The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-09

the world as companion to some fine
lady had rooted itself into Bella's mind,
and although she idolized her mother,
and although the parting Of mother and
| daughter must needs tear two loving
| hearts into shreds, the girl longed for
enterprise and change and excitement,
as the pages of old longed to be knights.
and so start for the Holy Land to break
lance with the infidel.
She grew tired Of racing downstairs
every time the postman knocked, only
TO be told nothing for you miss" by
the smudgy faced drudge who picked up
the letters from the passage floor.
; Nothing for you. miss" grinned the
lodging house drudge. till at last Bella
took heart Of grace and walked up to
Harbeck Street, and asked the Superior
Person how it was that NO situation had
been found for her.
You are too young" said the Person,
land you want a salary"
''Of course l do" answered Bella;
don't other people want sslariesy'
Young ladies of your age generally
II don't" snapped Bella; II want to
help mother"
You can call again this day week."
said the Person; ''or, il hear of any.
thing in the meantime, / will write to
you
No letter came from the Person, and
in exactly week Bella put on her neat
est hat, the one that had been seldomest
caught in the rain, and trudged off to
Harbeck Street.
1t wa. dull October afternoon, and
there was greyness in the air which
might turn to fog before night. The
Walworth Road shops cleaned brightly
through that grey atmosphere, and
though to young lady reared in May.
fair or Bslgravia such sho windows
would have been unworthy of a glance,
they were snare and temptation for
Bella. There were so many things that
she longed tor, and would never be able
to buy.
Harbeck Street is apt to be empty at
this dead season of the year, a long,
long street, an endless perspective Of
eminently respectable houses. The
Persons Office was at the further end.
and Bella looked down that long, grey
vista almost despairingly, more tired
than usual with the trudge from Wal
worth. AS she looked, carriage
passed her, an old.fashioned yellow
chariot, on tee springs, drawn by pair
Of high grey horses, with the stat sliest
OF coachmen driving them, and tall
.ootman sitting by his side.
1T looks like the fairy god mothers
COACH" thought Bella. Il shouldn't
wonder if it began by being pump.
| kim"
1t was a surprise when she reached
the Persons door to find the yellow cha
riot standing before il, and the tall foot.
man waiting near the doorstep. she
was almost afraid to go in and meet the
owner of that splendid carriage. She
had caught only a glimpse of its occu-
pant as the chariot rolled by, plumed
bonnet, patch Of ermine.
The Persons smart page ushered her
upstairs and knocked at the official door.
Miss Rolleston," he announced, apollo
getically, while Bella waited outside.
SHOW her in," said the Person, quick
| ly; and then Bella heard her murmur
ing something in low voice to her
client.
Bella went in fresh, blooming a liv.
ing image of youth and hope, and be-
fore she looked at the Person her gaze
was riveted by the owner Of the cha
| riot.
Never hal she seen anyone as old as
the old lady sitting by the Persons fire
q little old figure, wrapped from chin
60 feet in an ermine mantle; withered,
old face under plumed bonnet-a face
so wasted by age that it seemed only a
pair OF eyes and peaked chin. The
nose was peaked, too, but between the
sharply pointed chin and the great,
shining eyes, the small, aquiline nose
| was hardly visible,