Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-02

I learned arithmetic and French like
native. got an old artist to teach me
to paint in water colors, and bought
book which taught the manners of
good society. Percy saw the change in
me and congratulated me on the I'M
provcmcnt which had taken place in
me since leaving England
CAS- to that child, I should have liked
to drown 1t or to have given 1t to gyp-
sizes. As Lady bennington l did not
wish to be troubled with her brat. be-
sides, Percy loved the boy so that he
used to make me envious the way no
nurscd him. But had I got rid Of the
child-and | thought of n thousand
safe ways I could have done sol
should only have been sent away.
1.-THE end Of 1t came in Milan. We
were stopping Mt the Hotel dc Vile.
and there was Il waiter who fell in
love with me. lie was an English boy
called George Rates. horrid, scrubby,
red haired, nasty. pale faced creature,
who worried me to death. Besides, he
was younger than was, and I wished
for a husband to protect me. l should
have had to look after George Rates,
whereas Percy in the days to come
would look after me. Besides l felt
that it was an impertinencc for low
waiter to expect me 10 marry him. me,
who bad done so much to improve my
self and who looked forward to taking
proud rank among the Nrtish aristoc
rscy.
AT first laughed ut him, but be
became such a nuisance that told him
plainly that I would have nothing 10
do with him. He then accused mo Of
being in love with my master. I ac-
knowledged It proudly. Why should !
not? A woman should glory in hcr
love. did. told George Rates that
l worshlped the very ground Percy
walked OH. l gave my passionate feel
lngs full vent and bore him to the
ground under the storm of my indigna-
ton. He told the other servants, and
they insulted me, especially the Eng
lish ones, as there were two or three in
the hotel. was prosecuted, but bore
his ears. Percy heard what had said
to George Rates. Ike called me in. lie
accused me Of making him ridiculous.
of being out of my mind. of a thousand
and one cruel things. lost my head.
l told him how l loved him. knelt
at his feet. implored that he would
reward my love-my long. long suffer
ings. He laughed in my fearful face.
At that moment l hated him. but not
for long My life was bound up in
his. When he dismissed me thought
that my heart was broken.
II was dismissed. He procured a
new nurse from England-a Scotch
hussy. as ugly as she was silly. | saw
her often in Milan after my dismissal.
Oh. that time! Oh. those weary days!
l wept. ! prayed. moaned. I was
a wreck. With what money had
went to convent near Milan and
stopped there for month. But
could not remain away from him.
came out. lie was gone. went to in
quire at the hotel. He had gone to
Rome. Afterward message came
that all letters were 10 he sent to San
Reno. determined to go to San
Reno and to be near him. would
have died else. George Rates, who
was still in love with me, proved a
willing tool. I could not get to San
Reno without money. lie offered tC
advance me the railway fare, and he
got me a situation in the Hotel dan
gleterre as housemaid. He also was
going there for the season as waiter
l said that if he took me 10 San Reno
would marry him. He did so. and l.
but that comes later. Sufficient it is
to say that George believed in my
promise and that I found myself agar
in the presence-the heavenly presence
of my adored Percy.
But had only come to submit my
self to fresh anguish. lie saw me. but
took no notice of me. ] was afraid Ia
follow him too closely lest he should
ask the police TO interfere. George
Rates was jealous. too. and ! had ia
consider him. as. failing Percy reward
ing my love, could fall back on
George He was always useful to sup
ply the money for me 10 get back to
England, where was certain of sit
uatiOn. l handled the situation in n
mastery manner and contrived to see
Percy without his seeing me and with
out exciting too openly the jealousy OF
George Rates.
But il was the hovrid girl that
caused me pain. She was one of the
daughters Of General Howard. whom
Percy had met ut Como. The two girls
both laid themselves out TO catch my
darling. But their arts did not succeed
at Como. Jenny was the one who tried
hardest 10 get him. but Violet took hel
chance also. When they came to Sal
Reno they stopped Mt the Hotel dan
gleterre. looked after their room
and, knowing what they were. l made
myself their friend. They knew me al
the former nurse Of Percy's little sor
and wondered how ! came to be g
housemaid. l told some story which
satisfied them. forget what it was
They believed IN me thoroughly, and
they found ont that l loved Percy
Then they We're amused. and l hated
them for it, They told Percy that
was watching him, and he came to thu
hotel no more. But ! still pretended
to be their friend for my own ends
There was n masked bali coming OF
and the Miss Towards wished to g