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

love lost between my parents. My IA
Their, Stokes-as may call him.
though l believe the count was nv
real sre-was always very kind to me
and shielded me from my mothers
and when fifteen | was glad to go out
as n scullcry maid so as TO escape her
persecution. shortly after took ND
life on my own account she died in n
fit of violent rage. during which she
broke blood vessel.
ut IL needless TO give my early life
in detail. rose from sc,llery maid
to houscmaid. Then l became parlor
maid in n suburban villa, where the
wages were poor and the food was
bad. took charge Of children when
not doing homework and managed to
get on. But was ambitious. l wish.
cd to get among the servants of the
aristocracy. A friend Of mine who
was maid to the Duchess of - taught
me her duties, and I procured situa-
ton. 1 pleased my mistress, and she
promised to do much for me How
ever. she died, and I was thrown on
the world. saw an advertisement
for n lady's maid and got the stua-
ton. 1t was in this way that | be-
came the servant Of that woman whom
1 hated SO deeply
she was called Rosina Lockwood
| and was 10 better born than myself.
Her father was Il 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 thc gentlemen who
were in love with hcr gave me plenty
of money to deliver notes and other
| things. There was one gentleman
who was the best of them all-and the
/ biggest fool over her blue eyes and
| fair hair. His name was ireland. and
he had plenty of money. lie came TO
learn singing from old Lockwood sim
ply to be near her, and proposed three
times 10 my knowledge. But she
would have nothing to do with him,
which was foolish, as lie lad money.
and she could have twisted him round
her finger
Il was a handsome girl in those
days. though say it myself. But If
woman is good looking why shouldn't
she say so; | .iad Il ucrfcct figure
and complexion Ike cream and roses
My hair was as black as night, and
my eyes were sparkling and large.
taught myself 10 read and write, and
| learned French. Also | learned to
play the piano ana TO conduct myself
like IL lady, as | always was.
Il knew my own value and looked
about for the gentleman who would
give me my rlghtful position AS Il
lady. From my Italian father l in
herited aristocratic tastes and l was
not going to remain low. vulgar
common servant all my life, not me.
Then he came to the house. Percy
was his dear name. and his blood was
very blue. Lord Darlington was his
father. q most aristocratic noblcman,
who was an Old brute from my eXpe
rence of him. But he was of high
rank don't deny, and Percy had the
|
to take lessons in singing. Put after
a time saw that he was in love with
my mistress. 1t was her arts that
captured him. else lie would have
turned from her TO me. But he never
did
How handsome and fascinating
was my hero Percy Nanc. Fair hair
and blue eyes and the figure of a life
guardsman-just the kind of man |
liked. lie was kind to .nc-for her
sake, ! supposc-and gave me money
md presents. She said she loved him,
md used to make me sick with talking
of him. l let her think l was her dear
friend, rs il she lad known my true
feelings she would have sent me away.
lord Derrington was angry with
Percy for loving my mistress. and
don't wonder nj it. low singing wom-
an. Percy had some money OF his
own. inheritcd from his mother. and
he proposed an elopement. He said
that Lord Darlington could not leave
the estates away from him and that
some day he would come in for the
title She never lived to be Lady Der
rington | was glad OF that.
"Well. they eloped. After singing at
4 concert in st. James hall he met her
outside and took her to Liverpool street
station. was waiting there with TIE
luggage. -W~ went down to Il place
called Wargrovc. in Essex. and the
very next day they We're married in the
church OF that parish. was furious,
but what could do: Had told Lord
Darlington be might have stopped the
marriage. but Percy would never have
forgiven me, and did not wish TO lose
Sight of him. As Mrs. Nanes maid !
had chances Of seeing him daily and
of baskng in the light of his eyes. II
was weak of me, but loved him so
dearly that would have done anything
simply to be in his presence. But |
wish now that l had prevented the
marriage. Since I could not get him
didn't see why she should bear of
the prize.
"Afterward we went to Paris, and
from that place Percy wrote to tell his
grandfather that he was married.
know he did not mention the place. for
the letter was given to mo to post
and ] opened il. never gave 1t Il
thought Mt the moment, but nfterwartl
Percy's mistake in not telling where
the marriage had taken place did me
u lot Of good. should not now be