Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-12-12

But man, when married. proposes, and
his wife disposes; Mrs. Thomas who
was a handsome, cold, Shrewd. fash
ionable woman, with large private
II cans of her own, had no objection to
receiving Bessie as sort OF combina-
ton of sewing maid, nursery govern
eSs, companion and the various other
roles that fall to the lot Of an impe-
cunious gentlewoman, But she told
her husband in the plainest of polite
language that she absolutely declined
TO have his niece palmed upon her as
daughter; she had quite enough to
do with her own family Tie argued
feehly for five minutes and then bowed
TO the inevitable.
So began a very busy, but by no
means unhappy, life for Bessie, She
had plenty to do; indeed, from week
in to week out, an idle moment never
fell to her lot and when her aunt dis
covered tc her secret delight that she
was an excellent needlewoman,
promise You that very little unncces-
sary sewing was ever sent out OF the
house, Then she had wonderful
knack of arranging flowers and setting
out Il dining table and her taste in
drapiug was really exquisite and alto
gether she was most useful, loNahle
little body and a prime faNorite with
the children and servants. But if she
worked hard, she was by no means
badly treated She was treated with
perfect respect and Kindness. 1t is
true that she was very rarely asked
downstairs and never went to any
balls or theaters. or paid visits with
the family, or went out driving with
them; but, on the other hand, she and
the children >had many delightful pic
MICS together and her great delight
was to whip up the fat old pony which
was dedicated 10 the goVerncSs' cart
and which Bessie drove with what she
tOndly imagined was consummatC skill.
The coy nursery was her sanctum,
and if the furniture was shabby aud
old-fashioucd, the fact was carefully
chntZ covers made by the girls clever
fingers, while great bowls of flowers
kept the air fragrant with their per
fume True, the blooms did not hail
from any of the hot houses. they were
only the common or garden kind but,
nevertheless. sweet aud fragrant in
their glowing beauty. In the summer,
she and couple of servants were gen
orally sent with the children to some
quiet primitive little watering place,
their hearts content and hoated and
iishCd till they were as brown as Der
ries. And so Besso's life gldcd along,
and hoing a bright, cheerful little soul,
she was generally happy, although oc-
casonally she had fits of dependency
and found herself Cnyying her pretty,
aristoCrtic cousin Maud with quite
unchristianlike ferVor. | suppose after
all it was hard for one girl to soc an
other always beautifully Gowncd go
ing everywhere and being courtcd and
feted to her hearts content and lead
inc a gay, butterfly sort of existence,
while she had a busy, Woodworking
life and was doomed to dress plainly
and substantially on the f20 allowed
her by her aunt. Mr.. ilargraVcs had
left the matter of pin money to his
wife. He had suggested $50, but she
had listened in Contemptuous silence
and then remarked that she would ar
range that with Bessie. and the re-
suit was E5 a quarter. The little maid
was grateful for this and managed to
dress herself nicely, though she was
wont to say TO herself, it was a bless
inc she was not asked downstairs
often, for her pin money would not
have run to buying evening gowns