The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-09-29

envIouS sign. FOR, Ike most country
places Hillside was but Il resting place
for countless lcgions of girls
IF she only keeps up like this ]
shall regard Maggie's departure In the
light of IL disguised blessing" confided
Mrs. Beresford to her husband later in
the privacy of their own apartment
Il hope she is not going to be ill.,
Norah just told me that when she was
arranging my room tonight the cook
came in, saying she felt bad. Norah
fixed her up with hot water bags and
things and thought she would be all
right in the morning. IIeigho, l am
tired. Anyway, l think the Witherses
enjoyed themselves. Now if she will
only stay"
But Mrs. Beresford's hope was des-
tined TO be of short duration. When
Nordh came in next morning to light
her mistress fire she brought a tale of
woe.
1.-THE cook has gone, ma'am. She felt
very bad in the night. Oh. yes; she
did that. So she walked to the statica
and took the first train"
"Gone" exclaimed Mrs. BereSford.
Gone! Why, Norah"- Then, struck
by a sudden fear, she sprang out of
bed and ran to the dressing table.
My sapphire bracelet she cried.
THAT girl came SO late last night that
l had to hurry to dress and forgot half
my things. know | left the bracelet
here, but supposed you had put it
away. Did you, Norah; did you"
Norah gave a gasp. The sapphire
bracelet, is it? Sure, didn't see it."
whats the row." inquired Beres.
ford, appearing at the door of his
dressing room. His wife flung herself
at him.
The cOok-thc cook Is gone" she
painted. And my sapphire bracelet!
And here's Il letter from Mrs. Lewis
saying that the girl came back to the
office last night and said she couldn't
find you. Who-who did you bring out
them"
"Oh, my soul.' murmured Bercsford,
with n swift recollection of the big
woman. Never mind, puss; I'll find
1t for you"
"Find itr walled Mrs. Beresford.
MY lovely sapphire bracelets Your
wedding present to me. oh, Harry"
reproachfully, how could you bring
such person into the houseW
"Well, like that" exclaimed Beres-
ford. How was l to knowW
'You-you ought to have" wept his
WIFE And that was her last word.
He should have known.
The bracelet, very handsome one,
was of rather an uncommon pattern,
and Beresford had no doubt of being
able to trace 1t. yet his effort met with
no success And then one morning
Mrs. Beresford. languidly opening let
ter poStmarkeI Boston, uttered a little
shrek.
listen, Oh, listenw she cried. ITS
from the cook! Listen"'
Dear Madnm-I cannot hope for your
forgiveness, and yet think If you knew
the whole story you might be n little bit
sorry for me. / am n widow with two
children to support. one of whom has been
Ill for n long, long time. And illnesses
are terribly expensive. All l own In tho
world is a small property that my hus-
band left heavily mortgagcd. and the
mortgage was coming due. AS l stood in
the station that day, having come to New
York In the vain hope of finding some ono
to help me. was half mad with fear and
anxiety. How was / to meet the mort
gage? What was to become of my chill
dren7 And then your husband spoke to
me. Can you utterly condemn me that
caught at the chance? l was desperate.
I came. You know the rest. l can cook.
! did my best with the dinner. And then,
pleading siciinesS-and God knows that
was not entirely untrue; l think l must
have been craZy-I got upstairs, and when
your maid went to fill the hot water bag
1t was easy enough TO seize the bracelet
off the dressing table. 1t seemed
though 1t had been left there for me.
And II saved us. But here is the pawn
ticket. and If l work my fingers to the
bone you shall have the money too. Try
to pity me. MARY MATHEWSON.
Mrs. Beresford, whose sweet voice
was by this time shaking suspiclously,
laid down the letter.
"Oh, poor thing" she cried. What
did tell yout felt somehow all the
time that she was all right
"Oil, did you?" calculated her hus-
band in some Indignation. well, you
took queer way Of showing it."
But Mrs. Bcresford, a reminiscent
look creeping into her face heaved a
regrctful sigh.
Yes" she murmured yearningly,
"she certainly was good cook"