Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-01-02
A PLOT FOIIlED.

"A i AOl - IL IOlllZDs
must begin all over again the weary,
ployment Of mine seemed to last long. AL
ways a new struggle to obtain my daily
bread lay darkening before me.
But the month was unfavorable. At
the beginning of August work, at any
rate in London, is scarce. l looked over
the advertisements in the penny morning
papers, but could find nothing which even
promised we'll.
One afternoon, however, obtained the
loan of The Times, and in 1t found the
following advertisement:
Wanted. Cultured lady (under 80 preferred)
to take charge Of valuable domestic pet dur
ing owners absence in country; caretaker
left in house; liberal honorarium. Apply to-
day friday to Nine. Lebrun, -.
And here followed the address of house
in one Of the old fashioned squares in the
north Of London. An omnibus landed me
within about ten minutes walk Of the
square.
The exterior Of the house which was
seeking was at first sight plain; then
saw that the handles Of tho bells were Of
sphinxes' heads and each knockcr bronze
cats head.
An old manservant asked me my busi-
ness, and on hearing 1t admitted me with
out q moments hesitation.
A bronze sphinx stood sentinel on either
side Of the great chimney piece, and the
walls were covered with paintings such as
are found IN Egyptian tombs.
But all was changed when the wide door
Of the drawing room was thrown open.
Here Was France; France Of the beginning
Of the century was seen In the deep orinl-
son satin hangings; France Of today In the
small wood fire which smoldered on the
hearth, for the evening was chill, In the
varnished boards and in the very places Of
the furniture.
Ny attention was fixed by figure
standing In the middle Of the room. The
figure was small, slight and fragile, draped
In long gray fields and crowned by q bushy
mass Of gray hair. Its arm was OUT
stretched, and on the wrist sat perched an
old parrot.
This old bird and Its older mistress
seemed to understand each other perfectly.
II called, madame, /" began when seat
ed, Gin answer to your advertisement
which saw in The Times this morning"
"Ahi ma fol, yes. That announcement
what trouble 1t has given mel You can
not figure to yourself the persons have
seen today who all declared themselves
ladies of cultivation But for you, made
moiselle, 1t Is q different thing. could
not leave you alone in this great house;
you are too young, too pretty. ItwQpld-
how shall say itp--it would walk Unt Of
the conveniences.
~ implOre you, madame, not to let con-
siderations like these influence you. am
entirely dependent on my work, and there
is 20 little work can do"
All, we shall sac. My doctors tell me
/ must positively have change Of air.
My parrot, Gustave, like other old people
for he is older still than I--cannot bear
to be deranged in his habits. He Ii mis-
erable II he quits this house. cannot
leave him to servants, 80 thought If I
could get some lady to see to him, to talk
to him during my two months absence
Gustave, dost thou think thou couldst stay
with inademoisellef'
Gustave, with great solemnity, fluttered
to the floor and, to my alarm, began SOL
emrly hopping round me In ever lessening
orioles. AT last he stopped in front Of me,
and looking straight up into my face
emitted q sound like drawing cork and
screamed out In high, fast, monotonous
shrek:
Pretty girl, pretty girl! Don't cry, my
dear. Don't like being kissed9 That's
what pretty girls ARE made for. Ha! ha!
n n Il