Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-05-14
The New Upstairs Girl.

L I10 NEW Op-OGduS OlTl.
Don't let your good looks turn your
head, Lally," were the words that Uncle
SolOn said to me when he put me ON the
cars and handed my little canvas travel
ing bag after me. Remember that
beauty is only skin deep, and handsome
is as handsome does"
The idea of saying such things to mel
But Uncle SOlon always was peculiar.
My seat-nextto to pleasant-faced gen.
tleman with black mustache and de-
lightful mysterious eyes, just like those
of FltZalban MOntalembert, in the last
novel l had read-chanced to be opposite
a slit-like panel of looking glass, and 1
could not help seeing my own face.
What was it saw there?
A round face, all roses and lilies-sOft
hazel eyes. with fringe of thick lashes
a shade darker than my red brown hair
"a decided dimple in the chin and
trim little figure neatly attired in brown
debeige.
Yes, l was pretty; Uncle Solon was
right there. And L meant that my face
should be my fortune. Unfortunately,
| never had any time for books, and my
public school education had gone into
one ear and out of the other, so l could
~ ho icfu hn 70 afa
governesses who are always making
great matches-in story books, at least.
Neither could l be a lady's companion,
for my mistress son or nephew to fall
with, for l could neither play nor
sing, and whenever attempted to read
aloud l invariably stumbled over the
big words. But it was necessary for me
to earn my living in some way, and old
Mrs. Fudgeby had sent over a New
York paper, in which she had pencils
marked an advertisement for an up
stairs girl" who was wanted in house
in Fifth avenue.
"You may be sure it is an excellent
place" said Mrs. Fudgeby; my niece,
Helen Maria, sews there, and the lady is
most kind and pleasant. And Helen
Maria will speak good word for you.
And if you suit, you'll get good home
| and capital pay, take my werd for it."
(Just like Aunt Persia! Because she
wasn't young herself. she had no sym
pathy for for any one who was. Old
people were so selfsh.)
But" added Mrs. Fudgeby, Helen
Maria says any one who comes to Mrs
Marcati's must step very light, and
speak very low, and be careful not to
laugh too loud, for fear of her nerves.
She's quite an invalid. She has just
discharged all her doctors. and is ex>
pecting a learned American physician,
who has been ten years in Paris, to take
charge of her case. But la Helen Maria
says it's all fancy, and that if her misses
had to earn her bread at the wash tub or
the ironing board, it would be different
though it amt a hired girls place to ex-
press an opinion of that sort"
us the fanny large?" said.
"No,' said Mrs. Fudgeby, "a widowed
daughter, who devotes herself to paint
ing, and two sons.
determined to apply for the place.
There won't be much to do" said
Mrs. Fudgeby. "You will be expected
to make the beds and tidy up the rOoms,
and dust the parlors aHd attend the
door bell. Mrs. Marcati has deal of
company, and by and by, Helen Maria
says all the girls are expected to wear
caps"
"Oh, don't mind that" said l, for /
had once played Grisette in private the
atricals, and the little blue ribboned cap
had been particularly becoming to me.
"The family are quite rich" said Mrs.
Fudgeby. but they don't keep no men
help. Mrs. Marcati was robbed once by
a Swiss butler, and hain't had no faith
in men since. And Helen Maria says
she keeps lot of pearls and diamonds
and fine jewelry locked in the etegere
(Which Mrs Fudgeby pronounced 'ettigerD
because it's place nobody wouldn't sus-
pect. There are so many burglars
around New York, you know"
And she went on to relate a good
many peculiarlties of the Marcatis, in
her prosy, gOssipy way, but she never
tho't to tell me what afterward learned,
that both of the lady's sous were mar
ried men.
Then, of course, made my applicar
tion at once, and was glad enough to
learn, through Helen Maria Fudgehy,
that it had been favorably considered,
and that was to come to No. Fifth
avenue, at once. Aunt Persia gave me
a new shawl and a deal of good advice,
to which l paid very attention. Uncle
Solon presented me with pocket Tes-
lament and half dozen Grape bordered
handkerchiefs And SO l left Millikin's
Falls in triumphant pursuit of that for>
tune which, like IA will-o-the-wisp, all