Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-11-28

the disappearing inquire OF the youI;
! girl
No. all went up to her.
Who is that pretty girl, Hartman ,:
she asked.
1T is my niece, my lady"
Your niece! What is her name
She is a very beautiful girl
"Rebecca South, my lady. We cal
her Becca. Yes, my lady, she is MOI
bad looking" and she sighed.
That is scarcely giving her hsI
due" said Norah, with q smile. Does
, she live here-at the Court?''
mo, my lady. Becca lives with
her grandfather in the village, but she
comes to see me-with the housekeep
er's permission-my lady She's an
orphan, my lady. and =" she hest
tated Il look after he- as much as
cam" and an expression of anxiety
and disquietude crogsea her face
Poor girl! No father nor mo .er!
hope she comes to see you often,
Hartman. You must be proud of hav-
I Ing so pretty niece.
Proud? oh, yes, miss; but
Hartman paused a moment, then went
on as if explaining the pause. Bee
ca is a good girl as girls go, my lady,
but inclined to be Eighty and light
headed. II people would only not be
so ready to tell her to her face that
she's well favored it would be better
for her"
It must be difficult not to be vain
with such hair and eyes. And sup
pose Becca has a great many admir-
ers and is something Of a lirt?"
That's it, my lady she said. Her
young head gets turned, I'm afraid.
And-and there Is no one to look after
her as she should be looked after My
father is old and almost blind, and /
cant have her with me always"
Why not? Why shouldn't she
come into the house? I'm sure there
is room enough"
oh, my LADY," she said. But
but Becca doesn't know anything and
Mrs. Parasons-that's the housekeep-
er. my lady-will not have young
girls in the Court unless they are prop
erly trained"
But one can't be born an accom-
plished servant" said Norah, laugh
ing. "One must learn"
Yes, my lady," assented Hartman,
that's true, and Becca could learn
anything, she's so quick; but"
"Well?" said Norah, who saw there
was stil something behind.
"Ah, my Lady. you'll think me un.
grateful and Becca foolish, conceited
girl, and I'm afraid she is, for the
stupid child has got it into her head
that she's above a servants place, my
lady. And it's such a pity, for shes
so quick with her needle, and 90 apt
at catching anything in the booE
learning
Il don't think any the worse of het
for all this, and II you think she
would be happy, why shouldn't she
come and help you with my clothes
I'm afraid you will have a great deal
too much to do. and you would like to
have her under your charge, would you
not?"
You are very good. my lady" Har-
man said, almost inaudibly. And she
will be glad to come, know. And a.
to me-"
Very well, then, that is settled
And. on Hartman you may tell Mrs
Parsons that viii pay Rebecca S
wages, am quite rich. How much
ought l to give her? Please tell me
the truth, now,"
Nothing my lady, But if any
thing. very little indeed.
Twenty pounds a year?" suggested
Norah.
No. mylady said Hartman. that
would be too high wage, and too
much for so young a girl as Becca to
have to spend on dress-for that's
how it would all go, she sighed.
Well" said Norah. thoughtfully,
where is the special wickedness in
that Hartman? II I earned any money
I should Ike to spend it how pleased
and am sure Becca would buy very
pretty clothes"
Yes, my lady" asserted Hartman
respectfully, she has good taste
though where she got it--if you'll
me- it ten pounds, my lady"
Very well" said Norak We'll?
she asked. with a smile, for the woman
had looked at her with a peculiar fixed
ness.
Begging your ladyship's pardon.
she explained, In low voice. 4 was
thinking that told your ladyship that
you were not like the countess, your
mother; but didn't know you so vel
! yesterday and she curtsied.
VIII you tell Becca that I should
| like to see herr"
Then she ran into the house. VII.
her heart lighter and brighter thzn i
: had been since she arriveS at tn,
Court, and altogether Unconsciou.
that she had that morning forged tw,
links in the chain of her destiny.
/ CHAPTER VII