Year: 1876

fallen off while she was arranging
my pillows, 80 that could SEQ her
delicate waist and the graceful out
line of her lightsome form. I was
interested in her now for the first
time; and was sorry when she took
her departure, with the expression
of hope that I might not suffer
further Inconvenience.


I hoped that she would come
again on the following day, and I
was not disappointed. Sho came
with a note and a bouquet from
Julia but before delivering either
she inquired after me with--what I
thought-gonuine concern. I an
swerod kindly and gratefully; and
before opening her mistress note
asked her several questio us, and
drew her into conversation. The
more I saw of her the better I liked
her. She was at first a little re-
served-perhaps embarrassed d-but
after a few more visits this wore off,
and there was aquiet self possession
about her which pleased me might,
ly. 1 could not get rid of the i'm
preston that she was something
better than her social position
seemed to indicate at all events,
she was very much unlike all the
waiting maids I had ever seen. I
soon began to delight in hor visits.
She came almost every day with
some letter or message from her
mistress. I looked forward to the
time of her coming, and felt duller
when she was gone. I thought that
it would be delightful to have such
a handmaiden always about me, to
smooth my pillow and bring me my
meals, and talk to me- when she had
nothing better to do.


was interested in Rachel, and
enjoyed her visits; but, believing =
still in Julia Harpers fidelity, I was
faithful to the core myself. But cir
cumstances soon occurred which
shook my faith, and then my love
began to dwindle.


Rachel brought me note one
day, and parcel containing a pair
of worsted work slippers, which her
mistress said she hoped + would
wear for her sake until [ was able to
leave my room. She did not actual
ly say, but she implied, that she had
worked them for me herself. When
1 said something to Rachel about
the time and trouble Miss Harper
L never said "your mistress" now
must have expended on them, 1
observed very curious and signifi-
can't expression on the girls face. L
had observed it once or twice be-
fore, when L had said something in
dicative of my confidence in Julia S
sincerity. 1t was an expression
partly OF pity-partly of disgust !;
and seemed to be attended, for l
could see the compressure of her
little mouth, with painful effort to
repress the utterance of something
thut was forcing it's way to her lips
1 was thinking what this could mean
when piece of folded paper fell
from the parcel; I picked it up, and
found it was n bill-a bill for my
shippers, which Miss Harper had
bou sht knew now the meaning
of the look. Rachel saw thnt I had
got IL glimmering of the truth,
and thought that she seemed more
happy.


She had wished me "good morn
ing" and was about to depart, but
told her that [ could not suffer her
to go. 1t WAS altogether a deplora-
bic day-what we call in the log
squalty. There was n great deal of
wanda great deal Of rain; and Just
at this moment tho latter was coming
down in torrents. After some per-
suasion she consented to remain.
Then I asked her if she would do
something for me; and, with q
bright smile she answered "Yes." "
had q new silk ncckcloth waiting
on the table to be hemmcd
She took it up, and then, turning to
me, asked naively how she was to
hem it without needle and thread.
TO this question-for which I was
we'll prepared-I replied that in the
other table drawer she would find
something containing both. She
searched, and found very pretty
Russian leather case, silver mounted,
with all tho appliances n seamtress
could desire. Then I begged her
acceptance of it-said that I had
ordered it to be made on purpose
for her use, and that I should be
bitterly disappointed if she did not
accept it. And she did accept it
with undisguised pleasure. And q
worry pleasant thing it was to lie on
the sofa, and watch her neat little
white hands plying the needle in my
behalf. I had been longing to see
the hand without the glove, and I
was abundantly satisfied when I saw
it.


She had hemmed one side of the
handkerchief, and we had conversed
on q great variety of topics, when
the weather began to clear up, and
the sun to shine in at the windows.
Rachel rose at once to depart.