The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-02-25

LIFE OF LUXURY.
A little French gilt timepiece ticking
away the minutes in an upper room ot
one OF Murray hills fine residences
struck the half-hour beyond o'clock on
a recent morning, and while its deep
cathedral note yet echoed upon the air
there was a sudden movement among
the lace hangings of a 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 a hickory fire.
and brilliant with the dazzling winter
sunshine, which, tiltering through the
draperies of the broad windows. Law 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 a soft knock prefaced the
entrance of a neat-looking middle-aged
woman in cap and apron.
''Good morning, Barker" came from
the pillows. MY bath, please;' and
Barker opened a second door and dis
appeared. In three minutes she was
back standing at the bedside with q
bath gown of thick, soft flannel and a
pair OF low shoes, warm and wOolly.
The young woman got up, suffered the
flannel garment to be thrown over her
lace and cambric night dress, thrust two
white feet into the wadded shoes, and
crossed to the bathroom.
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 a second time, and the
room was left to the clock and the fire,
with occasional muffied splashings from
the naiad in her tub.
But not for long. The hall door un-
closed again to admit q tall old negress.
black as Erebus, her head bound in a
brilliant bandana. She shutfied to the
door of the bathroom and knocked.
''Ez you ready, honey?'
''ln a moment, nanny" sounded
from within: then:
You may come now," and once
more the fire and clock Lad it all their
own way in the outer a',artment
Next Barker reappeared bearing
silver tray, on which was 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 door was flung wide open and,
fresh from her plunge and glowing with
mammy's vigorous massage, Beauty
came out, her flannel gown wrapped
warmly about her and her beautiful
hair still closely snooded in its oilskin
cap.
She sank with supple grace into her
waiting chair, the stand with its light
refreshment quickly lifted to her side;
then, as the fire cleaned too ardently
on the soft. clear skin, Barker inter-
posed 4 glass screen, which tempered
the flame fervor, while it took nothing
from its cheerful light.
While the bouillon was slipped and the
crackers munched NANNY brought a
low haSsock, upon which she drew her
young 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.
Then mademoiselle stood up while the
black hands went deity on with the
task they loved so well.
''You's jest like ez if you was baby
vet, honey" the old woman said, pat
ting the lovely shoulders which rose
smooth and dimpled above the cobweb
chemise; and, deed, | wish you was"
as 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, nanny was forced
reluctantly enough to resign her nurs-
ling to another's care.
For Barker bad not been idle during
the robing process. The bouillon trav
and stand were gone; low dressing
table whose beveled mirror was the per-
fection of reflective excellence had been
turned to catch the proper light. an
armless chair placed before it, and now.
tianked by her implements of office
rows of silver-mounted brushes and
combs, steel pins, pomades, and per-
fumed water-the priestess of the hair
dressing ceremonial awaited her victim
Mademoiselle seated herself. Barker
slipped off the oilskin cap, loosened
some pins, letting the veil of chestnut
hair fall in wavy richness quite to the
floor, and began her work. As the tire
woman labored her mistress let her eyes
stray idly before her, and her glance
fell upon a little crystal vase upor the
dressing-table which held a single
fading rose.
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
and the proud lines of the exquisite
month olNt,.Y,s;,-aIx- cbor- r.