The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-14
Mr.. rolliott had just finished his ain.

his cook had once been pupil Of the
great Soyer, SO that the meal, although
unostentatious in every respect, was of
the best and choicest. The asparagus SOUP
a delicate young baked shad, roast ham
with champagne sauce, salad, conoe
sweets--all THESE things Mr.. Folliott en-
loved because, in their way, they were
perfect. And he was just culling out
few strawberries from among their green
leaves when a footstep sounded on the
veranda- 80
He looked quickly up. A tall child of
l3 stood there. her face flushed, her hair
disheyelod and her thick boots powered
scr with the fine dust OF the roads.
II am so hungry, burs: unyoluntarily
from her lips Cant have one OF those
cakesy'
Nj. Folliott frowned and shook his head.
''If YOU are "A beggar, he said, you
Rad better 90 around TO the back door.
Mrs. Hanford will give you something.
dare say.
Tie child blushed deeply and drew her
self up with something of unconscious
I'm not a beggar, she said. Cant
q girl te hungry without being beggary
] haze come here TO look for Paul Fol
lictt. "
That's my name" said the old gen.
tleman n little suspicously.
"Ihon SHE said. composedly, Il have
come hero to be your little girl. am
Grauie Ecllaire. My papa was Colonel
Bruce BellaIre and when he died he said
that YOU would take care of me. Here
are his letters. And, now please, let them
give me something TO cut -
Aud this was the way In which Grace
Bellaire came Co tho house OF her fatner S
distant kinsman, Paul Folliott.
She was a pretty child, when the
dust was washed out OF the dimples
lad
into something like shape. She had
Bruce Bellairo's large dreamy eyes and
exquisite Greek profile and Mr. Folliott
eyen while he experienced thrill OF con-
sternation at his new charge, felt his heart
warm toward her.
'My dear. 4" said he "you are nice lit
tie girl. hut what can do with youg'
II could stay hero and play, couldn't
I?' said Oracle. innot entity
'sBut there Is something else In the
world for little girls To do besides play
ing" said Mr.. tolliott, and SO he took
counsel with good Mrs. Hanford, his
housokeeper
Dear heart. sir, =" said that kindly por-
sonage, "it seems to me plain enough.
Why don't you send her TO Mrs. John
Folliottg Don't you remember last sum
mer, when she was here and you helped
her out with the debts that troubled her
so badly, she declared she would do any
thing in the world To show her gratitude?
And she's got daughters Of her own,
hasn't she? Who is there in all the world
that could bring Miss Oracle up better
than she?'
Mrs. Hanford, you are geniusr shid
Mr.. Fofffott.- Why on earth didn't
think OF that myselfY'
Mrs. John Foliott came To the grange
at once--a portly, smiling inatron.
1.-The darling" she cried enthusiast
cally embracing Gracie, who looked rather
awed at the sight of so much splendor,
81 shall love her as dearly as IL she were
nv own Poor, dear Cousin Bruce How
we'll remember himl You sweet one,
you are the very picture Of your poor
So Mrs. John Folliott, greatly rejoicing,
returned to the browns stone house in New
York, whose rent was unpaid, and 60 the
daughters, whose expensive dresses were
yet written upon the wrong side of Mile.
Surlitor's books
Its positively providential ~ said
Mrs. Foiliott. IA thousand dollars a
year clearly added to oI-r inco,ne!'
s'But there Is that great, awkward child
to bring up, said Madalena Folliott, a
handsome brunette, who had just made
her debut in society.
"Oh, that does not signify, said the
serene matron. "Her cost will be abso-
lutely nothing"
And so, in the course of few weeks,
Oracle Bcllaire found herself settling
down to the position of lady's maid 20
the three Misses Eolliost. She sewed the
buttons On Madalena's boots she ran out
on rainy Ga when the very chamber
maid objected on account of the weather,
TO match shades of worsted and filosolle
for Alicette. tie second daughter. She
washed Florence's poodle for her and
wept many a tear of bitter modification
the while. And by degrees her shoes grow
worn and rusty, her healthy young
growth outstrlpped the limits Of her
coarse serge gown, her mantle and bon
net became SO shabby that she could not
go out except under cover of the friendly
dusk Onco, driven by desperation, she
wore Elorenco's white chapcau and soft
seal jacket. But she never repeated tho
experiment, for Mrs. Folliott met her on
the stairs and flashed the LIGHT of her
great, black eyes upon her in "A manner
thst was truly appalling.
"If ever you presume 70 do such thing
again, - said she, In a low voice Of con
ceuirated wrath, you snail be shut up on
bread and water for month";
But have nothing 20 wear pleaded
Grace
"Your clothes are good enough" q" said
Mrs. Folliott sharply There is nothing
so sinful as vanity J"
but when l go to school" began
Grace.
You are not going 20 SCI ooL said
Mrs. Folliott. "It is your husin, ss % stay
hero and help Jane with the china aud
silver and make yourself usslul You are
not young lady, like Miss Alicette. and
Mi s fJcronce-you are only working
girl"
Child though she was, Graco BellHiru
comprehended the injustice of all this
Kind old Mr. Foliiott hadn't meant this
when no gave her over inrO nrs. Eoillutt q
charge. He must hayo forgotten 10 send
II.
would have been treated thus.
Its a shame" said Lonest Bridget. TIC
cook 'rhe child ought TO have exercise
st least.
Sure, If she was tho Get they couldn't
take less notice Of her. " said NorGh, the
waitress
And Just look at thu clothes of her,
said Fannie, the smart cnambermaid.
"5he's kept me awake with her cough
for two nights, said Bridget, "aud all
the psregoric | give her don't loose 4.
up Bit"
For Mrs. Folliott, under an extra pres.
sure OF company, had ordered Grace 20
sleep with Bridget for night or two and
when the company was gone nothing had