The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-20

tened 10 EfleH GlDDs. Anu yet, n L
hadn't, / must have starved or drowned
myself. Oh, dear, how hard it is to
know what is right"
She went home and packed her poor
little trunk.
'.My second month is up tomorrow,
Mrs. Edgecumbe," said she, in a falter-
ing voice, 'sand / am returning to New
York.
"To New York? Oh, DoIlyi" cried the
little woman, throwing up her hands in
despair. ssWhat is the natter"
Nothing, /" said Dolly, valiantly swal-
lowing her tears; ''only I must CO."
''Has any n offended your
s'Oh, no, nor
.'If you want higher wagesy-
''No, Mrs. Edgecumbe; you pay me all
I earn now" protested Dolly.
"Then what is it, Dolly? Dear Dolly,
do stay. You are like one of ourselves, y
pleaded Mrs. E~dgecumbe..
But Dolly only answered with her
tears.
Il can't think what has changed her
80, all of a sudden said Mrs. Edge
cumbe. ssThe children have coaxed her
dear little tIlings!-andM Mr.. Edgecumbe
has offered her q better rate of compen-
s~ation, but it is of no use. Perhaps,
John, if you were to speak to her.
Mr.. Gardiner sat silently balancing his
pen, regardless of the big round blot that
had fallen on the Thirdly OF his next
Sundays 1t was a strange rev.
citation to him, the chill feeling that
came across his heart at the idea of
Dolly Damar's going away.
Eyes, said he, 81 will speak to her.
Somehow it seems as if we couldn't spare
her."
But even to his kind r~easonings Dolly
only replied by fearful silence.
81 must co. said she-"I must. And
you, if you knew all, would say the same
thing"
II don't know what / shall do, I'm
sure said Mrs. Edgecumbe, lapsing
into deep despair. II never shall have
courage to face an intelligence office
again. Cassie Merton has just been here,
telling me the strangest stories about
those places. It seems, she knows of a
woman whose whole business it is to act
as reference to girls who can't get any,
or don't deserve them. She has hired a
gaudily furnished fat, and sits up there
all day, acting the part of the last lady
with whom the girls lived. at so much a
head. Just fancy what a deception! The
police have broken up this place, at the
complaint of some lady who found her.
self the victim of a dishonest maid whose
recommendation was obtained in this
manner, but who knows how many
Others there may be-"
Dolly sprang to her feet, very pale but
firm.
'Mrs. Edgecumbe, said she, "that is
what I did. That is the reason / am 60
ing away from you. Ican't live on here
and bear the burden of my guilt n
longerl'
And she confessed it all, beginning at
the story of the Dresden shepherdess and
ending with Ellen Gibbs sitting UP in
the vacant boudoir of the lady who had
gone to spend the Easter holidays at
Tuxedo Park.
Nov you know all" said she. ssPlease
let me GO at once, for of course you won't
be willing to have me sit down to the
table with the dear little children again. 2
And her words died away in a great
burst of tears.
mot willing indeed" cried Mrs. Edge
cumbe. ssOf course / won't be willing to
let you stir a step from Lilliesleaf farm.
Is that all that troubles you, Dolly?''
isn't that enough" walled poor Dolly.
''Quite enough to satisfy me that you
must stay" said Mrs. E~dgecumbe.
"Why, Dolly, child. you're like my own
sister now. Do You think I viii let you
go back into such temptation again?
Never! Talk to her. John, Make her
understand that we like her better than
ever for having told us the t~ruth-dear,
brave girl"
And Mrs. ~Edgecumbe ran out of the
room t. tell her husband that all was
right.
Dolly looked timidly at Mr.. Gardiner.
"Weli," said he, kindly.
ut is for you to decide" whispered
she. II viii do exactly what you say"
"Youll promise me that, Dolly?9
Eyes, she avowed. artlessly.
Dear little Dollyr" said he. "You
have done very wrong. but you have
atoned for all that by your free and
frank confession. Ny verdict is that you
are to remain here"
"Oh, Mr.. Gardiner, I am so glad"
Stop" said he; II am not quite
through"