Evening journal., 1889-12-27
TIE MANDARIl7S HEAD

traw,n in deep horror stricken tones, and
amid all these noises, ever and anon arose q
wail-shrill and plaintive as the shrek Of the
h3nshee--whch seemed to como from the in
e-anr OF the house.
us there a sick child in the houso, l7hmbeg'
sae lady asked, after she had listened with
shudder 10 this sound for several minutes
What a fearful wailm
"Yes, my lady, p replied Phoebe, "and it is
fearful to be sure. It's the janitress little
boy, II you please my lady,
"Phmbe, We are in America, and you must
try 10 say ma'am, as the other maids do,
said the mistress, with a smile, 81 am not
rich enough TO play my lady here in my ma
tive country, though the title belongs TO me
in England
"Yes, ma'am, I'll remember, ma'am, said
the maid. But If you please, na'am, that
is tho ianitress' child a-howling. Sarah, at
the second fiat, ma'am, she told me how it
was. II isn't sickness ma'am, its beatings."
"BeatingsF repeated the lady
Yes, my la--I mean yes ma'am. She does
beat it awful, she does
DO you suppose she is doing it nowp
"Yes, manm,n said Phoebe.
And the people in tho house permit itF'
cried the lady.
'They don't interfere said Phnbe. "They
nave spoken, II you please, but she says as
her child is her own property, please maam,
and she'll do as she likes
The lady smiled.
"Show me the way to the ianitor's room.
Phmhe,n She sad
"lt's below; the sounds come up the regis
ters, | suppose" said Phoebe. Then the two
descended the stairs together
At door leading from the entrance hall
a pretty door with a little sliding panel be
side II like those at the box ofllces-they
paused at the instant terrible scream was
heard within, and the lady opened the door
aud entered.
A wiry, old woman ia a black dress and
white apron, with a little cap on her head
the very picture OF neatnoss-stood la the
middle Of an orderly room. holding q little
boy by the collar Of his pink shirt waist and
beating him with a bundle Of tagged leather
thongs 1t is the old instrument OF punish
ment on some vessels yet, believe, but sail
ors make them and sell them 70 civilians as
FURNITURE beutersn now
This woman was putting the thing TO il
original purpose, nna the torture ~ such
blows, even when given BY her weak, little
old arm, must have been terrible to so small
a child.
take that, and thatm
"A moment more and She paused. Some
one had coolly taken her by the collar Of her
dress and drawn her back. Now lady, to
whose shoulder the janitress' head scarcely
reached, took the cat-o'-nine-tails from her
and drew the wailing child toward her.
you ought 20 be ashamed Of yourself
said this unexpected visitor, curtly "If the
child needed correction little switch would
be enough. I've mind to have you arrested
for using thisn
"And what right have you TO interfere,
maam, I'd like 70 xnowin cried the woman
II am Lady Vernon, responded the other,
quietly.
She knew that the woman was of English
birth by her accent, and she chose 70 overawe
her by title She succeeded.
'I'm sure my LADY, cried the ianitress,
"your ladyship can't know how the child
tries my patience, and all / have to bear"
"And Pm sure.n replied my lady, "that
you'll have TO control your temper, for
though the owner Of this house is abroad
could write 70 him and have you dismissed,
you know.n
''l'm sure youll not do that 70 a poor wild.
oY, my LADY, sobbed the ianitres.
"lf you strike the child again shall = said
Lady Vernon "PhUbc, bring the child up
stairs and amuse him little Now, my good
wonan, what is the price OF this thingp
''its my furniture heater, manm,n cried
the woman, worth dolar.n
The lady placed some money on the table
and walked away with the cat-o-nine-tails
under hor arm, while the janitress started
after her
"a real lady" she said, ia an awe stricken
xFpfna AttF l.. a..
born TO itn
1t so happened that Lady Vernon was born
IN Massachusetts,, a Yankee girl 70 the back,
bone and country minister's daughter, but
an Englishman Of title had come 10 ''the
States met her and married her. She bad
gone 20 England with him and there great
misfortunes had befallen her. Her husband
broke his neck while hunting, and few
weeks afterward her little son was drowned
The nurse had left him for moment near the
shore at a seaside resort, 10 which she had
taken him; when she returned he was not to
be seen. His hat floating upon the water told
the tale And shortly the widow found that
the sad event had made difference In her
means and position. The estates went TO the
second brother in the event Of the child,s
death, and that which was hers as his guar
dian during bis minority passed away.
She cared very little, for her heart was
broken by this second blow, and with what
little remained TO her she left the home en-
deared 20 her by such fond recollections
plainly seeing that the new heir was glad 70
have her so. He had always hated his broth
er's wife, that Yankee woman"
That was five years before. Time had soft
ened her sorrow, but life had little to Offer
her. She had loved too well to marry again
Her parents were dead and she had been an
only child.
She had Travelled quietly over Europe dur
ing these years, and now returned 10 dwell in
her native land, bringing her maid Ph9be
with her.
The girl now knelt on the floor PLAYING
with the child pretty little fellow, well
cared FOR as to cleanliness.
why does she beat you so, darlingYn She
asked. "How could any one strike him.
maamr
"Eeaven knows,n said Lady Vernon.
''Phoebe he is just the age my boy would
havo been, | Think Her tears began to
fall
q foolish fancy that the child vas like her
lost sea cla.e INTO her mind
Trouble softens the brain, fancy,n she
said to herself.
The child played with Phoebe for an hour.
and then the girl conveyed a message to the
JanisEe4s that Lady Vernon would liks to