The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-12
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
Eerland, then to France. / shall get
on very well In France. because | have
learned to speak the language In talk
ing with you. / have been studying
Italian, but In order to converse In
that language need practice in 1t such
as I 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 walt upon me when you
are otherwise engaged"
"will you give her the care Of your
Jewels, madamsT
mot at all. You will remain In
charge Of them. l 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
Lixette 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
O maids place, but who could speak
Italian more correctly than one usually
occupying mental position. He prom
ised Mrs. Darlington to interest him
self In the matter.
In due time q young woman appear
ed with a note from Signor Speretti,
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 a
blond. Since Mrs. Darlington needed
her to converse with and Signor Spe-
retti vouched for her pronunciation and
general knowledge of the Italian Ian
guage she was engaged
Indeed, Blanca was 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
tfested a singular Obtuseness. On one
occasion when told to bring tea
gown she brought bath robe. On an
other, when the Italian was called
upon for a brassiere, she handed In a
brush and comb.
Lizette laughed at the girl for her
stupidity, but her mistress believed
that Blanca had not been brought up
with well to do women. She had
doubtless associated with those who
wore only the plainest clothing. But
Mrs Darlington could not understand
II this had been her condition, how she
could speak the language of a well
bred person. Blanca explained by say
ing that she had never had a sister
that her parents, though they had been
well to do persons. during their child
hood and youth could not give her the
variety Of dress enjoyed by other girls
of her class.
Blanca had not been long in the
house before her mistress began to no
tice that the relations between her two
maids had changed. Lizette had al
first rather patr0niZed Blanca, sympa
thizing with her stupidity as to hei
duties and instructing her in them. Al
Of a sudden her manner toward hel
fellow servant changed. The freedom
with which she had treated her disap
peared and was replaced by reserve
Then, too, she was at times inclined Il
speak harshly to the Italian, while q
other times she would seem singularfJ
complacent.
Mrs. Darlington one day spoke h
Lixette about this change.
"Lixette," she said, II know the DIFF
Hculties Of servants constantly unde
the same roof getting on with each
other, but do hope that you and Bian
ca will not disagree. l am rapidly be
coming able to give her orders and
understand what she says to me II
Italian. Now, II you and Blanca guar
rel shall have to send her away
and that will be the end Of my prac
tice In Italian. Try to get on with
her for the few months that remain
before we 60 abroad"
This brought no explanation Of the
status between the two maids. LiEetts
did not admit that there was any II
feeling on her part for Blanca. and shs
did not deny that there was. She wal
doing" her mistress hair when the
subject was preached and went on
brushing the glossy locks without 6
word. But Mrs. Darlington saw by &
reflection in a mirror before her thai
her maid was perturbed by what sht
had said and was evidently concealinl
something.
Mrs. Darlington was more interested
In keeping her two maids on amicabl'
terms than in ferreting out the caus,
of this singular change that had com,
between them. Nevertheless she no
ticed that Blanca seemed to have Al
influence over Lizette. On one occa
sion, when the mistress had called Ii
zette without getting a reply, sh,
went to the servants quarters to Sc,
what was the matter. Opening a doc
without warning. she came upon tn,
two maids In earnest conversation
The French girl was talking rapid!