The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-07-15

piotcu tuub Hhu SCueuleu W gain my
uncle's wealth and rob her boy of his
own; but Harry's letter was no less
bitter, though more just.
+" 4 am glad Nettie has the money
he said, for am man and can make
my own way in the world; but GER
tainly will build it upon no woman's
wealth. My little cousin was very
dear to me as sister, not as wife;
but swear that will never see or
speak to her again until she or / are
married. L never will put myself in
the position of even the possibility of
seeking q woman's love for the sake
of her money. 1t would have been
better if my uncle had never led me
to believe myself his heir; but except
for this, and the almost insulting al
tentative he leaves open for me, I do
not blame him.
''This was all, Lottie-this and his
mothers reproaches, but / was a
child no longer. | was woman, and
/ knew that always in my childish and
shrine, one hero. He loved me, he
said, as little sister I-God help
me!-loved him with the one passion
of my life. This was two years ago
/ knew him too well to try to change
his purposes; but have sometimes
thought that, perhaps-perhaps, if he
had seen me, if we had been thrown
together, all might have been differ
ent. But you know now, Lottie, why
/ shall never marry"
ga chance for you, Nettie!' cried
Miss Armstrong a week after the
conversation just recorded had taken
place.
And as she spoke she waived a Lon
don paper over her head.
"What do you mean?" said Nettie.
ga chance for you to meet this in
WISER" explained her friend. 'Listen
to this"
'WANTED-A companion and maid
to an invalid lady in Kent. Some one
willing and refined. Address M. E.,
Thorburn House, Kent,
"'M. E.r Those are your aunt's
initials, and surely 1 have heard you
mention Thorburn House! Now, I
think you will fill all these qualitica-
tions, and really, my dear, to young
lady of your income the salary would
be decided object
But Nettie did not echo the laugh
which finished this speech.
'It is Aunt Margaret!'' she said,
slowly, 'and, though you are jesting,
Lottie, / think [ will make the jest
very earnest. Cousin Harry is in
India still; but l should like to go
again to the dear old place, even in
the position of menial. Aunt Mar
garet would never recognize me; but
| would try so hard to make her love
me, and, if l succeeded, | might one
day confess to her how l became her
maid"
"But ladies do not love their paid
dependents, dear"
"Ah, blood will tell, and Aunt Mar
garet shall love me-"
And so it happened that fortnight
later, in pursuance of this resolve, Net
tie Clare's eyes were once more glad
dened by sight of the dear old place
she had never expected to see again.
The welcome she received was kind,
but it was the welcome of the grand
lady to the young woman paid to do
service, though Nettie saw the almost
imperceptible start given by the mis-
tress of the house, when looking on the
slight, graceful figure, whose air of
elegance and breeding could not be
disguised by the simple black dress as
sumed to masquerade the role.
"How came you to take such po-
sition, child?" asked Mrs. Ellison, one
morning, when Nettie had fulfilled her
duties for more than month.
The lady had asked Nettie that day
to read to her; but, as she listened to
the sweet voice, she had heard none of
the meaning of the words, but had
been instead intently studying the
exquisite face which bent over the
book.
elbow little I thought, when i in
serted my advertisement, l should be
so favoredp continued Mrs. Ellison.
''You are very kind, madam, to be
pleased with me-" Nettie answered;
"but you must not ask me of my past
life. I shall be glad if by faithful
duty I can brighten yours ever so lit
tle."
There was real feeling in the voice,
which touched the listeners heart.
Proud lady as Mrs. Ellison was, in
presence of this girl she almost forgot
the social gulf between them. She
was ill and suffering, too, and she
learned to long for the cool, white
hand which bathed her brow so
untiringly and for the sound of the
quiet step which told her her maid
was near her.
One morning letter was handed
her, and Nettie saw her eyes glisten
and tears of Joy drop on the page.
''My boy is coming home, she muir
I -.