The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-23
OUR PARLOR- MAID,
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
 am the wife of medical man in Lon. don, who, am thankful to say, possesses an excellent practice. Our house is in Noting Hill; but need not particulariz. the exact locality, as it has nothing to do with my story. We employ three ser wants indoors housemaid and parlor-maid. As we have no children we do not require nurse. And am sure, from my own experience, when hear people declare that there are very few good servants to be had now, and that doing their duty is generally the very last thing they think of, sympathize and agree with them from the bottom of my heart. l am convinced that there are few such faithful, attached domestics to be had now as there used to be in my grand mothers days. am a most indulgent mistress, and yet have not been able to get servants to stay with me. if by great good fortune, have found one to suit me, she was sure to either qu Arrel with the others, or take offense at some trivial matter, discover that the situation was not good enough, and that she ought to better herself" and then all the weari. gome round of registry offices, advertise ments, correspondence and interviews have had to be gone through again.
 At the time of which l write, however. was fortunate enough to have a tolera. ble cook and housemaid who seemed all that was desirable; but could not meet with parlor-maid. My last was a stately middle-aged woman, with man. ners fit for a palace, who had come to me with recommendation from lady of title. But, alasl soon discovered that she drark. Finally, she returned one Sunday evening hopelessly intoxicated, and my heart died within me at the pros- pect of having to hunt another. adver- tised again, and had several applications One was from young woman who had been living for three years at country vicarage In Surrey. She referred me to her late master, the Rev. Wentworth Al lardyce, who was then at Folkestone, where he was staying on account of his health. wrote to hlm at the address given, which was a fashionable hotel l; and received reply, giving Eliza Willis such high character for honesty, so- briety and consciousness, that en- gagged her at once.
 A more prepossessing girl never saw. Imagine a Madonna face, framed in smooth, soft brown hair, pensive hazel eyes, sweet smile, neat trim figure, most winningly deferential manners and you have the portrait of Eliza Willis. She was a thoroughly competent servant, who seldom needed directions, and never had to be told thing twice fact which spoke volumes for her efficiency, as any old housekeeper could certify. So do. mestic peace at last seemed to settle down upon us, and for time lived in ara- disc. From morning till night Eliza labcred to save me trouble and annoy- ance. If l forgot anything, no disaster ensued, for her admirable memory sup. piled the deficiency. If had headache she would smooth my pillow and bring me tea with the dcxterity of profession al nurse, superadded to the tenderness of a personal friend. She could sew better than any girl l ever knew, and was in- valuable to me in preparing the house. hold linen and in executing any little al- iteration in my wardrobe. Her skill in waiting at table and her politeness to all visitors delighted everybody who came to the house. She performed all these various functions, too, with such sweet ness, that that alone was high recom- mendation. No one ever saw Eliza ruf- lied or out of temper. Neither hurry nor delay made her cross. She was SO will ing and obliging, that she never objected to doing anything required ot her.
 She was also honest to a degree-ab. surdly honest, used to say. One night, for instance, very late, when was sitting } up for Charlie, she came down wrapped In shawl, hours after she had gone to bed, to say that she recellected that she had given me change penny short on returning from an errand that day, and she could not sleep for thinking about it. She assured me so fervently, as she handed me the coin, that she had never wronged anybody of halfpenny in her whole life, that from that moment l would have trusted her with untold gold.
 She had been with us about two < months, when that very unpleasant expe- rience few mistresses entirely escape, oi finding things mysteriously disappear or lessen in quantity, became mine. A, 6rst scarcely noticed 1t; but by-and-by had no choice but to admit very unwil- nngly that there must be thief in the house. don't knew moro miserable sem