Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-24
MIR. RAYNOR'S WIFE.

Hannah Meade was in the kitchen max
ing pies. The bright June sunshine stray
ed in at the open window, trailing it's gold
ed ray through the pink-and purple morn
ing glories, and paving little tremulou'
pathway over the snow-white floor.
Bees buzzed in the clover blossoms out
side, and the robin redbreast, which had
built it's nest in the tall popular trees near
the kitchen window, was rehearsing for a
grand concert.
Hannah's dark, piquant face was full of
discomfort as she mixed her pastry and roll
ed it out, working away as though her life
depended upon her efforts.
s1'm tired !'' she burst forth, impetuous-
ly, though whom she was addressing it was
difficult to tell, for she was all alone in the
great breezy kitchen-''tired Of this drudag-
cry and confinement! So little time for
study and to write. Yet I know that if
only had the leisure could make money
enough, writing for story papers, to help
father great deal p
"Ha hap
The laugh, which rung out sweet and
silvery in the doorway, was sarcastic and
singing.
Hannah closed the oven doors on her pies
with bang, and turned to face the intIud-
A lovely blonde vision greeted her eyes
girl of eighteen, attired in floating white
cardinal riC bons, one moss rose in her bralds
of golden hair and another fastening the
lace at her throat.
Listen % cried merry voice. "Come,
mamma, and hear Hannah, the kitchen
girl, lecture on a woman's rights, becoming
an authoress and making money-actually
fortune writing for the press Oh, it's
too funny for anything Hannah the cook,
an authoress p
Hannah Meade's slim figure was drawn
up proudly to its full height, her clear eyes
flashed. her red lips curled.
"Kitchen girl, cook % she repeated
'Belle West, who made house-drudge OF
me but your own mother! | was happy
here with papa and never had to work, un-
til he, poor old man, was foolish enough to
take second wife On the day that he
married your own mother, the Widow West,
and you and she came here to live. our
servant was dismissed, and was installed
in her place. The burden of the house
work is laid upon my shoulders that you
may keep your hands white, and pass your
time angling for rich husband. -
''Hush how dare you speak to my
daughter in that coarse manner?"
u tdl, dlSuldI WOuidH, III tdWOiy
wrapper, sailed into the kitchen.
"l'll teach you to air your insolence
here %
And she struck the astonished girl a
heavy blow upon the cheek.
For moment Hannah stood too bewil-
dered to utter word, the red blood GRIM
soning her cheek and marking the spot
where her stepmother' insult had fallen.
With the majesty of an outraged empress
she turned to leave the room.
"Mrs. Meade" she S id, in a low, clear
tone, which somehow made the irate step
mother. pause, 81 am going to leave this
house. FIRST shall see my father and tell
him of this outrage, and then | am going
away. You can procure another servant
in my place, and your daughter will have
no one to comment on her strenuous efforts
to marry Mr.. Raynor %
GAS if 1 ever tried" she began, indig-
nantly.
But Hannah did not wait to hear more !;
she walked quietly from the room and
sought her father
"There, mother" cried Belle, as soon as
the two were alone ''see what you have
done. Hannah will go away and you will
have to get a servant, which will make an
extra hole in our spending money! and l
tell you have to put forth every effort if I
ever expect to win Ernest Raynor."
"You shall win him ~ returned the
mother decidedly. "He is rich, and there
is not another such party to be had. Do
your best, Belle, and be glad that we are
safely rid of that girl. TIE tell the truth,
I have fancied lately that Mr.. Raynor ad-
mired her,
"Mother, you are mistaken What an
idea p'
mo, am sure am correct You ought
to see him look at her. Well, run and get
your hat now it is quite time for him to
be here, if he is coming to take you to the
picnic"
a tall, graceful form arose from bench
full look upon his handsome face.
"By Jove ~ he exclaimed Indignantly,
81 know Belle West as she is at last. So
she's trying to catch my fortune? It's
lucky that old Farmer Meade brought ME
out here where / might find cool spot to
smoke my cigar, while Miss Belle prepared
for the picnic. suppose I must make a
martyr of myself and attend her; but,
thank heaven my eyes are open at last =
Poor little Hannah p'
In the meantime Hannah had found her
father and told him all, and that she was
going away-going to earn her own living
by writing for the press. Then showed
him the pretty little sketches which she had
written from time to time, and the crisp
bank-notes which she had received as
compensation therefor, and which she had
hidden carefully away for such an emer--
gency as this. Her father saw that she was
right, so he consented to let her 60 to the
city of T, some twenty miles distant, to
the home of relative, where, for reason
able sum, she could procure board, and be
able to devote her time to the cultivation of
the talent which God had given her.
Hannah packed her small wardrobe, and
her father placed her ON board the train,
and like the heroes of old, she went forth
''to seek her fortune"
Time passed, and under the modest nom
de plume of 'Nemo," Hannah Meade. was
earning both fame and fortune. She was
situated in +, and her father