Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-06-11

the brighter" was the grun reply.
s1pav, to vour parfner.u
% For he music of the ouadrilie had
sonnded in The long room. and atten-
tion was reouired TO the intricacies
through which Miss Worthington and
her mariner proposed TO lead their set.
When IL was over. Esther, leaning
unon bcr nartner's arm. turned to find
I,erself face 10 face with Maude Pierson.
with a sweet smile. she extended her
hand
aHave vou forgotten me ?p she asked.
az remember Won well y was the reply,
in n freezing tone. "And confess my
surprIse il yery great TO find an aims
ho,ise girI among nv friends.u
WAn alnls.h)use girlw cried several
voices.
HYou may doubt me.y said Maude,
answering them. "but let Miss Worth
ington deny. II she can, that she was
taken from the alms-house to be the
nursery-maid of Mrs. Thurston, my
aunt, cousin and pelghbor. Let her
deny. II she can, that she did menial's
work for wears In their house. She may
nalm herself off as Mrs. Mortimer's
niece upon strangers, but I, knowing
her. decline the honor Of her acquain-
tance -
The delicate, beautiful face of Esther
Worthington had grown very pale dur
ing this Insulting address, but she drew
herself erect as haughtily as Maude
Pierson herself, as that young lady
ceased to speak.
"All you have said Is quite true" she
replied, "and my only reason for con-
ceaIinp the facts YOU now force upon
INV friends was the request of my dear
aunt. Mrs. Mortimer. Mrs. Hursey,
Mrs. Ralston, and several others oi
those who honor me with their friend
ship. know well the family history you
| force me to relate to our friends here.
You will pardon me for obtruding my
private affairs upon you, but since Miss
Pierson has attacked my varacity, ]
must defend it. NY parents were mar
ried against the wishes of my mothers
father, who carried his resentments to
the grave, and cut my mother out OF
his will. When was u babe, my IA
ther died, and my mother, i'll, feeble and
penniless, was taken to the alms-hOuse
where she too died. Her sister, Mrs.
Mortimer, was in Europe at the time,
and unaware of my existence. l was
taken from the alms-hOuse to fill SER
wants place, but my employers were
kind and was allowed to attend school
in the winter. 1 think they will tes-
tify that If my duties were menial they
were faithfully performed, and doubt
if Miss Pierson can make better LOAF
of bread, or tidy house more neatly
than myself. When was thirteen, my
aunt returned home and found me out.
Since then have been her charge, and
the kindest love was lavished upon me
until, at her death, | became the gues,
of my friend, Mrs. Hursey. hope you
will pardon me for taking up SO much
of your time, and if you desire, with
Miss Pierson, to decline the further &C
quaintance of an alms-house girl, car
only accept your decision with some re
gret for deceit that was only In accord
ance with the wishes of the dead"
"Stay moment, y said Fred Seymour
as friends of the beautiful girl woulC
have pressed more warmly than evel
around her. ''let me speak one word
BY the request of Miss Worthington,
have refrained from mentioning tn,
honor she has conferred upon me, ant
which is the crowning pride and happi
ness OF my life. When I asked her t.
become my wife, to give me the price
less treasure of her love, she told m.
the story you have just heard, and l