The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-25
AUNT DEBoRAH's DRUDGE.

II
had been retained in tue house on suilerance
at first. because Aunt Deborah's brother, my
father, lad run through all his property,
and was only distinguished by his shiftless-
ness and the size of his family. ! suppose /
| was never missed from that superabundant
home circle; anyway, they never came 10
| see me, nor ever inquired after me, that
| know of.
Aunt Deborah had great deal of COM
| pany, being a rich and childless widow and
| fond of society. But no one ever noticed
me. | was not even snubbed, for it was
not worth while TO snub mere drudge like
| me.
Ny cousin, Elsie AllstOn, was also men,
Der OF my aunt's family, but she received
5ery different treatment from that which fell
to my lot. Her father was auntys favorite
| brother; therefore she was educated, and was
understood to be certain of home ard LIES
comforts always, and of fortune at Aunt
| Deborah's death.
Yet / did not envy my fortunate cousin,
for, while was let alone, and at least took
pride in the consciousness that earned my
own living. Elsie was continually being
tainted with her dependence, and was kent
in abJect servlIIty by her constant threats of
disinheritance.
Elsie would have been kind to me if | had
| allowed it, but / had a sort of pride which
i forbade me to receive patronage from any
i one. I must be received on an equal foot
ing or not all. The only pleasure OF my life
was unlimited liberty to use the books in my
| aunt's great and ever increasing library. My
rough work untitled my hands for sewing, a
/ fact for which was sufficiently thankful, as
/ 10 increased my leisure hours.
| For the first two or three years of my stay
| l read novels exclusively. But one of the
/ novels happened TO have a noble and aspir-
| ing woman for its heroine. Somehow, the
/ story of that life haunted me day and night,
and resolved to be something worthy of
| love and respect, whether / ever received my
reward or not.
/ Ny first step was To map out a line of
l thought and conduct and a course of read
| ing My intellectual nature was to be mold
| ed by some of the best books in my aunt's
| library, and that ideal woman of whom /
| had read was 10 be my moral lever, lifting
| me into an atmosphere of self-forgetting
| holiness and love. | believed that if Aunt
| Deborah's drudge had never had an oppor-
| tunity Of showing her devotion TO the hui
man race her own soul would grow rich by
| the quiet effort
1t had been years since ] formed this reso-
| luton when Mr.. Gleason forming one of a
party of visitors, came to my aunt's house.
/ But having company to cook for in the sum
| meT had come TO be settled thing, and all
| company meant to me was drudgery, and less
| time to read.
There was no prophetic voice to whisper
to my heart, on the morning OF Mr.. GIea-
| sons arrival, that my fate, my hope and my
| dispair, my blessing and my misery had
| come To me. lie was only one more guest,
| to be cooked for and to be waited upon by
| the drudge.
one day Elsie came to me with her sweet,
weak face fearful and pleading.
You must help me, Hannah" said she.
Help you to do what, child?"
ITO Keep Aunt Deborah's good will and
| marry Mr.. Gleason. You see Mr.. Gleason is
very poor. and if aunt threatens TO disin-
| herit me II may lessen my chances OF getting
| him"
| think my establishment and disgust must
| have shown themselyes in my face as ! an
4 swered:
"IIave you 50 little confidence in your
| promised husband? So little faith, and yet
| willing TO be his wife,
She made an impatient gesture.
You don't understand" she said slowly
| and unblushingly. He has not asked me
\ TO be his wife, but he will / am sure he
| will. lie does not love me very much, but
4 when we are married, and he sees my devo-
\ tion il will be different
Then she put her face i'm my apron and
sobbed bitterly, and / knew by her tears that
| she bad many misgivings
1 How can help your ] asked.
| Il don't know she replied through her
tears: "but you can manage anything / am
| sure. Aunt Deb says you are TO this house
what grease j. TO an an axle; that is, you
seem TO make everything run smoothly
could not help smiling as j replied:
That is the first compliment ever re-
ceived, and | think il is an exceedingly
| doubtful one. IL can not he expected that
| kitchen drudge can successfully inter
NEEDLE in so delicate a matter as a love
| Why, Elsie, ! was never in love in all my
| life, and / daily pray heaven 10 preserve me
from any such calamity, because the man
could love would not notice such person
as seem to be-"
81 don't know" said Elsie, dudiously,
and for the time forgetting her troubles.
There is something about you different
from other servants-something strong and
masterful; but j think you are troubled
with morbid seusibilities. Promise that
| you'll help me if you can, Hannah"
| Yes, i can make that promise with per-
feet safety" ] replied.
| formed little plan of action very speed
4 ily. That evening ] went to Aunt Deborah
room, and being hidden to enter, my first
| words were:
| Il suppose you mean to leave Elsie penni-
less if she marries poor man."
YES" replied she; 81 have secured for her
1 the OneT Oh a very cilSlDle nuSDand. III Sne
| does not see fit to accept him, her future
must be what she makes it,"
Then" said /, "Elsie's loss will be my
gain, / hope Don't fail to consider me after
she has flung away her chances for some
day becoming your heiress."
| Aunt Deborah looked at me steadily for a
moment, as if she felt inclined to think
was taking leave of my senses; then she sat
in her chair and laughed long; laughed un-
til her round face was very red indeed. As
soon as she was in a condition to speak she
said
You had better have practised while on
some one else before you tried TO overcome
my purpose with strategy. Your face be-
trays you. You are not earnest enough and
you are most MORALLY ashamed of yourself
You know that am contrary, and you know
that am always angry with the person that
wrongs Elsie; therefore you thought that by
making me angry with yourself you could
get me to vow eternal fidelity to Elsie. Not
50. IL is just as | have said. Elsie must
obey me or she will not receive penny from
i me. As for Won. Won have sLren2th and