Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-05-30

to IA servant may anoy your sisters"
'It is the lowly who most need kind
ness. But cannot think Of you as Q
servant" he replied, with A. little
dubious shake of his dark. curly head.
land the Eliot girls are not relatives of
mine. I am their fathers ward. and
nearly a penniless one. fear"
There are worse ills than being PEN
niless," said Anne. looking at him with
shy admiration from under her long.
lovely lashes.
He was about to respond, when .
coarse laugh startled both.
"Oh, I reckoned I'd catch you some
time. Rich. II you do pretend to be such
a saint! You meant to get the start OF
me with the pretty housemaid, OBJ
serve. But I'll overlook that II you let
her give me kiss" the newcomer ex-
claimed boisterously. as he swaggered
up the hall toward them.
It was easy to discover that he was
an Eliot. His resemblance to the sisters
was as noticeable as their likeness to
each other. As he advanced, leering
and chuckling. Anne arose to her feet,
her delicate face white with indigna-
ton.
"Oh. you needn't put on any airs with
me, my dear" he sneerd. as he e1-
tended a hand to seize her.
Rich struck the insolent hand aside
and placed himself protectingly befors
Anne.
"You will go at once, Wilkie. Unless
you want a quarrel with me-" he said.
with stern Significance.
Wilkie began to bluster. But any
serious dissension was averted by the
sudden appearance Of the cook.
"If you don't stop your tricks you
rrt rxat tot,
Mister Wilkie." she admonished him.
"Oh. I can pull the wool over her
eyes till get her." wilkie boasted.
wickedly.
AS Anne followed the cook up the
broad staircase. she smiled gratefully
down at her gallant young defender.
who stood with barred head, looking
after her with all his beautiful soul
shining through his dark eyes.
Half an hour later she began her ca
reer as waitress, chambermaid and
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
in their services.
At first she dreaded lest Wilkie Eliot
should repeat his insolence. and she
scarcely dared venture outside the sew
ing room.
But he did not annoy her again, al
though she was convinced that he was
deferred solely by 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-
fected upon the unending misery of the
f,r,. fk,N
to drudgery and the tyranny which Is
harder yet to bear, from dawn till dark.
all their lives, from the cradle to the
grave.
'It Is such treatment which makes
bad servants, 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 a dim and
dreamy strip of pine grove between the
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 II 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" said
Mile.
"You may never have such a chance
again. Wilkie. to get rich wife," said
Ella.
1ox f,o I. L.
the carriage. Rich; there won't be room
for ALL" said Mrs. Eliot.
"Oh, I don't mind walking" that
young man declared. I'll start early
and meet you at the hotel"
IT 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 Bethune
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 a private parlor. elegantly ap-
pointed.
Rich CIavering was already there.
They had waited but 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 that way and
fixed upon the lovely girl. who paused
for an instant, looking. against the
crimson background. like a picture
stepping from its frame.
"Anne!" broke from every lip.
And 1t was Anne, indeed. Anne Be-
thuns. 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.
$50 that was why you insisted I
should go to the hotel?" he said once.
You sweet little deceiver. I am not
half worthy OF you. But, ah. Anne.
what a dear little housekeeper shall
have"
What the Eliots said is not recorded.
Su1u