The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-17
"A Student Of
Languages:
For the Purpose of a
!, SOjourn Abroad
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

"Lizette," said Mrs. Darlington to
her maid, who was dressing her hair,
81 expect to go abroad in the autumn.
/ shall go first to Italy, then to Swift
zerland, then to France. | shall get ,
on very well in France, because | have
learned to speak the language in talk !
ing with you. l have been studying !
| Italian, but in order to converse In |
! that language i need practice In 1t such |
as / have had with you in French.
am thinking Of getting another maid !
for that purpose. Not to interfere
with you, she will have the care of my
wardrobe and wait upon me when you
are otherwise engaged"
"Will you give her the care OF your
jewels, madameT
mot at all. You will remain in
charge of them. have perfect conf
dence In you and would not think OF
intrusting them to the care Of any one
else"
This announcement was to prepare
Lizette for the coming Of one she
might otherwise think was Intended
to take her place. Mrs. Darlington ap-
piled to her Italian teacher to furnish
her with a woman who would accept
a maids place, but who could speak
Italian more correctly than one usually
occupying a mental position. He prom.
ised Mrs. Darlington to interest him.
self in the matter.
In due time young woman appear
| al rr-Itl, N Y,nta from GiUpnr GnQrpfft
the Italian teacher, introducing her
and vouching for the correctness with
which she spoke the italian language.
Her name was Blanca MorellL She
seemed rather younger than the age
she gave, which was twenty-five, not
appearing to be more than eighteen.
Instead Of having the black hair and
eyes usual to Italians, she was
blond. Since Mrs. Darlington needed
her to converse with and Signor Spe-
retti vouched for her pronunciation and
; general knowledge Of the Italian Ian
guagc she was engaged.
Indeed, Blanca vas found not to be
of much use for any purpose except
that for which she was especially need
ed. She had nothing to do with her
: mistress toilet; that was attended to
: by Lizette, but when called upon to
, bring some article Of clothing she man
: ifested singular obtuseness. On one
}. occasion when told to bring a tea
gown she brought bath robe. On an
Q other, when the Italian was called
!. upon for a brassiere, she handed In
= brush and comb.
Q Lizette laughed at the girl for her
+ stupidity, but her mistress believed
T. that Blanca had not been brought up
9 with we'll to do women. She had
doubtless associated with those who
wore only the plainest clothing. But
J. Mrs. Darlington could not understand
9 If this had been her condition, how she
Q could speak the language of well
:. bred person. Blanca explained by say
e ing that she had never had a sister
u that her parents, though they had been
q we'll to do persons. during their child
/ hood and youth could not give her the
q variety of dress enjoyed by other girls
I Of her class.
n Blanca had not been long in the
a house before her mistress began to no
10 tice that the relations between her two
q maids had changed. Lizette had al
q first rather patronized Blanca. sympa
thizing with her stupidity as to hel
q duties and instructing her In them. Al
y of q sudden her manner toward hel
Ie fellow servant changed. The freedom
II with which she had treated her disap
j. peared and was replaced by reserve
p Then, too, she was at times inclined Il
le speak harshly to the italian. while a
lie other times she would seem singularlJ
~ complacent
O. Mrs. Darlington one day spoke Il
le Lizette about this change.
ID "LIzette," she said, II know the DIFF
fculties Of servants constantly unde
ig the same roof getting on with eacf
a. other, but do hope that you and Bian
a. ca will not disagree. am rapidly be
90 coming able to give her orders and
r understand what she says to me IL
ln Italian. Now, If you and Blanca quar-
"a rel l shall have to send her away
IN and that will be the end OF my prac
tice In Italian. Try to get on will
e. her for the few months that remain
lie before we go abroad"
This brought no explanation OF tn
r, status between the two maids. Lizett
e, did not admit that there was any II
ID feeling on her part for Blanca, and sh'
lie did not deny that there was. She wa
N doing" her mistress hair when tn
IN subject was preached and went Of
IN brushing the glossy locks without
,e word. But Mrs. Darlington saw by
L reflection In a mirror before her tina
lie her maid was perturbed by what sh
ID had said and was evidently conceahnI
y, something.
IL Mrs. Darlington was more interests
IS In keeping her two maids on amicabl
III terms than In ferreting out the caus
of this singular change that had com
fe between them. Nevertheless she nc
he ticed that Blanca seemed to have a
ir influence over Lizette. On one occs
sion, when the mistress had called L
is zette without getting a reply, sh
to went to the servants quarters to sc
a. what was the matter. Opening doc
without warning. she came upon th
be two maids in earnest conversation