The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-05-23
A BACK DOOR ROMANCE
BY BORA READ eooDALu.

always been called plain, although reall
there was something quite charmin
about that wide forehead, with the darl
hair rolled smoothly above it, and tn
tinid, yet speaking dark eyes. Poo
JENNY she had never known more thai
a stolen peep at herself IN a full-lengtl
mirror, and the high, inaccessible hand
glass that hung in the kitchen gave NJ
ilattering view of the small, childish
6gure and red little hands. But she wa
simple creature, and by no means il
content with her place as house-maid anC
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 curl.
and before he went there had been {
little love-making, and he had taken a
kiss when he left, and promised to come
back at the end of a year, II all went well
with his work and he keptthe same mind.
s'But if shouldn't turn up, he had
said-although why should she think
about thstl-'iif 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 eve
to some other chap besides me- Faith
full, innocent little hearth had it ever
dreamed of letting stranger suppIant
him, although almost twelve months had
rolled by without bringing her tidings at
slli 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 milkman's repeated attentions, and
never even looked at the grocery boy-a
beautiful youth, with eyes like the bluest
/ OF tur9uoisesl And now, as the time Of
Alexis return approached, she felt in
her heart a 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
aTge- rug, and nHihs > shadezs ie,ssssle
lamp, with rosettes on the sides She
worked with feverish activity now
through the whole afternoon, securing
the knives to a really unnatural bright
ness, and inventing quite new pattern
IN cutting the newspaper edge that
adorned the kitchen shelvesl The
Kitchen that was her province, and all
its small fashions were a matter of as
much pride to her as those of the parlor
or drawing-room are to you, my dear
lady. There sac not only dined aud re-
ceived her guests, but the whole place was
a 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 rniddle-aged woman, little
lame in one foot and subdued by years,
who was not disposed to WORK mischief
to JenHy's arrangements.
At last Valentines Day came, day
after ones heart, and Jenny was dressed
very early, in a new cotton dress, beauti-
fully trimlaed with frills at the throat
and the wrists, and tied with new
piece of ribbon. 1t was very warm for
the season. The first hyacinth bios
somed that day, and that seemed good
omen for the future-this little one
dwelt a 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
chicks and Kissed 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.
'sWhy, Jenny, what on earth is the
matterl" said Miss Marie, rather sharply.
She WIS not an ill-tempered girl, but the
miihap was disconcerting; the more so
because her fance WAS at table beside
ner.
~ think must be a-going to have
chills and fever, y responded poor Jenny,
in high-pitched. unnatural voice,
fulhing all over the face, which had
grown somewhat thin during these few /
weeks of anticipation. az think you'd I
better send me down to the hospital, /
mis-"
f'Hospital3 Nonsensel If you're i'll |
wc1l take care of you here" answered I
Marie, quite kindly. She was going to
a party that night, and had on light
blue dress with rose-colored sashes.
wlaen. 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
locked on the daughters of men; and
the ague that followed was such a chill
as can only come from the near breath
of calamity.
And now there was TO be 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 miIliners in the large up
stairs rooms all day long. The servants
were. swelled by the cast-off
garments 10 a condition Of absolute
.fo- Mrs, Ingalls, also yas going
abroad directly after the wedding, and
Jenny was told that she must look for a. I
new place. Her mistress gave her
character" in her tall, flowing hand,
setting forth that the girl was honest,
neat, willing and industrious Il never
occurred 10 Mrs. Ingalls, in writing thee
words to asl5 herself whether they would
a girl to any other position
nan that Of house-maid, Or whether