Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-18
I'ai19 eagle
THE MANDARIN'S HEADI

In one of those tall New York fat houses
which, without being very magnificent, are
very pretty, lady was arranging the orna
ments and furniture of parlor into which
SIZE had evidently just moved.
She was very large woman, but Of elegant
proportions, and her dress was handsome-s
morning robe of blue cashmere richly EN-
broidered. Behind her little white capped
maid unpacked basket of bric-a-brac, and
having busted each piece, handed it to bel
mistress
Through the open windows came the sound
Of traffic-the rumble of wagons, the roll Of
carriage wheels. New York was at its busiest
and gayest on that clear, late autumn day.
Now and then the cry of some street vender
was heard, and newsboy was striving to at
tract purchasers by roaring 'extraw-ex
traw," In deep, horror stricken tones, and
amid all these noises, ever and anon arose a
wall-shrM and plaintive as the shrek OF the
banshee-which seemed to come from the In
terror Of the house
rs there sick child in thu house, Phubes'
the lady asked, after she had listened with 8
shudder to this sound for several minutes.
What fearful vail"
YES, my lady" replied Phoebe, land it is
fearful to be sure. It's the janitreSs' little
boy, If you please, my lady,"
Phoebe, we are in America, and you must
try to say ma'am, as the other maids do,
said the mistress, with a smile, Il am not
rich enough to play my lady here in my ma
tive country, though the title belongs to me
In England"
Eyes, ma'am, III remember, rna'am," said
the maid. But if you please, maan, that
is the janitreSs' child a-howiing. Sarah, at
the second fat, na'an, she told me how it
was. 1t isn't sickness, ma'am, its beatings"
''Beatingsr repeated the lady.
Eyes, my la mean yes na'am. She does
beat it awful she does"
do you suppose she is doing it nowN
eyes, ma'am,n said Phoebe.
''And the people in the house permit its"
cried the lady.
They don't interfere" said Phoebe. "They
have spoken, if you please, but she says as
her child is her own property, please aa-m,
and she'll do as she likes"
The lady smiled.
E'Show me the way to the janitor's room,
Phoebe" she said.
Its 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 it like those at the box offices-they
paused at the instant terrible scream was
heard within, and the lady opened the door
and entered.
A wiry, old woman in a black dress and
white apron, with little cap on her head
the very picture of neatress-stood in the
middle of an orderly room, holding little
boy by the collar of his pink shirt waist and
beating him with 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 20 civilians as
furniture beaters' now.
This woman was putting the thing to its
original purpose, and the torture of such
blows, even when given by her weak, little
old arm, must have been terrible to so small
a child.
Take that and sass me again." she cried
take that, and that!n
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-Iail5 from her
and drew the wailing child toward her.
you ought to be ashamed of yourself"
said this unexpected visitor, CURLY. IF the
child needed correction a little switch would
be enough. I've mind to nave you arrested
for using this"
"And what right have you to Interfere
ma'am, I'd like to lnow!" cried the woman.
~ am Lady Vernon" responded the other,
quietly.
She knew that the woman was of English
birth by her accent, and she chose to overawe
her by title. She succeeded.
'I'm sure, my lady" cried the janitress,
"your ladyship can't know how the child
tries my patience, and all have TO bear"
"And I'm sure" replied my lady, THAT
you'll have to control your temper, for
though the owner of this house is abroad |
could write to him and have you dismissed,
you know"
I'm sure you'll not do that to poor wild
ow, my lady" sobbed the ianitresS.
"If you strike the child again [ shall" said
Lady Vernon. Phoebe, bring the child up
stairs and amuse him a little. Now, my good
woman, what is the price of this thing!"
Its my furniture beaten, ma'am," cried
the woman, worth a dollar"
The lady placed some money on the table
and walked away with the cat-o'-nine-tails
under her arm, while the janitress started
after her
"A real lady" she said, in an awe stricken
voice ''Ah, but they are aughtyi they're
born to it"
Isso happened that Lady Vernon was born
in Massachusetts,, Yankee girl to the back
bone, and a country minister's daughter, but
an Englishman of title had come TO 1.-The
States" met her and married her She had
l. Ill.
misfortunes had befallen her, Her husband
broke his neck while hunting, and a few
weeks afterward her little son was drowned
The nurse had left him for moment near the
shore at a seaside resort, to 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 his 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-
oeared 10 her by such fond recollecrions
plainly seeing that the new heir was glad to
have her so. be 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 offe.
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 TO dwell IN
her native land. bringing her maid Phoebe
with her.
The cirl now krelt on the poor plavipc