The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-17

OF the 1airy OF the cilu. AS luck Wouiu
have il, his seat at table that night was
far away from Mrs. Caldwel's, and, un-
I'll just after the men came in from the
smoke-room, he had no opportunity 70
make inquiries of his hostess.
'''The young lady who arrived this
afternoonY' repeated Mrs. Caldwell,
in bewilderment. "You are dreaming
Nobody new is here. You know they
say am faithful to the same old gang;
and you are all present. believe"
Moore shrank little from her as he
went on in his dogged way:
"Miss Charlton. | mean. The young
lady from Virginia, who came while you
were driving"
Mrs. Caldwell threw back her dark,
well-coiffed head, with peal of laugh
ter.
II see what you mean "v. It's my
new secretary, who's &C -Ie TO replace
that dreadful, pushing creature ] told
you of; and, if you believe me, got in
so late to dress, have not seen her yet.
How could you make such mistaken"
"What mistaken"
'To-er-suppose that she was one of
my guests"
Moore, angered by her supercilious
drawl, felt his color rise. Then, re-
straining himself, he turned on his heel
and leS her, inwardly resolved not TO
spend another day under the roof of this
pretentious wording.
But when the next day came he did
not go away.
Poor Felicia! 1t was such sad
awakening! Twenty-four hours spent
in her new capacity were quite sufii-
cient to show her that business, not
friendship, was the platform on which
she stood. Mrs. Caldwell, when, on the
morning following her arrival, she sum
moned her latest employe into the bou'
doir, where Felicia's duties were to be
performed, had received her with the
most perfunctory of handshakes and
without a smile. The girl, unaccus'
toned to this omission of social cour.
tesies, fancied herself an offender, and
for moment stood sick at heart with
wondering what she had done. In
short time. however, Mrs. Caldwell made
IL perfectly clear that Miss Charlton ha6
in no wise transgresed. and was even
welcome ir the stress of her employers
arrears of correspondence. Leaning
back in a deep wicker chair with fan
tastic frilled cushions of China silk,
beside table covered with specimen
vases of emerald glass each containing
perfect rose, the great lady dictated
dozen little notes of courtesy. conven-
tionality or charity, which Felicia's
fleetpen transcribed upon sheets from
silver-mounted paper-case upon table
Uttered with every contrivance for ele-
CANT dalliance with letters. This done,
and evidently done to Mrs. Caldwells
satisfaction, Felicia received instruc-
tions to fill up series of dinner invita-
tions, with names and dates for ban.
quet to be given three weeks off, and to
address envelopes from list furnished
her for n musicale. for which great ar-
tist had been engaged to come up from
New York.
This will give you enough for to-
day." said Mrs. Caldwell, rising to GO.
"You will consider this 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 convenient for the
servants to carry the trays into. Ter,
think you probably dined there last
night. Ii is nice little room, and /
hope you will take care that they give
you everything nicely. The housekeep-
er hns the strictest orders about my
secretary's comfort, and you must i'm
mediately report 10 her if anything is
omitted. At any time when you want
TO drive out, one of the groom's eau take
you in the basket phaeton; and. as you
see. there are books here, and piano. If
you play. ! am happy to say that
think you will suit me, exactly; and
am glad Maud Branham spoke of you.
Your salary will be paid monthly, and
here (handing her checl) is the first
month in advance, rs you may have
some purchases to make"
This was kindly thought, and TO il
Felicia's spirit responded; but. looking
into Mrs. Caldwell's severunsmiling face.
she dared not speak. The lady rustled
from the room, and Felicia, left alone
in the apartment that was so far be-
yond her dreams of luxury, dropped
her little head down upon the blotter
before her and burst into tears.
CONTINUED ToMoRRow.)