Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-12-10

and halted at the side gate.
,,There's the new servant, | do
believe" said Miss Rosalia, gladly.
1t is the Ashwarley carrier
She went to unlock and unbar
the door.
MISS Phoebe broke up the great
block of coal on top of the fire,
and gave the mass a rousing stir.
Two candles burned on the table.
The carriers cart ratified back
through the frosty moonlight to
Ashwarley, and. the new servant,
setting her box down in the hall,
followed Miss Rosalia into the full
glow of fire and candles to make
her courtesy to her mistress.
Deborah Gray was a tall young
woman of twenty, finely formed
with dark complexion, jet-black
hair, low forehead, and a pair of
rather bold black eyes. There was
something remarkably resolute
about her face and her manner,
and the lowering look of her heavy
black eyebrows told tales of "a
temper" but she looked respectable
and was strong and active, and the
ladies did their best to get over
the feeling of dislike that rose in
both their minds at first sight of
her rather truculent countenance.
Girls nowadays, think them
selves quite as good as their mist
ress, If not better" said Miss Rosa
liza, with a sigh. IF we get one
who can wait nicely on Mrs. Herne,
and who is tolerably civil we must
be content"
And honest" added Miss Phoebe.
Miss Rosalia started.
Honest? OF course, my dear.
| should feel little surprised at
Trueftt's having recommended De-
borah if | didn't know what SER
wants have come to nowadays. But
a dishonest one she would not send.
Bless us all! what should we do if
we had a thief here?"
"Oh of course! Truefitt would
be quite satisfied on that point" as
scented Miss Phoebe. And then, lust
by way of making conversation. she
added: But there's one comfort.
sister. Even if a thief should come.
there's nothing to steal Burglars
never take heavy tables and chairs.
And we have nothing else to lose"
Nothing else, indeed! That is
all you know about it," exclaimed
Miss Rosalia.
And then she stopped, quite
I'm sure we both have hand
some silk dresses!" she continued
lamely.
Miss Phoebe was human enough
70 toss her head and keep silence
That was not what her sister had
begun to say. She knew it very
well Miss Rosalia knew it, too
The next morning letter came
rom Mrs, Herne to say that she
proposed to return to the Grange
zen days after date.
What blessing that Deborah is
lere!' both the ladies thought. And
Is soon as breakfast was well over.
MISS Rosalia called the maid up to
Mrs. Herne's rooms, and told her
mat they must be cleaned and set
IN perfect order that week.
In ten days!" repeated Deborah,
when she had heard the date of
Mrs. Herne's arrival.
MISS Rosalia thought she looked
put out. Perhaps she had expected
! longer term of quiet service be-
Tore the ledger came.
~Ni'Si yea OGDOIdu asked leave
to run down to the village to post
letter. 1t was a bright moonlight
1lght, and Miss Rosalia, after some
little demur, consented.
But hereafter, Deborah. your
letters must be ready for the morn
ng postman" she said II don't
lold with young girls running about
after dusk. You IL have your after
aeon out now and then, and you'll
80 to church. And what with that
you'll please to content yourself"
Deborah answered, demurely, that
'he would, and set off on her walk.
If Miss Rosalia could but have
seen her turn and shake her clinch-
ed INST at the house when well I'M
Ter the shelter of the avenue trees!
Deborah never went near village
'r postoffice that evening. Instead
II turning up the lane toward Ash
Yarley, she sprang over the stile be-
ow the Grange and ran swiftly
llong the field paths, keeping well
n the shadow of the hedges all the
yhlle, lest any troublesome old
hpherd should be pottering about
liter the flocks and see her.
Five fields she crossed in that
aplu run, III IWlce as many min
ties.
The fifth stile led into narrow
ane overhung with towering haw-
morn hedges, and shaded here and
here by small clumps of trees.
Far down this lane, under
sroup of tall young elms, q dull
ed light was shining.
Deborah hurried toward it. Her
leart beat fast, her black eyes
'hone, the crimson on her cheeks
slowed more and more wildly, the
nearer she drew to that light.
1t came from a fire built upon
he ground, and sheltered from
WIND and draught by the high
hedges and the low walls of dirty
canvas tent, in shape much like the
over of an emigrants cart.
The tent was very small. The
ire burned before 1t. Within If at