The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-08
SEATTLE PosTNTEIIIGENcER. SUNDAY 1891

her maid, sympathized with her young
mistress, to whom she was also genuinely
attached, and made common cause Win
her against her prosecutors, as she caiIeu
them, though they included her parent
himself. He was very thrifty ana A5ps
Lucy short as TO pin money, ana ne
becca, who, as she told me flor she spared
herself in nothing) was very greedy OIL
GAIN on a very low scale of wages. 1t
was a sad and rather sordid story OF Sc.
verify and repression met by dupilcity anu
intrigue. What redeemed 1t was the as
interested though exaggerated feaity OF
Rebecca, which would have borne COM
parison with that of feudal times. Except
for her singular beauty there was nothing
admirable in Lucy, who indeed was proud,
selfish and exacting bat In Reoecca' eyes
she was perfection and a martyr, ut for
prince, but with no choice OF suitors, save
of a commonplace and unworthy kind, ana
who, never having seen stage play, nau
no notion of the desirability of making a
friend of the maid of the mistress.
Presently, however, a lover appeared OF
quite another stamp, but unhappliy
clandestine lover. Mr. Power was one of
her fathers customers, gentleman, as
was understood, of good position, and who
at all events gave large orders, which were ,d
punctually paid for. While calling on Nj.
Lester on business he CHANGED to catch
sight of Lucy, and became at once enam-
ored of her beauty. Without the Simple
ity which is the safeguard of her sex, she
was absolutely ignorant of that world with
which she painted to mingle. The man
air of fashion made as much way with her
as his protestations, and unfortunately the
lavishness which man of his stamp dis
plays when bent on such a design was
taken by Rebecca as the sign OF generous
nature; without knowing them, as think,
to be exactly brides, she took his brides.
With one word to her master she could
probably have saved his daughter. but she
did not feel she was in danger. Even
word of warning to Lucy herself might not
have been thrown away, but she did not
give it. On the contrary, urged by many
considerations-dislike OF her master and
his surroundings, willingness to please her
darling and confidence in Powers profess
sions-she assisted him TO elope with her.
/ am afraid there is even time when Lucy
shrank from the audacity of that design,
and but for Rebecca would have aband-
oned it; but it was because she was herself
deceived. Indeed, at the last, when Lucy
had lost her head as well as her heart and
would have risked all for love, Rebecca
stepped in and insisted on being present at
the marriage ceremony. 1t was barren
precaution-though poor Lucy might after
ward have used it as a weapon of re-
venge, if she had had the heart
for revenge-for in a few weeks
she discovered that he whom she'
had believed to be her husband was
married man. In that brief space she had
lost all-fortune, friends and home, for her
father closed his doors against her, and the
unhappy girl found herself thrown on her
own resources, which consisted only of
scanty wardrobe and few jewels. Then,
like wounded tigress, she turned upon
Rebecca with, sit is you who have been
my ruin!
The fury that might reasonably have
been poured on her deceiver seemed
quenched in the very catastrophe he had
caused, as tame deserts the blackened
ruin; so far as he was concerned, the crime
of which she had been the victim was so
overwhelming that in place of indignation
she felt only wretchedness and despair; too
weak to seek relief in self-destruction,, she
yet desired to hide herself from her fellow
creatures, and especially to be seen no
more of men.
What remained to her of vitality took
the form of passionate reproach of her
late ally and assistant, and not word did
Rebecca say in her own defense.
Instead of leaving her young mistress to
herself with penitence and remorse to
smooth the rough road she must needs
travel in the future.
Effort of her own Lucy never made, and
accepted the others services not only as
her due, but as but small instalment of
the obligation she had incurred in having
given her such bad advice. That she had
not forgiven her she made very plain, even
Gas has heen shown) up to the last moment
of her life. but Rebecca never thought her
self hardly used.
There was nothing could do, as you
may believe" she said, "that deserved
thanks. 1t was owing to me that my poor
II 80 ks.s,.
tender. had fallen into the hands of a viii
lain, and, unit as she was to bear hard
ships, was compelled to live upon crust.
Was it to my own credit that these hands,
which had taken his brides, provided the
crust?"
If Miss Lucy had complained she said
she could have better borne the conscious
ness of her crime, but after that first out
break she kept silence-a cold, reproach-
full silence that for years had chilled the
others very heart. All she stipulated for
was to be alone--not to be spoken to, not
to be seen, and even when her illness had
become severe it was only on Rebecca's
promise to obtain. professional advice
without the doctors presence that the
sick girl had permitted her to apply to me.
This was the story of Rebecca's remorse.
Il did what l could TO reason With the
poor woman by pointing out how penance
atones for wrong, but II / mad not been so
Fortunate as to obtain for her Lucy's
deathbed forgiveness she would certainly
never have forgiven herself. AS il was she
was in some degree comforted. | got her
a situation in the country with some
friends of mine, where she was greatly
esteemed and remained for years. She al
ways took a day or two's holidays in the
summer; no one knew where she spent it,
for she had no friends; but at that same
time whoever visited an East End Gene
terry would have found on Lucy Testers
grave fresh mowers.