Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-08-28
CHAPTER VI.

ing lines. and long sultry days. and lin.
gcring sunsets late into the dewy night.
wns over. II was August. and though
summer wns still lovely In the land. the
summer evenings were shortening. the
roses were waning n little, ms 10 the limit.
less profusion Of bloom: while here and
there those flowers that nrc harbingcrs Of
autumn bcgnn 10 show In the castle gar-
,lcns: gaudy dahlins. old.world holly
hooks: flaming suniiowcrs, staring ut the
blue sky with great round, brown faces
In ragged yellow night caps against n
background Of gray stone wall.
Stcila's new life had bcguA II was
verify n new life: 80 entirely different
from the old one that II seemed TO the
child ~ " she had died and been born
again: IN the same place. but with an.
other personality. Stella lived In the ser.
wants quarters now, and looked out Of
the windows which all opened upon the
stable yard. n great stony desert, whose
only picturesque feature was the pump,
with Its stone basin, round which coach.
man. with q love Of the beautiful, had
planted some nasturtiums.
oh. how dull the life was! How drcary
and monotonous. despite its clatter. The
great dinner In the servants hall, the
steaMing joints. the monster pudding, the
nll.pcrvading smell Of beer: the male nm.
deriings all clustered at the end Of the
table, having their own conversatio and
their own whispered jokelets, digging
each other In the ribs, exploding. with full
mouths. Into foolish. spluttering laughter,
Then the long afternoon; sitting ut work,
hcmming u kitchen cloth, perhaps, by the
window that looked Into the stony yard,
where nll the summer air was scented
with stables.
The hourly suffering of her days, slccp.
less nights and loss Of appetite soon had
their effect. Stella began 10 look very m
worse than she had looked even when
she hrst got up from, her he'd Of fever,
Betsy was anxious about her: took her
aside md questioned her. Why did she
look ~ miserable!
Stella burst into tears and unburdcnc,I
hcr soul. Rhc was altogether unhnppy.
She hated the still.room, she hated Mid.
,llcham: hut most OF all she hated the
room where she slept and the chatter OF
the maids.
There was a little room on the floor over
the servants dOrmitories. which was
mostly given over 10 linen closets aud box.
rooms, room that hnd been occupied
once by valet. II Was very small and
had q sioping ceiling, but tho dormcr win
dow commanded sldelong peep OF the
park-tust about % much 40 that One
view OF the SEQ put forward BY harden
ed lodging house keeper-and Betsy, whO
knew ner charge better than any ono else,
fancied mat THIS little room would be ~
haven OF rest TO stella. James, the
footman. who was handy youth. might
put UP shclt or TWO TOR ner' snd by'and'
~ perhaps Betsy won'd oe able to set
few OF those books-iesson books, poetry
hooks. story books-fcr which the sicken'
ed cniids heart ionged no sorely; the only
possible conso'at'on where I'LL human com
TORT was 'os''
There was neat little iron bcdstead
and the necessary furniture, all Of the
piainest, harcst, most uninteresting order
~ duiy made and provided TOR subject
race; nut whch betsy TOOK the chi!d ~
TO the little room under the tiles ana told
her that she could have II Tor her own
Hte'la burst INTO hys'er'c"' tears OF de-
light.
She brought Stella half a dozen books
that night In her apron. The key Of thu
tower rooms had been given up to Middle
l a