Middletown transcript., 1904-12-03

| WLeT6 MliO
Annette, my maid," said Mrs. Dow,
pushing aside the opposing form Of the
stranger and entering the reception-room.
"I'm the mistress of this house.
"Well, | guess not The mistress's \
better lookin' woman than the likes o
yen. She's lady, she is"
Celia Dow might possibly have for
given the insult, could she have seen
herself-tired, dusty, her hair disheveled,
and her hat on back side before.
"Well, where is she? want to see
her."
"She's been gone to New York tno
weeks on her vacation"
Now that isn't so, for | had letter
from her this week, written here in this
house," said Celia Dow triumpliantly.
"Oh, then you must be Mrs. Dow. the
governess she said you was away with
the children, and SHE was that kind and
troubled for fear you'd worrit about
i things, she left letters for me to send you
every Wednesday, with number on the
back go wouldn't get 'em mixed. There
is three more on the mantel, besides the
one she said was to give you when you
got home"
Securing all possible information from
Annette's substitute, she took the letters
to her studio to try to solve the mystery.
The letter last given her was the key
stone.
The easiest solution for us is to go back
to a certain morning when Mrs. Dow
said to Annette, won't you run up and
get that kiln-dried story Of Retribution'?"
The light feet Of Annette pattered up
to the garret, where, stored away in an
old writing desk was varied collection
Of manuscripts, some awaiting their fin
ishing touches others resting from un-
successful excursions in quest of an ap-
preciatiye editor.
Annette ran through the bundles Of
manuscript, soon finding the story she
sought. The package, however, would
not be pushed back into place some
thing was in the way. Thrusting in her
hand she drew forth the obstacle, man
uscript which had slipped from its place
and been crunpled by the package which
she had tried to push back. Annette
Strengthened it out upon the desk.
"'The Passing of Mary Jane never
saw that. She must have written it be-
fore | came"
Smoothing out the wrinkles she began
to read. As she turned the pages her
cheek Redeemed, and the full lips com
pressed themselves into hard line.
$50 And she writes d story uf the
servant girl, Of me, is p Rapidly SHE
skinned over the pages till Celia BOWS
voice called from below, Can't you find
it, Annette p
"Yes, Pye found it,"
She closed tile desk, and on her way
downstairs stopped long enough to drop q
wrinkled manuscript behind the little
| washstand in her own room. That night
in her cosy room under the raiters,
Annette slowly read the story she had
| only skinned over as she stood before
the old desk i'll the morning. Clearly,
| the mistress had made All amusing study
Of tile maid, for the deectation of tile
public. But why had she not sent tlis
to the Bay State Monthly instead vi the
| one she did send? 1t Was more clever
| by far. A sudden thought came to her.
What an idea Just to send this to the
Bay State Monthtyi Maybe it would take
the prize no harm to try. She could
send copy, returning the original to its
place in the desk. Since the author had
not consulted the heroine, neither would
the heroine consult the author. The
public might have the story; but if there
was TO- be any reward, let the heroine
have the reaping thereof.
With firm hand she copied the pen
ciled manuscript, changing tile title to
Exit Polly Ann" SO that in the event
Of its being accepted and notice of it being
printed, Della Dow would not recognize
it and come between Anton Jarvis las
she signed her nancy and the balm for
his wounded spirit.
SO exit Polly Ann" sped away to
join "A Summer Tdyr' in the Office Of
the Bay State Monthly.
The day she learned that her story (or
rather Celia Dow's purloined story
would receive the prize she tainted
Celia Dow, frightened ont Of her seven
senses, deluged her Will her choicest
bottle Of violet water, and had her carried
to her own cool, dainty room, where she
lowered the shades, and stepped softly,
that she might not disturb the repose Of
this arch-conspirator with Fate, who had
stepped between herself and fame. An
nette, watching her quietly through her
long eyelashes, wondered how soon they
would send the cheque.
As soon as the family had departed to
Orchard Lake, she made all things ready
for fight the moment she should receive
the money. Meanwhile, sl.e hoped to
keep the family at bay by the letters she
sent them every week, saying the cats
and dogs we're well, the lawn and flower
beds hosed and tended, the weather
awfully hot, ahd advising Mrs. Dow to
stay where it was cooler Then she
waited in an agony OF suspense.
The fortune that. fayors the brave
showed no discrimination between the
just or unjust. Annette received the
thousand dollars, hired girl to attend to
the Dow house, and went on her way
rejoicing. Her way led across the At
lantic.
The following was her final letter
DEAR Mrs. Dow write to bid yon
goodbye before sailing for France. |
shall slwa, feel frateful to you for your
interest in me, and knowing how you
have labored to elevate the lower class.