The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-05-14

Esther WOrthingtOn, looking at
her as she entered the room, turned
to her companion, saying, in low
tone.
HIs not that Miss Pierson ?"
ayes. Is she not handsome ~
"Maguiticently SOL can scarce
ly imagine a more regal beauty.
She was not u very pretty chlld,
dark aud thin. Will she recognize
NE, wonder, as easily as do herl"
"You were children when you
met ~
"About twelve years old, but we
lived near each other for six years
before that. Will she look down
upon me now as scornfully as size
did then 70
"HusI, you pain mel" was the
reply. Try to forget the dark days."
NNay, for they make happy ones
all the brighter"
The music OF the quadrille sound
ed in the long room, and attention
was required to the intricacIes
through which Miss WOrthington
aud her partner proposed to lead
their set.
when it Was over Esther, lean
ing upon her partners arm, turned
to find herself face to face with
Maude PiersoA. With a sweet
smile she extended her hand.
slave you forgotten me 7" she
asked.
81 remember you well,p was the
reply, in a freezing tone ''and l
confess my surprise is very great
to find an almshouse girl am ong my
friends.n
Gan almshouse girl ~ cried sew.
eral voices.
"YOu may doubt me-" said
Maude, answering them, ''but let
Miss Worthlngton deny, if she can,
that she WAS taken from the aims
house to be the nursery maid OF
Mrs. ThurStOn, my auDts cousin
and neighbOr. Let her deny If she
can, that she did menlaps work for
years in their house. She may
palm herself off as Mrs. MOrtimer's
ueice upon strangers, but ! know.
ing her, decline the honor OF her
acqualntancc.b
The delicate, beautiful face of
Esther WOrthington had grown
very pale during this insulting
address, bat she drew herself erect
as haughtiIy as Maude PiersOn her
self as soon rs that young lady
ceased to speak.
"All YOU have said is quite tlue,7
she replied, ''and my only reason
for concealing the facts you now
force upon my friends was the re-
quest of my dear aunt, Mrs. MOrti-
mer, Mrs. Hursey, Mrs. Ralston
and several others of those who
honor me with their friendship,
know we'll the family history you
force me to relate to our friends
here. You will pardon me for OBJ
truding my private affairs upon
you, but since Miss PiersOn has
attacked my ve:acity, ] must de-
ieud it. My parents were married
against the wishes of my mOrther's
father, who carried his resentment
to the grave, and cut my mother
out of bis will. When l was babe
my father died, and my mother, i'll,
feeble, penniless, was taken to the
where she, too, died,
Her sister, Mrs. Mortimer, was in
Europe at the time, aud unaware OF
my existence.
81 was taken from the almshouse
to Rll servants place, but my
employers were kind, and | was
allowed to attend school in the win
ter. | think they will testify that
if my duties we're menial they were
performed, aud / doubt
if Miss Pierson can make a better
loaf of bread or tidy a house more
neatly than myself. When | was
thirteen my aunt returned home
aud found me out. Siuce then L
have been her charge, and the kind
estlOve was lavIShed upon me until,
at her death, [ became the guest of
my friend, Mrs. Hursey. hope
you will pardon me for taking up so
much of your time, aud if yOu de-
sire, with Miss PiersOn, to decline
the further acquaintance of an
girl, | can only accept
your decision with some regret tor
a deceit that was only in aceOrl-
ance with the wishes Of the dead
"Stay a moment SAID Fred Sey.
mour, as friends of the beautiful
girl would have pressed more warm
ly than ever around her; ''let me
speak Uue word. By the request Of
Miss WorthingtOn, | have refraIned
from mentioning the honor she has
conferred upon me, and which Is
the crowning pride aud happiness
Of my life. When / asked her 70
become my wife; to give me the
priceless treasure OF her love, she
told me the story You have just
heard; aud /, too, joined my en-.
treaties 10 those OF her aunt. N0t,
he added, haugbtily, "that / valued
my future wife the less, but that ]
understood that even In our best
society there are some ignOble
enough to cOnut her early misf0r-
tune as a shameful tact, aud iguOre
the beauty OF character that could
keep her heart noble, pure and