Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-18
BETSEY BLTVEN.

But to think of BIiven going out
as hired girl" said Mrs. Midget, a
feeble, pink eyed little woman with
chronic catarrh and detected snifffe,
who had been born Matilda BIiven
and attached superstitious respects TO
the name
whats the odds?" said Betsy.
Give got my living to earn, and I
mean to earn it. Now, you, 'Tilda. :"
with a compassionate glance at the
pinkeyed aristocrat, you're made to
work without any wages. Just for
the satisfaction Of being called Mrs =!
And Betsey picked up her bag,
shouldered her umbrella, and stalked
out to meet the stage, whose runabling
wheels were beginning to sound upon
the road, like distant thunder.
Miss Bliven had visited Boston
intelligence bureau, and there they had
obtained for her the address of a house
IN the northern part Of the state where
reliable girl was wanted in the ca
pacity Of table waitress and chamber
maid.
''Wages?' demanded Betsey.
Fourteen dollars" said the gentle
manly lnan who stood smiling behind
the desk.
''Prvileges2" questioned the young
woman
"a whole day to yourself every
month, and every other Sunday af-
ternoOn." replied the man.
. Any other girls kept?' asked Miss
Bliven.
-Four" said the man, complacent-
~.
''Humphw commented Betsey.
Family large?"
''Well-rather," admitted the man.
And the situation is very lonely, and
So"
i don't care anything about that. .
interrupted Betsey. I'D as soon keep
house for hermit, or go on a desert
island. I'm not very young, and I've
no followers. Let ma see-Grand
Trunk Railroad to Black Gorge, stage
coach to Bleak Hall-yes, I've got the
directions all written down"
And Betsey paid her fee, took her
card, and creaked out of the room in
pair of brand new calfskin boots.
Miss Bllven travelled comfortably.
She carried her lunch in a splint bas-
ket, and ate comfortably on the road {;
she begJiled the tagging hours with
a newspaper, and was not very tired
when at last the conductor flung open
the door and yelled out BLACK
GorgeW at the top of stentorain
pair of lungs.
And Miss Betsey found herself
standing on the platform, surrounded
by dark pine woods.
I" Where's the stage?" she exclai M
ed.
Lady from Bleak Halle" demands
ed an insinuating voice close to her
ear.
And the next minute she found
herself lifted politely into q close,
dark wagon, with Ieather-cushioned
seats.
Where's the others2" asked the
driver.
What others!" said Miss Bliven.
The two gentlemen who were with
you"
There were none" said Miss
Bhven. Icanae alone.
'Alone?" said the driver, glaucing
uneasily around, ''All the way from
Boston?"
Eyes, all the way from Bostoal /"
said Miss Betsey, a little impatiently
Why shouldn't II You don't sup
pose ! need keepers, do you?"
'Oh, no, ma'am; certainly not, :"
promptly responded the man, as he
climbed into his seat and took the
reins.
he drove circumspectIy, along q
=
up to the very door of a great, dark
stone house, he!ged about with fun
eral looking spruces and cedars, as
Betsey could discern IN the star
sprinkled darkness, and d narrow
door was opened.
1--WE brought her" sail the driver
TO respectable looking man in black,
whom Betsey at once concluded 10 be
the butler, ''all alone"
Alone! Bless my soulr' cried the
man. / hope you didn't have any
troubled"
''None in the least, said the driver.
She's as quiet as a lamb"
'Well, neveri' said Miss Bliven.
DO they take me for a raging ioness,
/ wonder2"
In an instant her arm was drawn
through that of the respectable man
IN black, and she was conducted along
dark, stone-paved passage, lighted
only by 81 swinging lamp that hung
above their heads.
Very polite they are here. must
say" thought Miss Betsey to herself.
But the idea was scarcely formed in
her mind when she found herself
pushed, gently but suddenly into a
small, stone, paved room with circular
walls, windows high above her reach,
and the scantiest allowance of furni-
ture that she had ever seen in her life.
And. to her amazement, the polite
butler was accosting her through a
grated doorway, as if she were Wild
criminal.