Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-04-01

E 'tntrilt5 -- '''H To-.
-iI.3t A LIFE OF LUXURY. r. ''0
A little French gilt timepiece ticking
away the minutes In an upper room OF
one Of Murray hills fine residences
struck the half-hour beyond 9 o'clock on
recent morning, and while its deep
cathedral note yet echoed upon the air
there was q sudden movement among
the lace hangings of n brass bedstead
standing in recess of the same apart
ment, and q woman's face looked forth.
The room was full of pretty things,
warm with the blaze of q hickory fire,
and brilliant with the dazzling winter
sunshine, which, filtering through the
draperies of the broad windows, lay in
patches of light on floor and furnish
ings, but there was nothing one-half so
pretty, so warm, or so brilliant, no pict-
ure SO sunny or dazzling within the four
walls, as that made by this same face,
the face of young and lovely woman.
which, flushed from the pillows downy
caress, the eyes dewy with sleep. and
the rumpled chestnut hair framing the
whole IN sweet confusion looked out to
see what had awakened its owner. ~,
..Oh, it's you, you chattering little
clock" as her eye fell upon the telltale
hands, then, before she sank back into
her, nest, she leaned out to touch an
electric button within easy reach. A
moment and al soft knock prefaced the
entrance of a neat-looking middle-aged
woman in cap and apron, ,,iG.t u9.u 10 ?
stGood morning, Barker" came from
the pillows. ,''My bath, please;" and
Barker opened second door and dis
appeared. In three minutes she was
back standing at the bedside with q
bath gown of thick, soft flannel and
pair Of low shoes, warm and woolly.
The young woman got up, suffered the
flannel garment to be thrown over her
lace and cambria night dress, thrust two
white feet into the wadded shoes, and
crossed 10 the bathroom. ia ft
Barker only waited to take from
various drawers and presses an outfit of
feminine apparel, finished with an en-
broidered muslin combing gown whose
ribbons were Of the same pale-pink hue
as tinted the silken stockings, before
she vanished second time, and the
room was left to the clock and the fire,
with occasional muffied splashings from
the naiad in her tub. aas
But not for long. The hall door un-
closed again to admit tall old negress,
black as Erebus, her head bound in
brilliant bandana She shuffled to the
door of the bathroom and knocked. s., ~
'tEz YOU ready, honeyp" go sp9g q
s..In a moment, mammy,n sounded
from within; then: hl t'At,H P7 3"
~You may come now,'h and once
more the fire and clock had 1t all their
own way in the outer apartment. i'H va
Next Barker reappeared bearing a
silver tray, on which was a cup Of bouil-
lon with some wafer-like crackers. She
had scarcely placed her tray, upon a.
stand and wheeled a luxurious Turkish
chair before. the cracking fire when the.
inner ndoor was flung wide open and,
fresh from her plunge and glowing with
mammyIs vigorous massage, Beauty
came out her flannel gown wrapped,
warmly about her and her beautiful
hair still closely snooded in its oilskini
cap. hIbfTGV tfa 3sfta dstd9H'l' }i no Va
She sank with supple grace into her
waiting 'ichair, the stand with its light
refreshment quickly lifted to her side;
then, as the fire gleamed too ardently
on the soft, clear skin, Barker inter-
posed a glass screen, which tempered
the flames fervor, while it took nothing
fromits cheerful light. .bt'ls@4 - "
While the bouillon was slipped and the
crackers rnuhched NANNY brought a
low fassock. upon which she drew her
yodhg mistress feet, and with gentle,
caressing touch put aside the wadded
shoes, and 'incased each slender ankle
and arched instep in its silken covering,
using a silver shoe-horn Of exquisite
workmanship to spring the little satin
slipper to its place. I
Then ,iiiademoiselle stood up while the
black hands went tleftly on with the
task they loved SO well. ",' i'tF9 RI
,Yous jest like q if you was a baby
yet honey, the old woman said, pat
ting the lovely shoulders which rose
smooth and ,dimpled above the cobweb
chemise; and, 'HDeed, ] wish You was"
AZ she slipped the clinging petticoat Of
knitted silk over her charges head.
MAdemoiselle laughed, and the dress
ing went on till, the last ribbon of the
muslin gown. tied, aammy was forced
relpctantly enough to resign her nurs-
ling to another s care. Aa.At ,gh q id
For Barker had not been idle during
the irobing process. The bouillon tray
and stand were gomez . low dressing
table whose beveled mirror was the per-
fiction Of reflective excellence had been
tsrnSd to catch the proper light, an
armless chair placed before IL, and now,
fanked by her implements Of Office
rows Of siiver-modnted brushes and
cednbs, steel pins, 'pomades, and per-
tuned water the pfiestess Of the hair
dressing ceremonial awaited her victim.
Mademoiselle seated herself, Barker
SLIPPED OF the loilskin cap, loosened
s0lifs pins, letting the veil Of chestnut
hAif I'LL fn wavy richness quite TO. the
fpor, and began her work. Al the tire
woman labored her mistress let her eyes
stray idly before her, and her glance
fell upon 4 little crystal vase upon the
q ssing-taph which held p single I.
What did she see In its rusty petals
and crumpled leaf to call, up that curious
half-tender light to her face, and why
should this expression die slowly away