Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-06-26

eyes upon her in a manner thai was
truly appalling.
IF ever you presume to do such a
thing again" said she, in a low voice of
concentrated wrath, you shall be shut
up on bread and water for Il month";"
but | have nothing to wear" pleaded
| Grace.
Your clothes are good enough said
! Mrs. Folliott, sharply. There is moth
ing so sinful as yanity!"
but when | go to school" began
| Grace.
"You are not going to school," said
Mrs. Folliott. at is your business to
stay here and help Jane with the china
and silver, and make yourself useful
You are not a young lady, like Miss
Alicette and Miss Florcnce-you are
only a working-girl."
Child though she was, Oracle BEL
laire comprehended the injustice OF all
this. Kind old Mr.. Folliott hadn't
meant this when he gave her over into
Mrs. John Folliott's charge. He must
have forgotten to send the money Grace
thought, or she never would nave peeh
treated thus.
..It's II shame!" said honest Bridget,
the cook. The child ought to have
exercise, at least 49,.
Sure, if she was the cat they couldn't
take less notice of her." said Norah, the
waitress. =.
"And Just look at the clothes of her."
said Fannie, the smart chambermaid.
shes kept me awake with her cough
for two nights" said Bridget, land all
the parcgoric | give her don't loose 1t
up a bit"
For Mrs. Foliott, under an extra pres
sure of company, had ordered Grace to
sleep with Bridget for a night or two,
and when the company was gone moth
ing had been said about her resumin8
her little room again.
''Thc girls need it to keep their sum
mer dresses ill.," said Mrs. Folliott'
"And Grace is just as well Off with
Bridget"
"Yhcy wouldn't arr If she coughed
herself out of the world entirely" said
Norah.
"Worse luck to 'em," said Fannie.
"But nobody ever yet ground down the
orphan and the fatherless without there
was Il judgment on 'em for i'll"
Mr.. Folliott all this time was begin
ming to be a little uneasy. His elegant
city relative wrote at stated intervals
but her communications were eminent
~ unsatisfactory.
81 should like to see the child" he
said within himself. And last night
dreamed that Bruce Bellaire came tC
me-, lust as he used to look, and asked
me what | had done with his one eve
lamb. | don't believe in supernatural
warnings. | never had any faith il
t signs and omens. But | believe vii
90 down to New York and see if Gracit
| is we'll"
And so, late one snowy Decembe
: night, there came a tremendous peal a
the door bell of Mrs. John Folliott''
. mansion. That lady was absent to
fashionable reception with her tire
daughters. Norah and Fanny had gon'
e to visit a friend in a neighborins
kitchen, and Bridget, half asleep, STUN
:, bled to the front door and opened it.
Miss Grace, is ito" she stammered
"Sure, If yez'll step in the parlay II
: send her up to you"
"Up!" repeated the keen old gentle
man: where is she?"
g an the kitchen, sir" confesse,
o Bridget.
e ~ will go where she is" said Mr.. Fol
: lott. "Take me to her at once"
Poor little Oracle sat before the kitcl
en- fire, the meekest and palest Of Cir
derellas, in an unconsciously droopin
attitude. Her dress was worn an
faded, her hair brushed back in a plai
plat, her cheek transparency pale, an
I there was an expression in her eyes, a
they looked into the red cmbers, tina
re made Mr.. Folliott's heart ache.
Y "Tve not come any toe %soon,' b
* thought, and then he said abound:
= "Gracie! Little Gracie!'
With a sudden cry she sprang to he
y feet and ran sobbing into his arms.
II "Oh, take me aw'ay!" she eXclaimer
~ "Oh, | am so miserable here!"
u The old man looked at her, with tea
-. in his eyes.
" ~ have made a mistake, Oracle" sat
he. mo man can do his duty by proX.
- | should have kept you myself. New
mind, little one, henceforward you sha
be all my own"
He turned to Bridget.
"Pack her Clothes" said he, "and 10
no time"
Bridget stared. Are you going
take her away, sir?" said she,
Mr.. Folliott nodded.
"And it's glad of it I am" said Il
honest girl, "for though it's wearif
NJ lonesome | shall be without her, It's
place for a gentleman's daughter, is III
Y ovid Observation-Disclosures kitchen. J
7 moro it ain't!"
| And when Mrs. Folliott and h
| daughters returned, tired and cross,
A two o'clock in the morning, there w
N no patient Oracle to do the duties OF
:. lady's maid to them. And a note fro
their rich relative on the hall table e
planned the phenomenon.
Mrs, Folliott grew pale as she re
the curt words in which Cousin Pa
expressed his meaning.
e,s ave shall never have n cen from hi
,e? again as long as we live" said she.
nd But Oracle, secure in his paren,
~ love, was happy, and when she look
back over those New York days tn
n, seemed like nothing but a troubl
dream.
90 From which she had awakened, tina
Heavenly. Y. Ledger.