The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-21

greedy of gain," on very low SCALE 20
wages. it was sad and rather ssrdid
story of severity and repression met bv
duplicity and intrigue. What redeemed
it was the disinterested though exapper'
ated fealty of Rebecca, which wonla
have borne comparison with that oP
feudal times. Except for her singular
beauty, there was nothing admirable in
Lucy, who indeed was proud, selfish
and exacting, but in Rebecca's ewes Che
was perfection and martyr, fit for a
prince, but with no choice of suitore
save of commonplace and unworthy
kind, and who, never having seen n
stage play, had no notion of the desir.
ability of making friend of the maid
of their mistress.
Presently, however, a lover appeared
of quite another stamp, but unhappilva
clandestine lover. Mr.. Power was one
of her fathers customers, gentleman
as was understood, of good position and
who at all events gave large orders.
which were punctually paid for. While
calling on Mr.. Lester OH business he
CHANGED to catch sight of Lucy and be.
came at once enamored of her beauty
Without the simplicity which is the
safeguard of her sex, she was absolutely
Ignorant of that world with which she
painted to mingle The man S air of fash
ION made as much way with her as his
protestations, aud unfortunately the
lavishness which man of his stamn
displays when bent on such design
was taken by Rebecca as the sign of q
generous nature. Without knowing
them Gas ] think to be exactly brides.
she took his brides.
With one word to her master she
could probably have saved his daughter,
but she did not feel she was in danger.
Even word Of warning to Lucy her
self might not have been thrown away,
but she did not give it. On the con-
trary, urged by many considerations
dislike of her master and his surround.
ings, willingness to please her darling
and confidence in Powers professions
she assisted him to elope with her. am
afraid there was even q time when Lucy
shrank from the audacity of that de-
sign and but for Rebecca would have
abandoned it, but it was because she
was herself deceived. Indeed at the
last, when Lucy had lest her head as
well as her heart and would have risked
all for love, Rebecca stepped in and in
sisted upon being present at the mar
riage ceremony. 1t was "a barren precau-
ton, though poor Lucy might after
ward have used it as Il weapon of re-
venge if she had had the heart for re-
venge, for in few weeks she discov-
cred that he whom she had believed TO
be her husband was a married man. In
that brief space she had lost all, for
tune, friends and home, for her father
closed his doors against her, and the
unhappy girl found herself thrown on
her own resources, which consisted only
of a scanty wardrobe and few jewels.
Then, like wounded tigress, she
turned upon Rebecca with, 1T is you
who have been my ruin!'
The fury that might reasonably have
been poured on her deceiver seemed
quenched in the very catastrophe he
had caused, as flame deserts the black
ened ruin. So far as he was concerned,
the crime of which she had been the
victim was so overwhelming that in
place Of indignation she felt only
wretchedness and despair. Too weak to
seek relief in self destruction she yet
desired to hide herself from her fellow
creatures and especially to be seen no
more Of men.
What remained to her of vitality took
the form of passionate reproach of her
late ally and assistant, and not word
did Rebecca say in her own defense.
Instead of leaving her young mistress
to a fate only too easy to be foreseen,
she devoted herself with penitence and
remorse to smooth the rough road she
must needs travel for the future.
Effort of her own Lucy never made
and accepted the others services not
only as her due, but as but a small in
stallment of the obligation she had in
Cured in having given her such bad
advice. That she had not forgiven her
she made very plain even, as has been
shown, up to the last moment OF her
life, bat Rebecca never thought herself
hardly used.
"There was nothing I could do, AZ
you may believe she said "that de-
served thanks. 1t was owing TO me that
| NY DbOI utdI ullStltsss ~ jump
beautiful, so tender, had fallen into the
hands of a villain and, unfit as she was
to bear hardships, was compelled to live
upon crust. Was it to my credit that
these hands, which had taken his brides,
provided the crust?''
If Miss Lucy had complained, she
said she could have better borne the
consciousness Of her crime, but after
that first outbreak she kept silence-a
cold, reproachful silence that for years
had chilled the others very heart AL
she stipulated for was to be alone, not
to be spoken to, not to be seen, ana
even when her illness had become Sc
we're it was only on Rebecca's promise
to obtain professional advice without
the doctors presence that the sick girl
had permitted her to apply to me-
This was the story of Rebecca's re-
morse.