The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-18

to clear away the slast vestige Of the
cloud that shadowed her. IS
!, Then came new developments With 4
ting time one AFTERNOON that. a clerk
brought word into the inner office that
there was woman without who wished
to see Mr.. Royce at once. She had
given no name, but our Junior, who hap
pened to be at leisure. for the moment,
directed that she be shown in. 4 Irecog.
nized her in an instant, and so did he
it was Miss Holladay's maid. I saw,
too, that her eyes were red with weep.
ing, and as she sat down beside our
f'Why, what 8 the .matter9'' he de-
handed. HNothing wrong with your
mistressq'S :; > aF :
j mshe amt my mistress any more, 2
sobbed the girl, "she discharged me
this afternoon. Z
"Discharged you!' echoed our
u 5on m,'cn " ~ n.y. it thought she thought
CHARGED "Anq m SO a aa tbs sir evt she dis
y g But what for9' persisted the other.
: "That's just what I don't know,
sir; I begged and prayed her to tell
me, but she wouldn't even see me. SO
I came down here; I thought maybe
you could help me. ~ X + g 49,
= "Well, let me hear about it just as It
happened ,, said M Royce, soothingly.
Oh, if you gould, sir!'' she cried.
all Of Miss Frances I've been with her
nearly eight years; and for her to 90 and
treat me like this -why, it just breaks
my heart, sir! T dressed her this after.
noon about o CLOCK, and she was as
nice to me as ever7-gave me a little
brooch, sir, that she was tired Of. Then
she went out for drive, and about an
hour ago came back. Invent right up to
her room to undress her, and when ]
knocked, sir, a-strange woman came ia
the door and said that Miss Frances had
need me any more, and: here was q
months wages. And while 7 stood
there, sir, too dazed to move, she shut
the door in my face. After I d got owe,
it bit, I begged that + might see Miss
Frances, if only to say good-bye; but
she wouldn't see me. :eShe sent WORD
that she WASH It feeling! well san6
wouldn't be disturbed.'
a. Her. sobs mastered :hersragain and she
stopped. I could seq the look. Of amaze
ment ou our JUNIORS face, and did not
her mistress have conceived against this
inoffensive and devoted creature9 ::
TYou3 say: this other maid was 8
stranger?" he asked. :"
= :" Yes, sir; she'd never been in the
house before, SO far as I know. Miss
Frances ::brought7her back with her il
the carriage.", = ~ =
/: "And What sort;sof a looking woman
is she9' 80
The girl hesitated;: :: -:
she sal said alta at last. "A Frenchwoman
maybe, by the way she rolls her g. - =:
I pricked up my ears. The same
though occurred at that instant to botl
Mr.. Royce and myself:
"Does she resemble Miss Holladays'
he asked. quickly:
".Miss Holladayi oh, no, sir. She''
much older-her hairs quite gray
+ Well, certainly, Miss Holiday hat
the right to i choose any maid -, sht
pleased, and to discharge any or all q
her servants;: and, yet it seemed
strangely unlike her tosshow such seem
ing injustice to anyone:z &: p. =:
she was ill" said Mr.. Royce, at last
"Was she ill when you dressed her7'
"Why, sir,' she answered slowly
1T wouldn't exactly say she was i'll
but she seemed troubled about some
thing. I think she d been crying. She i
been crying a good deal, off and on
since her father died, poor thing,' sht
That would explain it, certainly; ant
yet grief for her father might not bs
the only cause Of Frances Holiday 4
tears.
"B vt she didn't seem vezed will Il
.. IQ FL no. o.; siE; she gave me brooch
IL g
~ fear I can't promise you any
thing,'' said MI. Royce, slowly, afte:
a. moment 81 thought. "Of course. it,
none of my business for Miss Holla
day must arrange her household to. sui
herself; yet If YOU don't get back will
your old mistress, [ may, perhaps: b
able to find you position someWher'
Or Or four days. and I IL see what I cal
ftAll right, sir; and thank you, !''ssh'
said, and left the office - -
I had some work of my own to- keel
me. busy that night. So devoted NJ
thought to Frances Holiday and" he
affairs, but they were recalled to M
with renewed force next morning. !:
"'fDid you get Miss Holladay's sigma
CHANGED to ask his partner in the conrs
of the morning. >:
| :-HN.o sir,,'' answered Mr.. Royce, witt
| lust 8 trace of embarrassment. q:
called at the house last night, but sh
sent down word that she was too i'll t.
see me or:to transact any business. :,
:HeNothing serious, I hope7'' asked tn
' ~No. sir; I think not. Just a trac'
of nervousness probably ::
But when he called again at the hous'
that evening, he received similar mes
sage, supplemented with the news i'm
years. standing in the family, that Mis-
Holladay had suddenly decided to leav'
the city and open her country place Of
Long Island. It was only the end 0:
March, and SO a full two months ant
more ahead Of the season; but she wal
feeling very i'll, was NOT able to leav,
her room, indeed, and believed the fresl
air and quiet Of the country would d.
more than anything. else to restore he;
shattered nerves. So the whole house
hold, with the exception, Of her maid
to leave the City next day in order tt
get the country house ready at once.
IT don't wonder she needs little
toning up,o remarked our chief, sympa
thetically. .'She has gone thru a nerve
trying ordeal, especially for a cir
reared as she has been: Two or three
months Of quiet will do her good. Wher
does she expect to leave2' -,
'tIn about a week, think. :I n
time hasn't been d denlt thsy a set;
ments 90 forward. It won't be
necessary, will it, to bother he1
with any details Of BUSINESS That con
veyance, for *instance-''
HCan wait until she gets back. No