The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-03-22
DOLLY'S CONFESSION.

Ledyard is always cautioning me about
letting that carpet fade.
And she took farewell glance out
over the snow enameled avenue, where
gayly caparsoned sleighs skinned to
and fro and parties of promenaders oc-
cupied the pavements, before she re-
turned to her humdrum task of busting
the drawing room.
For Dolly Damar was "only the up
stairs grip IN Mrs. Ledyard's preten
tious establishment. She WIS far
mer's daughter, who had received an
education above the average, aud when
old Hiram Damar's death had broken
up the household, she had come to
New York, hoping to get situation as
nursery governess or companion.
Disappointed in one after another OF
her aspirations she was at last glad to
secure place as parlor maid at Mrs.
Ledyard's where she was to-day, sing
ing as she busted bric-a- brac and pol.
ished plate glass-for Dolly was a
cheerful little maid, and had an invet-
crate habit of making the best of things
Crash Dolly gave start and turned
around.
Little Gladys, the youngest of the
Ledyard flock, in tampering with a
china sherpherdess, had knocked il
over. 1t lay In a score of glittering
fragment on the h)or.
Ga, Miss Gladys cried the upstairs
girl.
What have you done?
Dolly, don't give me away, STAN.
mered the slangy daughter of the house
Tell ma it was the cat.
But, Miss Gladys that would be a lie
No, it wouldn't. 1t would be moth.
ing on earth but tiny little white fb.
And ma will be so mad On, Dolly
do let her think it was pussy!
l couldn't, Miss Gladys. Please dom,
ask me !! pleaded poor Dolly. 1 mus,
speak the truth if she asks me.
Miss Gladys Ledyard swung. NUT
tering. out OF the room.
III be even with her yet said she
the mean, hateful tattle tale2
And when Mrs. Ledyard came home
from her sleigh ride in the park, Gladys
was beforehand with the "mean, hateful
tattle." Mrs. Ledyard sent for Dolly,
taxed her with the misdemeanor OF
breaking a Dresden shepherdess worth
$50 and then endeavoring to conceal
her mishap, while Gladys stood grin.
ming by, and then discharged her, first
warning her that it would be useless to
expect reference from that number
on Fifth avenue.
So poor Dolly went back to the intel
ligence office and sat there day after
day, until all her slender stock of pa
tlence, and still more slender supply OF
money, were exhausted. No one would
engage girl without any reference
from her last place. Day by day her
heart sank lower and the future be-
came darker, until her landlady's
daughter, stylish, black eyed girl. who
was lady's maid in handsome house
on Mallalieu square, heard of her di-
lemma.
"No recommend, eh1 said she. |
can set all that square I'll give you
one
You?
Yes, l. Why not? It's often done.
l know two or three girls who helped
each other out of tight place like that.
My family is going in the country for
the Easter holidays. Send your people
to 6 Mallalieu square, Mrs. Nyton's,
and I'll be Mrs. Nyton, and give you
an A No. 1 character
But, Ellen, that would be untrue
What would be untrue2 That you
are honest, willing, capable7
No, but-you are not Mrs. Nyton
shan't say that l am. merely say
what l know to be the truth about you
and if you succeed in getting good
place, all that l ask is dollar or two
out of your first months wages. It'll
be sort of masquerade
And Ellen showed her broad white
teeth in laugh.
It's a pity if we poor girls can't out
wit the fine ladies now and then. Any
time after Monday Mrs. Nyton will be
at home.
Dolly hesitated long, argued the point
ieeblv, but finally gave in, and little
Mrs. Edg cumbe, of Lilliesleat farm,
was more than delighted with the "ref-
ence" she obtained for her new maid
in the Mallalieu square mansion.
Such an elegant house said she,
and tea gown of olive plush, such as
never saw out of a fashion plate. But
was surprised to hear Mrs. Nyt N
speak such dreadfully bad grammar
Probably, said Mr.. Edgecumbe, she
is endowed with more money than
brains.
Most likely, said the little housewife.
Dolly Damar was quite happy at Lii
lesleaf. 1t was, strictly speaking, a bee
farm, but they kept COWS aad poultry
as well. and Dolly was delighted to get
back to the pleasant cares that had
been so familiar to her in the old life.
John Gardiner, Mrs. Edgecumbe S
brother, the village pastor, boarded
there. and they soon discovered that
Dolly was no ordinary uneducated
kitchen help"
The three children were blue eyed,
sunny tempered little cherubs, the
wages were generous, and Dolly found
herself at last in possession of home.
After the hnnsewnrk WAS done of an