The Yale expositor., 1895-05-24


servant" he replied, with a little
dubious shake OF his dark curly head.
land the Eliot girls are not relatives or
mine. / am their fathers ward, and
nearly a. benniless one, fear"
There are worse ills than being pen
niless" said Anne, looking at him with
shy admiration from under her long,
LOVELY lashes.
lie was about to respond, when n
eoarse laugh startled both
\ "Oh. l reckoned I'd catch you sOmo
time, Rich, IL you do pretend to be such
saint You meant to get the start or
me with the pretty housemaid. 1 OBJ
serve. But I'll overlook that If you let
her give me kiss" the newcomer ex-
claimed bolsterously, as he staggered
up the hall toward them.
1t was easy to discover that he wan
an Eliot. His resemblance to the sisters
was as noticeable as their likeness to
each other. AS he advanced, leerinS
and chuckling, Anne arose 10 her feet.
her delicate face white with indiEna-
tion.
"Oh, you needn't put on any airs with
me, my dear" he sneerd, as he eX-
tended hand to seize her.
Rich struck the insolent hand aside
and placed himself protectingly before
Anne.
You will go at once. WillSie, unless
you want a quarrel with me-" he said
with stern significance.
WilSie began to bluster. But any
serious dissension was averted by the
sudden appearance Of the cook.
IF you don't stop your tricks yOaa
won't get your rich cousin for WIFE,
Mister Wilkie," she admonished him.
II hn
eyes till 1 get her" Wilkie boasted,
wickedly.
AS Anne followed the cook up tho
broad staircase, she smiled gratefully
down at her gallant young DEFENDER
who stood with barred head, looking
after her with all his beautiful sO01
shining through his dark eyes.
Half an hour later she began her Ca
reer as waitress, chambermaid anG
seamstress in the Eliot household
1t was soon discovered that her taste
and skill in the latetr capacity were AL
most invaluable; and henceforth the
girls kept her occupied almost wholly
in their services.
At first she dreaded lest WillIie EliC4
should repeat his insolence. and she
scarcely dared venture outside the sew
ing room.
though she was convinced that he was
deferred solely by a wholesome awe
Of Rich Clavering's vigilant eyes and
powerful young arms.
Anne was not unhappy during those
days. But sometimes her lovely eyes
brimmed with gentle tears as she re-
flected upon the unending misery OF the
many young creatures who are doomed
to drudgery and the tyranny which Is
harder yet to bear, from dawn till dark.
all their lives, from the cradle to tho
grave.
1T is such treatment which makes
bad servants, l am afraid" she said to
herself
She spent many pleasant moments
with Rich, sometimes at the piano when
the others were all away. and some
times strolling through n dim and
dreamy strip of pine grove between tho
house and the ever-brawling creek a lit
tie way beyond the garden.
Meanwhile, the Eliots' long-eXpected
guest and cousin from the far West had
not arrived.
But early on the morning of Decora-
ton Day a dispatch from her was
brought to the house by a messenger.
Miss Bethune was at the GlenvieW
hotel, and if they would call for her
later, she would accompany them to the
cemetery.
You must be careful how you be-
have before her, Wilkie; you must re-
member she has lots of money" saiG
Millie.
You rnay never have such a chance
again, Wilkie, to get n rich wife," SAID
Ella.
you must let her have your seat I'm
IL ha
for ALL" said Mrs. Eliot.
"Oh, don't mind walking" that
young man declared. I'm start early
and meet you at the hotel"
II don't see what he wants to come
for, I'd rather he wouldn't, I'm sure.
I'm afraid he'll try TO set Miss BethunS
against Wilkie. He does dislike the
poor boy so," Mrs. Eliot grumbled later,
as her stylish equipage was speeding
toward the Glenhurst house.
On their arrival the party was con-
Quoted to private parlor, elegantly ap-
pointed.
Rich Clavering was already there
They had waited but q few minutes
when there was a little rustic at the
opposite end of the room, and white
hand slowly drew aside the heavy
crimson portiere.
Every eye was turned lndt way ah~
fixed upon the lovely girl, who paused
for an instant, looking, against the
crimson background, like picture
stepping from it's frame.
'Anne!' broke from every lip.
And II was Anne, indeed. Anne Be-
thune, happy enough and generous
enough to forgive even her enemies, II
she had any.
She rode with them to the cemetery,
and witnessed the Decoration Day serv-
ices at her soldier grandfather's new
monument. But she walked away with
Rich beside her-her plighted husband
80 that was why you insisted
should go to the hotel?' he said once.
You sweet little deceiver, 1 am NOT
half worthy of you. But ah, Anne.
what dear little housekeeper I shall
have"
What the Eliots said Is not recorded
-
Suggested Memorial Day.
or the late Martha G.. Kimball, who
first suggested Memorial day, George
w. Childs once remarked: "She has
done more good deeds and said more