The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-03-26
D0LLY'S' CONFESSION
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Inc clear feOruary sunshine lay like a
river of gold across the dark, rich lines
OF the Administer carpet as Dolly Damar
drew the decorated window shade.
at seems apity to shut out Gods sun
shine, murmured she, "but Mrs. Led
yard is always cautioning me about let
ting that carpet fade"
And she took farewell glance out
over the snow euameled avenue, where
gaily caparisoned sleighs skinned to and
fro and parties of promenaders occupied
the pavements before she returned to her
hum-drum task of dusting the drawing
room.
For Dolly Damar was .'only the up
stairs girl' in Mrs. Ledyard's pretentious
establishment. She was a farmers daugh-
ter, who had received an education above
the average; and when old Hiram Da-
mars death had broken up the house
hold, 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 Sc
cure place as parlor maid at Mrs. Led
yards, where she was to-day, singing as
she busted brio brac and polished plate
glass-for Dolly was cheerful little
maid, and had an inveterate habit of
making the best of things.
Crash! Dolly gave a start and turned
around.
Little Gladys, the youngest child of the
Ledyard flock, in tampering with a china
shepheIdess, had knocked it over 1t
lay in score of glittering fragments on
the floor.
"oh, Miss Gladys" cried the upstairs
girl. "What have you done2"
"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
lie."
"No, it wouldn't. 1t would be moth
ing on earth but tiny little white fib.
And ma will be SO mad! Oh, Dolly, do
let her think it was pussy"
81 couldn't, Miss Gladys. Please don't
ask me" pleaded poor Dolly. Il must
speak the truth if she asks me-"
Miss Gladys Ledyard swung, mutter-
ing out of the room.
"Ill be even with her yeti" said she;
"the mean, hateful tattle-talew
And when Mrs. Ledyard came home
from her sleigh-ride in the park, Gladys
was beforehand with the 'mean, hate
full tattle-tale." Mrs. Ledyard sent for
Dolly, taxed her with the misdemeanor
of breakinga a Dresden shepherdess worth
twenty dollars, and then endeavoring to
conceal her mishap, while Gladys stood
grinning by, and then discharged her,
first warning her that it would be useless
to expect a 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
tience, and still more slender supply of
money, were exhausted. No one would
engage a girl without any reference from
her last place. Day by day her heart
sank lower and the future became darker,
until her landlady's daughter, stylish,
black-eyed girl, who was lady's maid in
a handsome house on Mallalieu Square,
heard of her dilemma.
"'NO recommend, eh?n said she. AZ
can set all that square I'll give you
one?"
''You"
"Yes, I. Why not2 It's often done.
l know two or three girls who have
helped each other out of a 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. character!'
"But, Ellen, that would be untruep
"What would be untruei That yous
are honest, willing, capable!"
"No, but--you are not Mrs. Nytonh
81 shan't say that am. l merely say
what know TO be the truth about you;
and if you succeed in getting a good
place, all that ask is a dollar or two
out Of your first months wages, It'll be
a sort of masquerade"
And Ellen showed her broad white
teeth in laugh.
ITS 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
feebly, but finally gave in, and little Mrs.
Edgecumbe, of Lilliesleaf Farm, was
more than delighted with the "refer-
once" she obtained for her new maid in
the Mallalieu Square mansion.
"Suoh an elegant house" said she,
''and a tea-gown of olive plush, such as
never saw out of fashion plate. But
was surprised to hear Mrs Nyton speak
such dreadfully bad grammar"
"Probably," said Mr. Edgecumbe,
"she is endowed with more money than
brains
''Most likely" said the little house
wife.