Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-08-09
CHAPTER (.

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 UNDECIDED on her shabby serge
gown.
Audrey Maxse 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 disfgured with chilblains like poor
Jeans; her little head was poised proud
ly on her shoulders; ~ 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 Asyplum was, to be sure There
was an air of gloom in tho dirty-gray-
colored walls; an unspeakahle sense of
sadness and restraint in the unlovely,
high-walled grounds, the severe matron,
the young persons in their d!Dgy 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 the sun SO mis-
named. From morning till night the day
was one long round Of drudgery, good
hard manual labor, lightencd by many
prayers, and by one hours so-called rec
reation, in which the girls found many
odd tasks to perform that we're net ex-
Rctly 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 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 out of respect
to an old lnhabitant the AIavor did his
best to get the orphan girl we'll cared for
In the future. This done, little Jean
Thwait troubled no one any more so
Jean was left to the tender mercies of the
matron, and grew up from bSbyhood 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 miracle to most people. A found
Gng, the waif and stray child Of a vag-
rant woman who breathed her last in the
Broadborough workhouse inirmary, 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 weary punishment on her head her
fearless, outspoken disposition was call
ed rebellious; her innate Hsnse 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
In education, and yet, In
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- |
schoolroom, before the Mayor |
and committee, 1t was always Audrey |
Maxse who carried off the flst 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 help her
in her troubles, and this was Jean |
Thwait. Often and often at night. when |
the two young creatures we're alone In |
their cold meagerly 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. f"
Audrey would say; 'there IL nothing to
stop us. We must leae here when we are |
rules of the home won't |
let rs remain lOnger--and then we will |
30 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
60 out to service before we are free ~
Audrey always shuddered ct the word
The parting was not thought now; II
was reality, q 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 clergyman, who came In place
of the ordinary minister. He seemed 10
find much pleasure in examining Audrey
on certain points, and the girls clear, |
fresh voice, added to her Intelligence and |
'7onderful 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 End 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 srvat satisfaction
and so, If there is one ready to go out
to service, l might arrange this" he said
as they talked.
Miss Irons gave a cordial consent. bat
looked yexed when he suggested Audrey