Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-03-15
A BACK DOOR ROMANCE
BY DORA READ GooDALE.

BY DORA READ GooDALE.
She was only a servant, orphaned
friendless and plain-at least she had
always been called plain, although really
there was something quite charming
about that wide forehead, with the dark
hair rolled smoothly above it, and the
timid, yet speaking dark eyes. Poor
Jenny she had never known more than
n stolen peep at herself in a fulI-length
mirror, and the high, inaccessible hand
glass that hung in the kitchen gave no
flattering view of the small childish
figure and red little hands But she was
simple creature, and by no means ill
content with her place as house maid and
waitress at the Ingalls's large mansion,
especially now that the winter was break
ing up, and her lover would soon BE- re
turning-or SO she believed,
He had started out with his knapsack
to seek his fortune-that stalwart young
carpenter with the handsome black curls
and before he went there had been a
little loye-making, aud he had taken a
kiss when he left, and promised to come
back at the end of a year, if all went well
with his work and he kept the same mind.
but if l shouldn't turn up" he had
said-although why should she think
about that?-''if l shouldn't get back,
after all, when Valentine Day comes,
we'll count it all over between us, and
it's likely you'll soon have an eye
to some other chap besides me-" Faith
full, innocent little heart had it ever
dreamed of letting stranger supplant
him, although almost twelve months had
rolled by without bringing her tidings at
all3 Her lovers hand was not as clever
with the pen as it was with the saw and
the chisel, and Jenny herself looked on
spelling as one field for the exercise of
original talent. Had she not discouraged
the mllkmanS repeated attentions, and
never even looked at the grocery boy
beautiful youth, with eyes like the bluest
of tur9uoisesl And now, as the time of
Alexis return approached, she felt in
her heart sort of mysterious energy,
the blessed premonition of day of new
duties and cares. At night she lay
awake in her bed, staring at the wall,
and planning out how she would braid a
large rug, and make shade for the
lamp, with rosettes on the sides. She
worked with feverish activity now
through the whole afternoon, securing
the knives to really unnatural bright
ness, and inventing quite new pattern
in cutting the newspaper edge that
adorned the kitchen shelves The
kitchen that was her province, and all
its small fashions were matter of as
mach pride to her as those of the parlor
or drawing room are to you, my dear
lady There she not only dined and re-
ceived her guests, but the whole place was
patent, immediate test of the strongest
leanings and facilities of her nature
There was the cook, it is true, who dis
puted this kingdom with her, but the
cook was a middle aged woman, little
lame in one foot and subdued by years,
who was not disposed to work mischief
to Jenny's arrangements.
At last Valentines Day came, day
after ones heart, and Jenny was dressed
very early, in new cotton dress, beauti
fully trimmed with frills at the throat
aud the wrists, and tied with new
piece of ribbon. II was very warm for
the season. The first hyacinth bios
somed that day, and that seemed a good
omen for the future-this little one
dwelt great deal on the future, and
had but few thoughts for the past. Yet
the hours wore away, and Aleck did not
appear There was no further pretext
for delaying the eating of dinner, and
Jenny could barely taste of the fried
meat balls, which were seasoned with
onion to please him. And then at last
night came on and the gates were shut
to, and the great tears rolled down her
cheeks and Missed on the stove as she
was turning the omelette for supper,
for she had been learning to cook, and
was skilful and dexterous. Indeed, her
hands trembled So much that she
dropped the large platter itself when she
waited on table, and the omelette fell to
the floor and was ruined forever.
"Why, Jenny, what on earth is the
matter2" said Miss Marie, rather sharply
She was not an i'll tempered girl, but the
mishap was disconcerting; the more so
because her tiance WAS at table beside
ner
Il think must be a-going to have
chills and fever, responded poor Jenny,
in high pitched. unnatural voice,
flushing all over the face, which had
grown somewhat thin during these few
weeks of anticipation. Il think you d
better send me down to the hospital
miss.
Hospitals Nonsense, If you're i'll
we'll take care of YOU here, answered
Marie, quite kindly. She was going to
a party that night, and had on a light
blue dress with rose colored sashes
When she went up to put on her dress
she called Jenny and gave her two pills
bitter, detestable pills-which did not
cure her.
Poor Jenny she had fever indeed !;
but it was that fever which our forebears
have known since the sons of God first
lOokeu On tue uduSutefs oi mem anu
the ague that followed was such chill
as can only come from the near brssth
of calamity.
And now there was to be a wedding at
the house OF the Ingallses; Miss Marie
and her betrothed were to marry one an
other at Easter, and there were dress
makers and milliners in the large up
stairs rooms all day long The servants
wardrobes were swelled by the cast off
garments to condition of absolute
plethora, for Mrs. ingalls, also was going
abroad directly after the wedding, and
IL I..I-