The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1905-02-04
CHAPTER Xxi.

the confession OF Mrs. Jersey
III in his pocket. ON arriving at
the Liverpool street station he
wrote a note 10 kOwlaski telling him
of LOla's plight and advising him to
engage counsel for her defense. Ia an
other half hour he was in his own
rooms.
After making good meal, for lie felt
the need of food TO sustain him. he sat
down to read the manuscript OF Mrs.
Jersey.
The confession of the w-etched wo-
man ohio had come TO so tragic an end
was written Oh several sheets of fools
cap loosely pinned together. She wrote
IN a most cold blooded way and seem
ingly exulting in her wickedness. All
through her confession ran a ven
omous strain of deadly hatred toward
Georges mother, and indeed against
any woman who paid attention to
vane Jenny Howard was not spared,
and the woman NeleZ. who kept an
oil shop" was mentioned.
MY parents were of humble station"
began Mrs. Jersey abruptly. Il believe
my mother WAS q lady's maid. She
married my supposed father. who was
a butler. l say my supposed father as
] have reason TO believe that l was the
daughter of 4 certain Italian count who
had loved and betrayed my mother. In
her moments of rage my mother would
taunt my supposed father with this.
but when calm she always denied that
there was any truth. When | grew
old enough to understand she rebuked
me for asking about the matter. You
are my daughter she said abruptly,
and the daughter of Samuel Stokes,
who is the biggest fool and the great
est craven / know.
1T will lie seen that there was 40
love lost between my parents. My IA
ther, Stokes-as may call him,
though ! believe the count was my
real sire-was always very kind II nle
and shielded me from my mothers
rage. She treated NE very cruelty.
and when fifteen was glad 10 60 out
as a scullcrg maid 50 as TO escape her
persecution. Shortly after | took up
life on my own account she died in
DIT of violent rage, during which she
broke blood vessel.
1t is needless 10 give my early life
in detail l rose from scullery maid
10 housemaid. Then | became parlor
maid in q suburban villa, where the
wages Were poor and the food WIS
bad. l took charge of children when
not doing Homework and managed TO
get on. But / was ambitious. l wish
ed to get among the servants Of the
aristocracy. \ friend of mine who
was maid to the Duchess of - taught
me her duties. and procured a situa-
tiOn. | pleased my mistress. and she
promised TO do much for me. How
ever, she died, and | was thrown on
the world. l saw an advertisement
for a lady's maid and got the situa-
ton 1t was in this way that l be-
came the servant of that woman whom
hated SO deeply.
-'She was called ROsina Lockwood
and was no better born than myself.
Her father was a low man who taught
singing. and she appeared herself on
the stage. never thought she was
beautiful myself.
AT first | rather liked Miss Lock
wood She was kind To NE in her
silly way. and the gentlemen who
were in love with her gave me plenty
of money To deliver notes and other
things. There WIS one gentleman
who was the best OF them all-and the
n 1.Err. 4
fair hair. His name was Ireland. and
be had plenty OF money. He came 10
learn singing from old Lockwood sim
PLY u be near her, and proposed three
times 10 my knowledge. But she
would have nothing 10 do with him,
which WAS fJo.isA, ~ lie had money.
and she could have twisted him round
her finger.
i was a handsome girl in those
days. thong. l say il myself. But if i
woman is good looking why ShOulGn'
she say So: had perfect figure
and a complexion like cream and roses
Ny hair was as black as night. and
my eyes were sparkling and large.
taught myself 10 read and write. and
AGIIntu LHANL- -A4SO 4 AN1A AltA ~
play the piano and 10 conduct myself
like lady, a l always was.
Il knew my own value and looked
about for the gentleman who would
give me my r.ghtful position as :
lady. From my Italian father l in
herited ari>tOcratic tastes, and / was
not going 10 remain q low, vulgar
common servant all my life. not me.
Then he came 10 the house. Percy
was his dear name. and his blood wa:
very blue. Lord Darlington was hi.
father most aristocTatic nObeman
who was an old brute. from my expe
rience OF him. But he was OF hiSl
rank l don't deny. and Percy had th'
blood OF heroes in his veins. He came
10 take lessons in singing. But afte
time | saw that he was in love witt
my mistress. IL was her arts tina
captured him. else lie would have
turned from her 10 me. But he neve
did
ssHOr hoDTcn-,a o1E foScsDa-f-t