Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-12-09
Stella's Story.

sew quietly by myself.
''Stella is such nice little thing"
Miss Calthorpe said.
And you may believe l was very glad
of such good situation, after all that
my mother and L had gone through
with. You see was educated at a
fashionable boarding-school, but when
my poor father died, leaving his affairs
in such hopeless confusion, had to
come home without waiting to gradu-
ate.
''Don't be afraid. mother,n said l.
s'I'm sure can teach and support you"
But couldn't get situation as
teacher, nor as a nursery governess.
Then l answered an advertisement
for saleswoman, and got a situation
in a fancy store. But l soon found it
was wearing me outl So took place
with Miss Calthorpe, for / was always
quick with the needle and had a very
fair idea of dress-making.
Miss Calthorpe was a great beauty
and a belle, and had naughty way
with her; but she was very kind to me
and paid me the fourteen dollars a
month as regularly as the dav came
around. And George Miner was always
at the corner on Saturday nights to
walk home with lie, for / had Sundays
to myself in the dear little room where
mother sat at her knitting, and the lit
tie copper tea-kettle sang on The stove,
as if to welcome me home.
got acquainted with George at the
Teachers Bureau. He was looking fOI
A place as teacher of Latin and Mathe-
matIcS-and he succeeded in obtaining
a very good one-and when he had laid
up money enough, and saw his way
clear. we were to be married.
So you can easily see that these days
in Miss Calthorpe's dressing room were
very happy ones for me. For as | sewed
| dreamed-and not Miss Calthorpe
herself, going out, night after night. to
her brilliant balls and parties, in her
elegant silks and tissues, was half so
secretly blissful as |.
Until the losing of that pearl ringl
II was very valuable one--at least
SO / was told-a stone of great size and
luster-and there was nobody but us IN
the room the day it was lost.
"Of course she has taken it, said
Mrs. Midget, Miss Caithorpe's aunt.
'sOh, aunt" said Miss Calthorpe, de-
precatingly; "Stella is such good, quiet
little thing, and have always found
her strictly reliable.
Because she never had been tempt
eds said Mrs. Midget, setting her thin
lips cOldly together.
SO they sent me away!
Dear mother Sympathized with me IN
NV troubles, cried on my shoulder, |
called Miss Calthorpe a ''cruel, heart |
less wretch, " and declared We would
live on bread aud water until l could
get place. But George Miner changed
in bis manner, and there was in his look |
and voice that which stung me 10 the !
heart.
George" said L. one evening,
speak out; if you think lie a thief. say |
SOP
"Well." said George, nervously twirl-
.ng his thumbs, 'since you wish me to |
be frank, it will, perhaps, lie best for
both parties. My situation depends a
good deal upon my character, and had
;e.ter not form any ties with person |
who has even teen suspected. Csp sar s
wife you know" and he laughed un-
easily.
drew of the ring and gave it back
to him. But my heart was too full for
me 10 speak a word, and, through my
tears, ] could see the gained look on his
face. Tor | believe poor George loved
me even then.
Mother" said /, when he was gone,
Its all over nowi l shall be an old Il
maid, and live with you all my days.
You must be husband and children and
lover and all to me, mother dear"
And / felt better after that last
shower of tears.
in those dreary times Charles Ellet
used to come and sit in our room a deal
OF evenings. He was in law station
er's store down in Nassau street, and
gos me copying to do, which helped US
along. And l didn't know until after
ward that he sat up late at night TO
copy over NY first attempts, which
were laundering and incorrect, rather
than dispirit me by criticism. But | Il
got TO be quite skillful copyist after
u while, and earned deal of money.
And one day Charlie asked me to
marry him.
1--we Just had an increase Of salary,
said he, ''or l shouldn't venture to ask {
you, Miss Stella to cast IN your lot with
a poor law clerk. And your mother .
will always be welcome as daylight in :
my house, and Pm studying law at odd
times, and hope one day TO keep you as !
you deserve"
What could l say? Mother liked
Charles Ellet, and-and l didn't posi-.
lively dislike him; and so l said yes.
But, L added. coloring up, ''you Z
must not commit yourself In ignorance
Of all the circumstances. They think at =.
Miss Calthorpe's that am thief"
And l told besides, the story of the
pearl ring.
you, thief" repeated he, disdain-
fully, "my lilly-hearted lOvel"
And he drew from his pocket little
garnet ring he had bought, and slipped
it on my finger. v
This seals my compact" said he.
Charles hired fat in the next street o
"a dear little fat-with five rooms. and Il
sunny windows looking out on the aven- f
ne, where mother could sit among her Il
pots Of running ivy and monthly roses
ghIle | was at my housekeeping, and
Charlie down at the store; and some o
times in the thrill of my newborn hap s
liness L almost forgot that l had ever S;
moan George Miner. N
But one evening he called. Mother G.
md l were alone. for Charlie had extra h
work at the store that week, and he
,ame in just as if nothing had happened
o mar the harmony of our old rela- .
ions. a
"Have you heard" said he, ''that U
)earl ring has been found?' Il u
81 always supposed it would be, u
sooner or later" said /, going calmly =
N with my sewing. Je
Il met Natalie Duwande, Miss Cal
horpe's maid, on the street this morn .,
ng," said he. SIT was found in the =,
niger of an old glove that Miss Cal 10
hOrpe had flung aside. The ring WIS z;
most probably drawn off with the glove, -,
nd there it has lain these six months n
Natalie says Miss Calthorpe has been aI
rying to find your address. She wants g.