The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-07-29
serene matrol. "Her cost will be ab-
solutely nothing"

soluteiy nOtDln5.
And so, in the course of few week.
Oracle Bellaire found herself settling
down to the position of iady's maid to
the three Misses Folliott. She sewed
the buttons on MadaIena's boots, she
ran out on rainy days, when the very
chambermaid objected on account of
the weather, to match shades of worstcd
and filoselle for Alicette, the second
daughters; she washed Florences S
poodle for her, and wept many tear of
bitter modification the while. And bv
degrees her shoes grew worn and RUSTY,
her healthy young growth outstripped
the limits of the coarse serge gowns,
her bonnet and mantle became so shabh
that she could not go out except under
cover of the friendly dusk. Once, driven
by desperation, she wore Florcnce's
white chapeau and soft seal jacket.
But she never repeated the experiment,
for Mrs. Folliott met her on the stairs
and flashed the light of her great, black
eyes upon her in manner that was
truly appalling.
IF ever you presume to do such a
thing again" said she, in Il low voice OF
concentrated wrath, you shall be shut
up on bread and water for a month";"
But have nothing to wear" pleaded
Grace.
"Iour clothes are good enough" said
Mrs. Folliott, sharply. There is moth
ing SO sinful as vanity!"
"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 young lady, like Miss
Alicette and Miss Flerence-you are
only working-girl.
Child though she was, Oracle Bel
iaire 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 have been
treated thus.
ITS shame!" said honest Bridget
the cook. The child ought to have
exercise, at least
"Sure, if she was the cat they couldn''
take less notice of her." said Norah, TIL.
waitress.
"And just look at the clothes of her,
said Fannie, the smart chambermaid.
She's kept me awake with her cough
| for two nights" said Bridget, land al
the parcgoric | give her don't loose il
up Bit
For Mrs Folliott, under an extra pres
sure of company, had ordered Grace te
sleep with Bridget for a night or two
and when the company was gone moth
ing lad been said about her resumins
her little room again.
The girls need it to keep their sum
mcr dresses in," said Mrs. Foliott
And Grace is just as we'll off Will
Bridget
"They wouldn't care if she coughet
herself out of the world entirely" sait
Norah.
"Worse luck to EN-" said Fannie
But nobody ever yet ground down th'
orphan and the fatherless without thcr'
was judgment on 'em for it,
Mr.. Folliott all this time was begin
ming to be little uneasy. His elegan
city relative wrote at stated intervals
but her communications were eminent
| ly unsatisfactory.
Il should like to see the child" h.
said within himself. 'And last night
dreamed that Bruce Bellaire came t.
me, Just as he used to look, and aske'
me what | had done with his one eve
lamb. | don't believe in supernatural
warnings. | never had any faith il