard the conversation of the two girls,
nor yet the romantic scenery which
her.
None of the beauties of the deep
green forest below her, through which
lay her way to the spring, caught her
eye. No thought of the towering
mo ntain upon the other side, whose
rock-clad summit seemed to reach the
skies, where, far up as the eye could
reach, the blackened coal cars were
winding their way toward its base,
made any impression upon her; she
only thought of the toll and de-
privation of her own lot, and even un-
just thoughts of her father crowded in
upon her weary brain.
why did he make such an unjust
will?" thought she. Mrs. Hastings
will have it divided to suit herself. and
1 will have to take the stony, inac-
cessible mountain side, where even a
goat cannot Chamber. But 1 will build
me a hut and live there before 1 will
stay here and be her slaver' And the
tears rolled over the bright, dark cheek
of the usually brave little girl as she
filled with water the great brass kettle
which hung by the side of the spring,
and built a roaring fire beneath it, and
began to rub the grimy articles with
her little brown hands.
Burt Fay, the head engineer of the
corps stationed at the Mountain House,
was soon discovered by his enterprising
hostess and invited into the parlor,
where it was much cooler than on the
piazza, the lady said.
The young man doubted it, but being
quite the gentleman, he followed Mrs.
Hastings into a room whence came the
voice of young lady singing.
Leola Maybee arose from her seat as
the two entered, and Mrs. Hastings
said smilingly,-
"Leola, have brought you gentle
man to entertain. Miss Maybee, Mr..
Fay, who is waiting for some of his
corps to arrive, and who is to be with
us for a time"
The young lady bowed with a be-
witching smile, and alas that it was so!
the young man wondered if Mrs. Hast
ings was man9uvring mamma, and
had planned the introduction.
At his request Miss Leola resumed
her seat at the piano, and after several
instrumental pieces and a song the
young lady asked him to sing.
As he took his seat at the piano he
noted name in gilt letters engraved
upon the rosewood case; "Jette Hast
ings."
The young man seemed to be struck
with the peculiar name, and after read
ing it aloud he asked,-
"Was that the young lady saw in
the breakfast room this morning?"
Leola bowed, SAYING.
"Yes, that was Jette Hastings; but
the piano was her mothers, who bore
the same name.
"And does Miss Jette play also?" he
asked with much interest.
"A little by ear, answered Leola.
1--WE did not think she had much mu-
steal taste. She has given it up entire.
ly lately, and only use the piano.
''Given it up to wash miner
clothes" thought the young man, as
he dashed into one of Strauss liveliesl
waltzes, showing himself to be an ac,
complished pianist.
As he played an unaccountable de
sire to see how the owner of the piano
got along with her heavy work seized
him; but he could not te himself
away gracefully from the lively Leols
all at once, so he fingered until afte'
dinner when taking his hat and mum
bling something about the station h'
followed the path Jette had taken il
the early morning.
He passed rapidly along under thu
cool shades, the path seemed to leat
him toward a great rock upon thu
mountain side; but suddenly it wount
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