Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1907-08-09
CHAPTER L

30 grieved to let you go. don't know
what my life will be like now"
The speaker was a thin, nervous look
ing girl, with large gray eyes, and a
weak mouth. She stood with her rough.
ened hands clasped tightly together and
tears were rolling down her cheek, and
falling unheeded on her shabby serge
gown.
Audrey Mnxse also wore an 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 roughened, too, as with much
work. yet their shape was exquisite, the
fingers slender and straight, not swollen
and dlsfigured with chilblains like poor
jeans her little head was poised proud
ly on her shoulders; she carried herself
with a regal air. and gave evidence at
this early age Of possessing that most
rare Of gifts, beautiful face.
What a dreary place this Female Or
phan Asyplum was, to be sure There
was an air Of gloom in tho dirty-gray
colored walls; an unspeakable 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 Broadborough, and
never was anything under tie sun so mis-
named. From morning till night the day
was one long round of drndgery, good
hard manual labor, lightencd by many
prayers. and by one hours so-called rec
reatlon, in which the girls found many
oil 80. -
actly in the category of idleuess or pleas
ure.
The Mayor of Broadborodgh 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 her, a little
child without a penny or 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 oJt of respect
10 an old inhabitant the Mavor did his
best to get the orphan girl well cared for
in the future. This done, little Jean
LAMdl AlOublth HO Olt my more so
Jean was left to the tender mercies of the
matron, and grew up from babyhood to
grlhood, working In the gloomy routine
Of the asylum as hard as though she
were Of the stronger. not the feebler,
EEK. Most of her companions were cases
like her own. AN respectfully connected,
with an occasional aunt or cousin to
pay them a visit on the day set apart
for this function, and who oil with one
accord held up their heads and looked
down on jeans pet, Audrey Maxse.
How this latter ever got into the home
was miracle to most people. A found
ling, the waif and stray child of a vag-
rant woman who breathed her last in the
Broadboroush workhouse infrmary, she
was, by general consent, considered as
outside the pale and therefore ineligible |
Cor election into the institution sacred to
the memory of the pious widow of n rich
Broadborough tradesman-
Audrey's pride had brought down many |
a weary punishment ON her 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 TO crush Au-
drey's proud spirit Every possible bar
rier had been thrown in the way of her
advancement in education, and vet. i'm
spite of all, 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 charnel- |
house-llke schoolroom. before the Mayor
and committee, it was always Audrey |
Maxse who carried Off the FIRST marks for
proficiency and general satisfaction.
In all the years she had lived at the
asylum Audrey had only one friend. one |
loving heart to sympathize and HELM her
In her troubles, and this was lean
Thwait. Often and often AZ night. when |
the two young creatures we're alone in
their cold mesgerly furnished bedroom.
they sat and whispered in the dark of the
time when they should be free from the
place they called their home.
I'VE are alone in the world. Jean"
Audrey would say; there ID nothing TO
stop u.s. We must lene here when we ara
N'NtN'Nh INV ihtcN VI 'ne rome won |
let us remain longer-and then we will |
20 away togther, and work for each 9th
er. and be happy We will leave Eng
land. Jean, and 20 Abroad want to see
foreign lands, don't your
But you forget. darling: we've may
90 cut to service before we are free I"
Audrey always shuddered OF the word.
The parting was not a thought now; IL
was reality. 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
ihised by clergyman, who came In place
Of the ordinary minister. He seemed TO
lind much pleasure in examining Audrey
on certain points, and the girls clear.
fresh voice, added to her iRtallirence and