The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-06-12
THE LADY'S MAIDS STORY.

The LADY'S MAIDS STORY.
"Yes, miss, certainly, 1 lived with
Mrs. Birch.-Miss Grigg that was be-
tore she married Mr. Birch. / knew
all about'that affair. It was very sim
gular indeed-very. Pm not sure that
| ought to mention 1t, for IL lady's
maid can't hold her tongue she can't
find good places. Dear mo. Pm no
talker. I'm as mum as mouse. Bush
els Of pearl powder and quarts Of rouge
have applied with my own hands, ana
never so much as limited at. As for
cotton, bless your heart I've mover
breathed about it, and did live with
a lady once that took arsnic regularly
for her complexion. That's no secret,
for she took too much ono day, by ac-
cident, and died.
'"There was an inquest and it all
came out. It's we'll it did, for suspi-
cion pointed to her husband. Some
how, it always seems to strike jury
that a husband is the likellest person to
wish wife out Of the way. But this
isn't anything about paint; Miss Grigg,
being on the stage, made no secret Of
that She played queens and such,
miss. I've often had tickets given me
and gone with my young inan to see her
act And waen she was naughty and
curled her nose like, miss, sand looked
at other folks over her shoulder, and
talked away down In her throat like a
pigeon gurgllng, she was splendid, miss.
1t made me think how nice 1t would be
to be queen and to take airs over
everybody.
swell, Miss Grigg was engaged to be
married. Mr.. Birch had fallen in love
with her when she was playing Ham
-.,cC-s Inu. Permps you nave. seen the
play, missp The young man objects to
his ma getting married the second time.
80 I seemed to make out, and acted
most impertinent, giving sass to his ma
and his step-pa, and carrying on awful.
And there was poor young lady quite
out Of her mind that afterward got
drowned.
''Well, she was playing Hamlet's ma,
and Mr.. Birch fell in love with her and
selt her a letter, and called and made
an offer, all In no time. She accepted
him, Of course, and the preparations
for the wedding began. don't think
any lady ever had SO many dresses be-
fore. Silks and satins, and velvets and
laces. Dear, dear; Nine. rs whole
establishment was hard at work for q
month, and IL I'd hal twenty fingers,
instead Of only ten, I'd have had use
for them all.
Eat last everything was finished,
The trunks were packed, fifteen Of 'em,
miss, and fourteen were to go on that
afternoon, and one--the one with the
wedding and travelling dresses of
course, to be left and go with the bride
when she started next day. She was to
be married at 10 o'clock in church and
then drive home, have a splendid break
fast, change her dress and catch the 8
O'Clock train. OF course saw to the
trunks, and was v.ry careful; but just
when was needed most, just as the
trunks were going down stairs, Miss
Grlgg called me.
'tMlss Grlgg was lady who didn't
like to wait. went to her at once,
.htss. as was my duty, and I said to
Bridget Duster, the chambermaId:
Bridget. watch the black trunk
and see that the men don't carry it OFF,
) Bridget understood with her ell
bows, Of course, miss, and after had
been to the lands end for two yards Of
blue ribbon OF exactly such shade as
she wanted, and got back, found that
she had sent off the black trunk 6rst OF
all, and was very proud Of having been
so careful. The trunks were all miles
away by that time. There was nothing
fdr:.it but to tell Miss Grigg. She flew
atme, miss. I don't blame her for be-
ing angry. I would forgive her in such
acase. She flew at me violent, miss;
and then, miss, she had spasms. She
beat the sofa, she tore her hair, she
screeched, and me all the while saying:
Remember your eyes, miss. Think
how you'll look. Your nose Is swelling
dreadful, miss
.'Flnally she came to and bathed her
face. And says she:
"'Flora, what---shall--I do?'
"'I don't know, miss, said I, unless
you put off the wedding until you teie.
graph for the trunk.
"f'No,' said she. that's unlucky; be-
side one never knows. None ain't to
bedepended on
"'You might borrow dress, said +.
"'As If Id be married in one that
didn't Ht, saids she. stop, don't speak
q word. I've an idea
''She sat with one finger on her lips
for q while. Then she said:
".My embroidered dressing gown.
The, white onel That's here2'
''tTn the bureau, MISS said T.
"tVarv we'll. aaid ahe. 'T'll ba mar.