Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-03-06

married. TIL; lie complication re-
suits from an incxplicable error of Rev.
Mr.. Knowles. who married this MAN.
indicating johnson Ito that young
| woman in the corner"
"Poor fellow!" said Rev. Mr.. Knowles,
she is wandering again.
81 am not wandering" said Lawrence.
''The fact is that this woman, taking
advantage of Mr.. Knowles error, now
claims me as her husband because she
knows me to be rich"
"Rich!' put in Uncle Sanford, "if
money is all that is needed, perhaps we
may yet rescue my misguided nephew
from these perplexing entanglements.
Young person." he continued, approach
ing Nellie, and shaking his finger in her
face, "what do you want?"
j 81 don't want you, you old BEAR" said
| Nellie, beginning to cry nervously, mot
even if you're richer than Croesus."
! johnson laughed
! "Come, Nellie,' said Bessie, some
what sharply, explain this matter
! fully and you will do much to atone for
your conduct towards me-"
81 didn't know he belonged to you,"
sobbed Nellie, ''or I'd never have tried to
| catch him."
Here johnson laughed again, but
/ Lawrence blushed and looked foolish.
"I'm sure l had no i'll will against
| you," Nellie continued. "In fact, al.
ways loved you ever since I've been
your maid. was sorry after I'd stolen
your things and would have taken
them all back to you only 1 was afraid.
I'm going to tell the whole truth now,
and don't care what happens. 1 was
not bad girl to begin with, but when
my aunt died and had to get my own
living, I became a servant, for there
was nothing else to do. couldn't teach,
because didn't know any thing"
THAT is not always an impeachment"
johnson interrupted; 81 have been a
teacher myself"
81 couldn't write novels, as some
women do" Nellie continued, ''because
I'd been brought up quiet and proper
and hadn't seen any of these horrid,
frantic things they write about. so
just got place as maid. It was with
rich woman in high society, and I've
been thrown in just such company for
years. It's an awful strain on young
girls character to associate with such
people. They make you do an awful
lot of lying for them. And then there's
the uniform-the servants dress. That's
the thing that does the real mischief.
It's all the time saying to the girl that
wears it: You're only slave. What
difference does it make how you behave?
You can't go to Heaven in such clothes,
anyhow I got to thinking that I
wasn't as good as the other women be-
cause couldn't dress as we'll; and so
when I saw the chance to steal your
dresses said to myself that it would
make good girl of me-"
Rev. Mr.. Knowles held up his hands
in horror.
"Young woman" said he, "the OBJ
liquity Of your moral vision is really
. shocking. Did you think that stolen
clothes could make you good?'
"Yes, sir, did," replied Nellie, firm
~, land what's more, was right; they
have. Since I've worn them haven't
had an envious or wicked thought in
, my mind, except when this man dis
covered me and saw the prospect OF
. big cuffs and cap again. l tell you
= that If I'd had another week in Mrs.
! Harland's dresses not even that tempta-
, tion would have been strong enough to
l make me do wrong"
"You have discovered great moral
principle" said johnson. 81 too, stole
: chance to begin better life, and,
trust, II Mr.. Drane doesn't take this suit
= away from me, that may yet reform
a entirely before 1t wears out. feel bet
ter now. Already have discarded the
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