The Globe-republican., 1890-12-24

ment occur to her. Grace, however. was
utterly forgotten. and, crouching in the
| corner like stray cat, afraid to move
or speak, her presence was indeed un-
| known. -,
| .Uh. yes," exclaimed the belle, with
q light laugh, this is from Walter
| Fletcher" at the same time extending
| for inspection a glove-box of magnlfi-
| cent workmanship with her monogram
| incrusted on the lid in diamonds so
bright that they made Grace shade her
eyes lest their light she uld pierce them
"He has proposed, girls, and is COM
| ing tonight for his ans wer; now, just
| want you to see what a dance ] am
eoing to lead him. He is so awfully
absurd with his straight-faced SINGER
ity; do you know that think man
very laughable who is so terribly IN
earnestp You shall see his present
carelessly neglected in some odd cor
ner and the place of honor given to
Frank Rand's, yonder. Do you know,
he is positively jealous OF Frank? in
tend to refuse him; it is always better
to refuse a man at first you know; he
appreciates one more afterwards. Of
course, intend to marry Walter event
ually; he is so awfully rich and not
half bad-looking."
Grace, feeling indignant at such
sentiments and guilty at having over
heard them, came forward. forming a
sorry contrast to the daintily-attired
butterflies of fashion, and startled the
girls, who each gave frightened little
shrek as though an apparition had APP
peared among them. Collecting herself
and commanding her voice as best
she could she explained her busi-
ness, while the wrathful beauty, irri-
tated at the intrusion, hastily tore the
bundle and shook the folds of the skirt
so that the light from the chandelier
shone remorselessly on the tell-tale
blood stain.
An ugly and malicious look crossed
the face of Ethel Winter. She fixed her
angry, cruel eyes on poor Grace, who
shrank with fear, and whose lips were
vainly endeavoring TO form words of ex-
planation.
self here at such an hour and on such
day?" came harshly from the mouth
that looked made only for kisses, land
why have you returned my work spoiled
utterly and absolutely spoiled? Mon
ey? Did any one ever hear of such in
solence! No, indeed, not one penny;
rather do you owe me for MY ruined
linen. And let this be the last time
that you apply to my maid for work.
Here, Adele. show this person down the
servants stairway"
Grace felt suffocated. She reached
the stairway somehow, and, staggering
forward, would have fallen had not the
prosperous-looking maid Ito whom
Christmas was evidently gala day, so
far as generous tips were cOncerned),
detained her with gentle hand, and,
with tear of compassion in her eye,
thrust something into Graoe's hand,
which, when she reached her humble
quarters. she found to be money.
That simple act of kindness melted
the pent-up sorrows and emotions of the
young girls heart and, throwing her
self across her couch, she wept as if her
heart would break.
Grace Tremaine was dreamer All
day long, as she sat and sewed, she
would weave strange fancies and almost
unconsciously form them into verse or
prose. On stray bits of paper, on the
backs of boxes, on the fly leaves of old
books, the singings of her soul found
outlet as freely and as easily as bird
trills its note simply because the music
is in his soul and must break forth.
When the story Of her grief had
passed, she threw open her low window
and leaned far out into the sharp, frosty
air. The streets were ablaze with
lights, distant music and happy voices
reached her ears, and she contrasted
with bitter feelings her own sad fate
with that of the joyous circle assembled
in the magnificent residence from which
she had been so harshly elected.
AS she thought, she wrote; and when
she had finished her writing, by sud-
den impulse. she signed her name.
Some strange fatality surely must have
guided her hand; for as her head fell
back. overcome By sleep, unconscious of
the biting air, gust of wind snatched
the sheet from her loosened fingers,
and, passing it from one gale to an
other, waited it-who knows whittier?
Almost at the time when Grace
Tremaine's sorrows were forgotten in
sleep, a young man was to be seen half
reeling down the steps of . brown
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