The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-01-22
STELLA'S STORY.

| had n very good place AT Miss Cal
thorpe's. was always allowed to sit in
the little dressing-room opening out of
Miss Calthorpe's own apartment, and
sew quietly BY myself. .'Stella is such
Il nice little thing" Miss Calthorpe
said. And you may believe ] was very
glad Of such II good situation, after all
that my mother and / had gone through
with. You see. | was educated at u
fashionable boarding-school, but when
my poor father died. leaving his affairs
in such hopeless confusion, / had to
come home without waiting to graduate.
Don't be afraid, mother" said 1.
I'm sure ] can teach and support
YOU"
But l couldn't get II situation as
teacher, nor as a nursery governess.
Then l answered an advertisement
for a saleswoman, and got u situation in
q fancy store. But l oon found that it
was wearing me out. So | took a place
with Miss Calthorpe. for ! vas always
quick with the needle and had a very
fair idea of dressmaking.
Miss Calthorpe was a great beauty
and a belle, and had a naughty way
with her. but she was very kind to me
and paid me Sl4 IL month as regularly
as the day came around. And George
Miner was always at the corner on Sat
urday night to walk home with me, for
/ had Sundays 10 myself in the dear
little room where mother sat at her
knitting and the little copper tea-kettle
sang on the stove. as if to welcome me
home.
l got acquainted with George at the
teachers bureau. He was looking for
a place as teacher of Latin and mathe-
matics-and he succeeded in obtaining
q very good one-and when he had laid
We were to be married.
So you can easily see that those days
in Miss Calthorpe's dressing-room were
very happy ones for me. For as sewed
I dreamed-and not Miss Calthorpe
herself, going out night after night to
her brilliant balls and parties. in her
elegant silks and tissues, was half so
secretly happy as l!
Until the losing of that pearl ring.
1t was a very valuable one-at least
30 / was told-a stone of great size and
luster-and there was nobody but us in
the room the day it was lost.
..Of course She has taken it," said
Mrs. Nidgette, Miss Calthorpe's aunt.
..Oh, aunt" said Miss C%althorpe, de-
precatingly; ..Stella is such Il good,
quiet little thing. and | have always
found her strictly reliable.
because she never had been tempt
ed" .aid Mrs. y dcctte, setting her
thin lips coldly together.
So they Sent ne away!
Dear mother sympathized with me in
my troubles. cried on my shoulder,
called Mis-, Calthorpe q ''cruel, heart
less wretch" and declared we would
| live on bread and water until | could
get another place. But George Miner
| changed in his manner and there was
| that in his look and voice that stung mi
to the heart.
George" said l, one evening, .'speaR
out; if you think me a thief say SOL"
well" said George ~nervously, twirl-
ing his thumbs, .'sincc You wish me to
be frank. it will. perhaps. be best fol-
both parties. My situation depends q
good deal upon my character, and I had
better not form any ties with a person
who has been even suspected. Cesar
wife, you know" and he laughed
uneasily.
drew off the ring and gave it back
TO him. Blu my heart was too full tC
speak a word. and through my tears
could see the panied look on his face.
For | believe poor George loved me ever
then.
Mother" said /, when he was gone
.'it's all over now! ! shall DO an ole
maid and live with you all my days
You must be husband and children anC
lover md all to me, mother dear" AnC
| felt better after that last shower o.
tears.
In those dreary times Charlie Ellet'
used to come and sit in our room u dea
of evenings. He was in u law station
er's store down in Nassau street, ant
got me copying to do, which helped Vi
along. And didn't know until after
ward that he sat up late nj night to copy
over my first attempts. which were
laundering and incorrect, rather thar
dispirit me by criticism. But ! got t.
be quite q skillful copyist after awhile
and earned a deal of money.
And one day Charlie asked me tc
marry him.
1--WE Just had an increase of salary
said he, "or ] shouldn't venture to asl
you, Miss Stella, to east your lot with
poor law clerk. And your mother viii
always be as welcome Us daylight in my
house. and I'm studying law ut ode
times, and hope, m day to keep you as
you deserve"
What could | sayp Mother liked
Charles Elicit, and--and l didn't posi-
lively dislike him; and so I said yes.
But" / added, coloring up. ..you
must not commit yourself in Ignorance
of all the circumstances. They think a,
Miss Calthorpe's that l am a thief.
And l told. besides, the story of the pear
ring: 49,.
'sYou a thiefr' repeated he. disdain.
fully; my lily-hearted love!'
And he drew from his pocket u little
garnet ring he had bought, and slipped
It on my finger.
This seals our compact"
Charles hired q fiat in the next stree
"A dear little ilat-with five rooms, anG
sunny windows looking out on the
avenue, where mother could sit among
her pots Of running ivy and monthly
roses while l was housekeeping. ant
Charlie down at the store; and some
times in the thrill of my newborn hap
piness ] almost forgot that ! had evel
known George Miner.
But n evening he called. Mother
and ! were alone. for Charlie had extra
work at the store that week, and ht
came in just as If nothing had happened
70 maj the harmony OF our old rela
lions.
"Have you heard" said he, THAI
Nha nAarl rin1 has heen fonnd."