Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
CHA

VAN - ~ 80 A-A1 -O".
The speaker was a thin, nervous look
ing girl, with large gray ayes, and a
weak mouth. She stood with her rough
ened hands clasped tightly together, and
tears were rolling Town her cheek, and
falling UNDECIDED on ner shabby serge
gown.
Audrey Ma1se also wore al old serge
gown, but somehow the garment did not
seem to be as shabby or as ugly as that
which Jean Thwait had on; her small
hands were r~oughened, too, as with much
work, yet their shape was exquisite, the
fingers slender and straight, not swollen
and disfgured with chilblains like poor
Jeans; Ter little head was poised proud
~ on her shoulders; she carried herself
with a regal air, and gave evidence at
this early age of possessing that most
rare of gifts, a beautiful face.
What a dreary place this Female Or
phan Asylum was, to be sure There
was an air of gloom in the dirty-gray-
colored walls; an unspeakdble sense OF
sadness and restraint in the unlovely,
high-walled grounds, the severe matron,
the young persons in their d:ngy uniform
of blue serge, with their ddster aprons
and thick gray stockings. 1t was called
the Girls Home in Broad5orough, and
never was anything under tie sun SO mis-
named. From morning till night the day
was one long round of drIdgery, good
hard manual labor, lightencd By many
prayers, and by one hours so-called rec
r~eation, in which the girls found many
odd tasks to perform that were not ex-
actly in the category of idleness or pleas
ure.
The Mayor of Broadborough had much
TO say in the matter of election into this
asylum, and it was entirely through his
influence that Jean Thwait, granddaugh-
ter of old Samuel Thwait, the bookseller.
was provided with a home when the old
man died suddenly and left fer, a little
child, without a penny or Il known rela-
tive in the wide world. Everybody knew
that Ralph Thwait, Jeans father, had
made a bad marriage, but the shop Of
Samuel Thwait had been an institution
in the town, and naturally out Of respect
to ar old inhabitant the Mavor did his
best to get the orphan girl well cared for
in the future. This done, little Jean
Thwait troubled no one any more; so
Jean was left to the tender me-cies Of the
matron, and grew up from babyhood to
girlhood, working in the gloomy routine
of the asylum as hard as though she
were of the stronger, not the feebler,
sex. Most of her companions were cases
like her own, all respectfully connected,
with an occasional aunt or cousin to
pay them a visit on the day set apart
for this function. and who all with one
accord held up their heads and looked
down on Jeans pet, Audrey Maxse.
How this latter ever got into the home
was a miracle to most. people. A found
ling, the waif and stray child of a vag-
rant woman who breathed her last in the
Broadborough w~orkhouse infirmary, she
was, by general consent, considered as
outside the pale and therefore ineligible
for election into the institution sacred to
the memory of the pious widow of a rich
Broadborough tradesman.
Audrey's pride had brought down many
a wear punishment on Ter head; her
fearless, outspoken disposition was call
ed rebellious; her innate sense of deli
cacy and neatness became inordinate van
ity, and her beauty was the last straw
to the heap of objections that the matron
and her assistants piled on This girl. Ev-
cry means had been tried 10 crush Au-
dlCSS plotId SpIlkI. Lively IOSSlDJb D1T-
rier had been thrown in The way of her
advancement in education, and yet, in
spite of ali, the girl progressed her hot
pride, her extraordinary will carried all
before her, and to the chagrin of the mat
ron and her other enemies, at the usual
public examinations. held IN the charneI-
house-like schoolroom. before the Mayor
and committee, it was always Audrey
Maxse who carried off the inst marks for
proficiency and general satisfaction.
In all the years she had lived at the
asylum Audrey had only ore friend. one
loving heart to sympathize and help her
in her troubles, and this was Jean
Thwait. Often and often Ct night, when
the two young creatures we're alone in
their cold meagerly furnished bedroom.
they sat and whispered in The Ozark of the
time when they should be free from the
miserable place they called their home.
W. are alone in the world. Jean"
Audrey would say there is nothing to
stop US. We must leae here when we are
seventeen-the rules OF the rCme won't
let us remain longer-and then we will
go away togther, and work for each 9th
er, and be happy! We will leave Eng
land, Jean, and so Abroad want to see
foreign lands. don't your
But you forget, darling: we've NAV
go cut to service before we are free ~.
Audrey always shuddered OF the word.
The parting was not a thought now: it
was a reality, a horrible reality. Three
days before this one that saw Audrey
engaged in putting her few coarse clothes
into the yellow tin box, the girls had
been summoned into the chapel and cate
chised by q clergyman. who came in place
of the ordinary minister. He seemed to
find much pleasure in examining Audrey
on certain points, and the girls clear.
fresh voice, added to her intelligence and
wonderful face, made a great impression
on him..
After the girls were dismissed, he had
a short chat with Miss Irons, the matron,
in the course of which he told her he
was anxious to find a young woman as
maid for a lady who was one of his par
ishioners.
My wife can find no one suitable.
Your girls always give sreat satisfaction;
and so, if there is n ready to so out
to service. l might arrange this" he said
as they talked.
Miss Irons gave q cordial consent, but
looked vexed when he suggested Audrey
as the one to go. She bore many a grudge
and spite against the girl and had deter
mined to put her out into ne hardest and
least comfortable situation she could find.
But fate was evidently against her, for
the board accepted the Rev. Mr.. Thorn
gates proposal and Audrey was given a
new black gown. bonnet and cloak, and
was bid hold herself in readiness TO depart
ON Yba rn-pinr ~ Sha e fri Sor |
Jean spent the whole of the long night
that came before that fifth day in COM
forting her beloved friend and herself, and
at last had the satisfaction OF seeing Au-
drey drop off into a deep. troubled sleep. |
No rest came to her; her poor young heart
was torn and bleeding, and no salve was
at hand TO heal it.
The parting between the two girls was
very quiet; neither of them could speak
the words of farewell, and their eyes were
too hot and aching for fears IN come-