Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-19

derment. "You are dreaming. Nobody new
is here. You know they say I am faithful
to the same old gang; and you are all pres
emit. 1 believe"
Moore shrank a little from her as he
went on in his logged way:
Miss Charlton, l mean. The young lady
from Virginia, who came while you were
driving"
Mrs. Caldwell threw back her dark, we'll
coiffed head, with a peal of laughter.
Il see what You mean now. It's my new
secretary, who comes to replace that dread
full pushing creature l told you of; and. If
you believe me, l got in SO late to dress. 1
have not seen her yet. How could you
make such a miStake?"
What mistaken"
'To-er-suppose that she was one of my
guests
Moore, angered by her supercilious drawl
felt his color rise. Then, restraining him.
self, he turned on his heel and left her. in
Wardly resolved not to spend another Cay
under the roof of this pretentious world
ling.
But when the next day came he did not
go away.
Poor Felicia! 1t was such a sad awaken
ing! Twenty-four hours spent in her new
capacity were quite sufficient to show her
that business. not friendship was the plat
form on which she stood. Mrs. Caldwell
when, on the morning following her arrival
she summoned her latest employee into the
boudoir where Felicia's duties were to be
performed, had received her with the most
perfunctory of handshakes and without a
smile. The girl, unaccustomed to this
omission of social courtesies, fancied her
self an offender, and for moment stood
sick at heart with wondering what she had
done. In a short time, however, Mrs Cald-
well made it perfectly clear that Miss
Charlton had in no wise transgreSsed, and
was even welcome in the stress of her en-
pioyerS arrears of correspondence Lean
Ing back IN deep wicker chair with fam
cushions sill do
table covered with specimen vases Of
emerald glass, each containing a perfect
rose, the great lady dictated a dozen little
notes of courtesy conyentionality or cha RI
ty, which Felicia's fleet pen Transcribed
upon sheets from a slyer-mounted paper
case upon table Uttered with every con-
trivance for elegant dalliance with letters
This done. and evidently done to Mrs Cald-
wells satisfaction, Felicia received instruc-
tons to fill up series of dinner invitations
with names and dates for banquet to be
given three weeks off, and to address en-
Velopes from list furnished her for a
musicale, for which a great artist had been
enSaged to come up from New York
IhiS will give you enough for today"
said Mrs Caldwell, rising to 60 "You will
cons DER TINS room your own to sit in at all
hours. but your meals will be taken in what
we call the school room, which is more con-
Venlent for the servants to carry the trays
INTO. iLer-think you probably dined there
last night. 1t is a nice little room, ard I
hope you will take care that they give Won
everything nicely. The housekeeper has the
strlctest orders about my secretarys COM
fort and you must Immediately report to
her If anything is omitted. At any time
when you want to drive out, one IF the
grooms can take You in the basket phaeton:
and. as you see, there are books here and
a piano. If you play. l am happy to saw
that think you will suit me. exactly: and
am glad Maud Branham spoke of YOU
Your salary will be paid monthly, and here
thanding her check is the first month in
advance, as you may have some Purchases
to make
This was kindly thought, and to It Fe-
iic1a's spirit responded: but, looking into
MRS. Caldwelrs ever unsmilng face, she
dared not speak. The lady rustled from the
room, and Felicia, left alone in the apart
ment that was SO far beyond her dreams OF
luxury, dropped her little head down upon
the alotter before her and burst into tears
She does not mean to be unkind," Fell
ella unused, after week of her new life had
passed. Il think, in her heart, she fancies
she is model patroness. But oh! the way
l am made to feel my distancei Never a
laugh or jest for me: yet. as soon as she
rejons any Of her guests she is the gayest