Ijc hues, New Bloomftefo, $a.
KORESUCH GIRLS WANTED.
A Story Worth Reading.
fcfcTl -OTIIEIl," aid Lizzio West, as
JjX she entered the pleasant littlo
sitting-room whore her mother nnd sisters
were at work, " can you spare mo for a few
days? Mrs. Lane is not able to sit tip yet,
nnd that impudent Bridget has gone off
and left her, with everything in the house
at sixes and sevens. I thought if you were
willing I would go and stay with her for a
few days."
"IIow did that happen ! I thought when
I called there the other day that Bridget
seemed to bo contented, aud did her work,
as though (the liked it. Is Mm. Lane
worse?"
"She seems feverish, hut who wouldn't?
I don't really believe she lias bad anything
fit to oat to-day, and poor littlo Nellie was
crying for her breakfast. I found bread
that should havo been baked yesterday
standing on tho kitchen tabic, spoiled, of
course. Bridgot had just finished kneading
it bofore sho asked for an increase of wages.
Mrs. Lano thought she was paying' her all
she was worth, and told her so ; aud that
he could not afford to give hor bighor
wages at present. Bridget retorted that
'folks shouldn't keep servants who couldn't
afford to pay decent wages.' She went to
the city on the 12 o'clock train. This
morning Mr. Lano has been all' over the
village, trying to find some one to stay
with them until Mrs. Lane is bettor, but
cannot find any one. The girls all seem
so afraid of going out to work ; oven for a
few days. May I go?"
"If you wish, Lizzie ; I do not want nny
of my' daughters to go out as servants, but
I could not let a good noighbor like Mrs.
Lane suffer, if I bad to go myself. I will
givo you a loaf of bread to tako with you,
as you will need some to last until you
bako. I am glad I do not havo to keep help;
they waste more than their wages come to
iu tho course of a year.
" Lizzie, when will you get your dress
dona if you go over there ?" asked Alice.
"Oh, tho dress will answer a whilo
longer, as it is. I am glad I did not com
mence to rip it before I run ovur to Mrs.
Lano's. As sho spoke sho took up from a
chair a pretty brown walking dress, and
carried it with ber as sho loft tho room.
Sho went to ber room to got a few things
that shu needed, and just ns sho was ready
Mr. Lano stopped at the door.
"I havo been making one more trial,"
ho said, "but havo failed again. I shall
havo to go to tho city this afternoon nnd
got another girl from tho office. Mrs.
West, will you let one of your daughters
stay with my wife whilo I am gone ?"
" Lizzio was just going over there. I am
sorry you have so much trouble in getting
help."
Mr. Lane's faco brightened.
" Yes, sir," said Lizzie, " and I will stay
as long as Mrs. Lane needs mo."
"Jump in, then," ho said, taking ber
littlo traveling bag and tucking it under
the seat.
When thoy bad started, ho turned to ber
and said, "I don't know how to thark you'
enough for this, Lizzio. I dreaded above
all things getting a new girl ; Agues is al
most worried to death with them now,
She might have been well by this timo, if
she bad had good help."
Tho invalid smiled brightly as her hus
band laughingly introduced the Now Ilelp.
Then she began to cry from sheer weari
ness and exhaustion. Lizzio know that
the best thing for her patient would bo a
good nap. She made the bed, cleared up
the room, and after drawing the curtains
to shut out tho sunlight, left ber to sloep,
taking Nellie down to tfio kitchen to keep
ber quiet. Sho slept so long that Lizzie
bad ample timo to get Mr. Lane's dinner,
and put tho parlor and sittin-room ia or
der, discovering, as sho did so, that the
shade of tbe largo lamp was broken, and
threu pieces of Mrs. Lane's china tea-set.
On counting tbe silver, three spoons aud
as many forks were missing.
" Well, Agnes, bow do you feel ?" asked
Mr. Lano thatcvouing. "Thisbeglus to
look a littlo more like homo, doesn't it?"
" Yes, indeed, George ; I feel perfectly
easy now, and will try to get well as soou
as possible. You don't know what a relief
it is."
" I guess wo know something about it,
dou't we Puss?" lie said, picking Nellio
off tho stool by ber mother's sofa, and
throwing her up in the air. " By tho way,
Agues, did you know tho largo lamp was
broken ?"
" Bridget told nve the cat jumped on tho
table when sho was cleaning it, and knock,
ed the shade off."
" Nos'o didn't," said Nellie, from her
father's shoulder. "Nellie seed Bidyit
b'ake 'em her own se'f."
" What did she dj, I'uss?"
"S'e put 'em in a bid pan of hot water."
"The careless thing! Anything else
George ?"
"Yes; two of tho cliiua cups and tho
cream jug are broken, and three of the
upoonsaud forks are missing."
"Only three? Well, she wasu't very
sharp or sho would have taken mora than
that ; she bad cbauco enough. But I
won't fict over that now. .If I can only
keep Lizzie Weft until I am strong enough
to do my own work ngain, I'll never have
another Irish girl in the houso."
At tho end of the week Mr. Lano said,
" Lizzie, I nover thought to ask what you
are going to charge for the privilege of
making ns so comfortable, so I'll ask you
.w."
" I had not thought of that, sir ; I came
because Mrs. Lano was sick, and I thought
I could make her comfortable I never
once thought of wages.'
" That may bo, but I cannot let you work
for ns for nothing. Wb want you to stay
a month or two, if you will. We paid
Bridget eight dollars a month. I would
willingly give you rnore if you will stay ;
your work is worth more than bor's, to
say nothing of tho waste sho tnado. Wrhat
do you say to ton dollars?"
" I cannot tell now, sir ; I shall have to
speak to mother before I decide."
" Well, let mo know as soon ns you have
made up your mind."
"I hope she Isn't going to disappoint
me now," ha t nought to mmseii. "i
thought her above the silly prejudice
against work."
Lizzie lay awake a long time that night
thinking over Mr. Lane's proposition. Tho
next evening she went homo for a short
time, and, as soon as the inquiries after
Mrs. Lano's health wore answered, sho
said : '
"Mother, I think I shall siay somo time
longor. Mrs. Lano wants me, and Mr.
Lane offered mo ten dollars a month.
I shall stay nnd bo earning something for
myself, instead of making one more for
father to Bupport.
Sho thought sho understood the dislike
her mother and sisters felt toward such a
proceeding, but she was not prepared for
tho reproaches that assailed her on nil
sides. Sho tried for a time to answer them
quietly and pationtly, but at last, turning
to ber father, she askod him if bo would
not help bor.
"There is no real need of your doing
this, Lizzie," ho answered. "I should like
it, if you could find something your moth
er would like better. For my part, lean
see no disgraco in what you proposo do
ing ; my mothor and sister both occupied
such positions, and I never knew they wore
respected the less for it. You must mako
your own choice, my daughter, but con
sider it well before you decide. It may
subject you to somo very unpleasant
slights."
Mr. West was called out to speak to a
neighbor, aud as soon ns tbe door closed
behind him, tho girls began again. But
Lizzio bravely stood her ground.
"There is no use in talking, girls; if
fatlier does not object, I shall go. You
say I havo no pride. I havo prido enough
to earn my own living if I possibly can.
I can stato tho whole caso in very few
words. You all know that father has
mortgaged his farm to help Uncle Charles
in his trouble ; you know, too, that this
year it will bo nearly impossible for him to
pay the intorest. I try to got along with
ns lit tic .18 possible, but everything counts.
Now, hero I havo a good chance offered
me, and would be very foolish not to tako
it. I don't see any moro disgrace in sweep
ing floor and washing dishes for Mrs.
Lane, than doing it at homo. You know
that she is not the woman to treat ono as
though I bad no lights of my own."
" If you are bound to work, Liz, why
don't you try to teach?"
" I have neither tbe taste nor inclination
to teach. Besides there are a dozon appli
cants for every vacant situation. I should
stand no chanoo at all with those who have
spent time and money iu preparation for
the work. You know that my throat and
lungs are not very strong, and would last
but a short time if I tried teachiug. I am
sorry you fool so badly, Julia, but I cannot
sea that I nm doing anything wrong."
" You are just as obstinato in this as
everything else. You know we shnll be
cut by aU our friends."
"No, I dou't know any such thing. Peo
ple whoso friendship is worth having will
respect mo none the loss for trying to main
tain myself honestly, and others I do not
care for. It is useless to talk any longer, it
only makes matters worse. I promised to
go back to night, aud will go and get
ready."
Wheu sho came down stairs again her
mother and sisters were still in tears.
Neither of them returned bor kiss or hard
ly spoke when she bade them "good
night." As sho passed through the hall
her father stopped ber and said :
" Lizzie, you will need a stout heart to
bear you through ; if you find it too bard
work, coino home again. My children are
nil welcome as long as I can keep a homo
for them. It Is better for you all to loam
to support yourselves, for perhaps you will
have to do it sometime. Good night, my
daughter."
He gave her a kiss and helped hor into
tho wagon, (for Mr. Lano had called for
ber on bis return from the store.) She told
Mrs. Lano that evening that sho had de
cided to stay as long as they wished to keep
her.
"I shall not let you go very soon, then ;
you are as good as nurse and housekeeper
both.
It was nearly throe weeks after ber visit
homo that she had occasion to go to tho
store to do some shopping for Mrs. Lane.
While the wag sitting by tlu) counter try.
lug to docldo which of two shades of merino
would make Nollie tho prettiest dress, two
of ber old schoolmates came in. She bow
ed to tbem as they approached, but with
out returning tbe bow Belle King crossed
to the. opposite counter. Ada Lee glanced
from one to the othor in surprise, and then
offered bor hand to Lizzio, saying :
" It is a long timo since I saw you, Miss
Lizzie ; how are your mother and sisters ?
I have not bad time to return Miss West's
call since I camo back from the city."
" I think thoy nro all well, thank you."
answered Lizzio.
"I shall call on you and your sisters as
soon I can possibly find the timo."
Hero Bell beckoned to her and when
she bad reached her side said in a loud
whisper :
" Why, Ada, how can you speak to a ser
vant girl in that way? Don't you know
that Liz West has gono out to work in
Mrs. Lane's kitchen ?" sho asked to Ada's
surprised look.
" Don't speak so loud, she will bear you.
IIow long since ; I have beard nothing of
it," said Ada, so low that Lizzio could not
catch tbe words.
"She went about a month ago, I believe;
the other girls are hurt, and tried every way
they could to stop ber, but she was deter
mined to go."
Lizzio finished her shopping nnd started
for homo. In crossing the next street ono
of hor small parcels slipped from ber hand
and fell to the ground. She was stooping
to pick it up, when a gentleman who was
crossing in tho opposite direction quickly
secured it, and after brushing tho dust from
tho white paper, banded it to bor with a
polite bow. Sho glanced up to thank him,
and met the gaze of bis companion. It
was a young man who bad visited her sis.
tor Julia quito frequently. Sho bowed to
him and was about to speak, when he bow
ed haughtily without raising bis hat, and
passed- on. Before she reached Mr
liano s door sue met with two moro
slights.
To say that sho did not care would bo to
mako my hcroino something moro than
mortal. She was a proud, sensitivo girl,
and sho felt hurt as you or I would, reader'.
As sho entered the littlo parlor and laid
her purchases before Mrs. Lano her lips
were compressed and a bright spot ot color
glowed on cither check. Mrs. Lano no
ticed tho signs of disturbance and guessed
tho cause, but did not speak of it. It was
not tho only time that she saw the samo
expression when Lizzio bad beon out. Sho
mentioned it to ber husband ono evening
several weeks after, and bo said :
"I havo seen it myself. I do not blamo
her for feeling hurt, but I felt the other
day as though I should enjoy knocking
down young Grey, and shutting up Miss
Julia until sho could learn to behavo her
self. They were walking np tho street the
othor day, and I was just behind them.
Lizzio camo out of Smith & Grey's store a
few steps in front of them, but did not see
them until they wcro passing bor. Julia
turned her face tho other way, aud looked
at something or nothing on tho other sido
of tho street. . Young Grey, tbe insolent
puppy, put up that eye glass of his aud
stared at Lizzie as though sho was somo
great curiosity."
"Alice is tho only ono of tho girls that
has called to soe her since she has beon
here. Julia scorns to think her far beneath
her .notice."
"Sho and Laura aro too full of nonsense
and false prido for a poor man's daughters.
Thoy think Lizzio baa disgraced tho family,
when she is tho only ono in it who has the
prido and self-reliance to earn ber own liv
ing. I know that the money I paid ber
last month and tho month before, went
to help West pay tho interest on that mort
gage Loo holds on that place. You
wouldn't catch Julia doing anything like
that."
" Lizzio spends ever spate moment iu
reading. I gave her permission one day to
uso any of tho books sho liked, and she
planned ber work so that sho has had
nearly an hour ever day."
" Good 1 Give her every cbanco you
can."
"I will ; there is much more satisfaction
trying to give ber time for reading than iu
granting Bridgot's frequent petitions for an
afternoon out. Sbo docs tho work in much
loss time, and I have not been obliged to
oversee tho first thing."
Wheu Lizzio bad been with bor nearly
five months, Mrs. Lano received a visit
from her sister. Mrs. Dcnuings was lying
on tho lounge ono afternoon when Lizzio
camo iu and sat; down at tbe further end ol
the room to read. Sho glanced inquiring
ly at Mrs. Lano, but as that latly did not
seem surprised she said nothing until Liz
zio weut out to prepare tea. Then turning
to her sister with a laugh, said :
. "Well, well, Agnes, is this the latest
fashion for servants? What will they do
next?"
What do you thluk of it?"
'' I do not know what to thiuk. I was
surprised to sco her at your table, but now
I am astonished. Whciu did you get
her?"
In a few words Mrs. Lane told the whole
story, and ended by saying, " I havo kept
ber longer than I really needed her, but I
can't bear tho thought of her going, I shall
be lonesome."
" I wonder If sho would engage with mi'?
If I could only got a good American girl or
woman for a housekeeper, I would wil
lingly do to ber as you do to Lizzie. I think
I will make hor an offer."
" You will get a treasure If she will, and
I think sho would go." '
Mrs. Denning was true to hor word. She
ofl'ored high wages and said :
"Youseomto be fond of reading, and
you shall havo as good opportunities for it
as you have here."
Lizzie accepted her offer, and In a few
weeks entered upon her duties. She mot
with tho same opposition at homo as on hor
first attempt; but it cost her loss pain to
bear it than before. Julia said :
"Liz, you are a perfect fool 1 That stuck
up Mrs. Denuing will order you around
like any of her other servants, and not let
you dare to say your soul' is your own."
"I do not think the woman lives that
can do that. If Mrs. Denuing provos a
bard mistress, I have the samo privilege
that other servants have, lean leave."
" Well, I believe you were cut out for a
servant, and nothing else ; you aro growing
dowdy already. I nm glad I have a soul
above pots and kettles."
A third person would havo been amused
by the conversation, and the contrast pre
sented by the two girls. Lizzie, with her
graceful, erect figure, clear comploxion,
bright eyes aud rosy cheeks ; Julia, with
her sbouldors drawn forward in the latest
fashionable stoop, waist pinched up, aud
complexion sallow from lata hours and
want of exerciso. In reality the was not
quite two years older, but she looked at
least five.
A stranger would not call Lizzie pretty ;
her hair and eyes are brown, and her com
plexion dark but clear. Her nose and
mouth aro too largo to bo pretty, but as she
stands looking down at Julia, she looks
every inch a lady..
Sho found her position in Mrs. Dcnning's
house rather trying at first ; the other ser
vants woro joalous nnd ready to take ony
advantage they could get. Old servants
she found so unwilling to submit to her
authority, that, after sho bad been there a
year, 6he persuaded Mrs. Denning to let
her tako sovcral young girls and train them
herself.
At first sho found very little timo to read
though, as shn had promised, Mrs. Don.
ning allowed her to choose what books sho
liked from a largo and well selected library,
She was an early risor, nnd always spent a
fow moments in reading, to have some
thing to think of when, her hands wero
busy. Sho spont a fow weeks of each sum
mer at home, and ber father looked for
ward to theso visits as tho brightest and
pleasautest weeks in tho year. Her mother
overcame her old prejudices and treated
hor once moro as . sho did before sho left
homo. But Julia nnd Laura could not bo
convinced that sho bad not lowered tho
fdiguity of tho family. Thoy avoided tho
mention of her namo iu conversation if pos
sible, or, if obliged to speak of ber called
ber a companion. This caused their friends
much amusement, particularly Ada Lee
who, from tho timo of their meeting iu tho
store, had cultivated Lizzie's acquaintance.
Slip heard from her father how Lizzie bad
assisted Mr. West to pay off tho mortgage
on his farm, and being a sensible, affection,
ato girl, nt once decided that tho friendship
of such a girl was worth having. Sho had
visited her at Mrs. Lano s, and since ber
removal to tho city had kept up a corres
pondence that was a source of great pleas
ure to them both.
In ono of her letters she said :
" Lizzie, if you have timo, will you try
to writo something to print? I showed one
of your lotters the other day to a friond
who edits tho Monthly. After read
ing it, ho asked, " Does your friend writo
for the press ?" I told him I thought not.
"If she can writo such lotters as that, she
is capable of something more. Ask hor to
send me an article for tho Monthly."
"Will you try, dear Lizzie, just to
please mo?"
" Always your friend,
"Ada."
Lizzio answered :
"lliavo olten wibUed I had timo to
writo, Ada, but got so littlo that I have
not attempted anything more than a very
short article, upon a subject which very
mucu iiiioresis me.
Ada wrote agalu : '
" I am at your service, Lizzie ; send your
roagn BKorcues to mo, ana i will copy tuora
for you. I cau do that, though I have not
brains enough to coinposo for myself. You
can really do me a favor if you will. I have
moro time tlian 1 know bow to use, nnd it
is at your disposal."
In this way Lizzio became a contributor
to two of our most popular magazines. Ada
was delighted and aided ber in every way
sho coulu. buo managed to keep up an ac
quaintance with Julia aud Laura, though
as she confessed to her father, "it was hard
work."
"I want tbem to know how famous Liz
zio is getting, but she will not let me tell
them. I hope when thoy do find it out I
shall bo present. I want to see what they
will do."
When Lizzie bad been with Mr. Den
ning three yeais sho was much surprised
one day by receiving a call from a bache
lor friend of Mr. Dcnning's who had teen
her iu bis frequent visit to that gentleman
and, us he thought, fallen in lovo with ber.
lie was forty-five years of ago, very wealthy
and very proud.
He mado a formal and business-liko offer
of his band and heart ; but with such
condescending air that she felt like boxing
bis ears.
Nothing could equal tho crestfallen air
with which be left tbe room, after receiv
ing a polite but decided refusal.
" Where Is your friond Graham, why
does he never come to dinnor of late ?"
asked Mrs. Deuning of ber husband one
evening.
" 1 have asked him several times, but ho
always ploads an engagement. I strongly
suspect that Lizzio could tell why if she
chose." '
" Why you don't think ?"
"That ho has proposed and beon reject
ed? Exactly."
"She must be crazy, to refuso him. Why
any girl in our set would jump at the
cbanco. What an establishment he could
give her."
"That muy bo, but sho is not tho girl to
sell herself for an establishment. She has
read bis character correctly, I thiuk. Ho
Is proud enough to think she ought to feel
honored by his preference, and say : ' Yes,
sir ; thank you,' tho moment he proposed."
" She can't do any better."
Only a fow weeks after this Mrs. Den
ning was surprised by a visit from bor half
brother, Ralph Clcvoland. IIo came loung
ing into tho sitting-room one morning, say
ing :
" Kate, I think I'll settle down to somo
kind of business, and Btay at home, now."
" It is nearly time ; you have wandored
about long enough. Do you think of mar
rying ? With your looks and fortune, you
could chooso anywhere."" -
" Yes, I know all that ; but I want somo
one that will care for poor Ralph when his
good looks and money are gone."
" Your old friend Gussie is still unmar
ried." " Bab 1 who wants a doll ; I want a good,
true-hearted woman. I came hero to find
hor, Kato".
"Not Lizzio I"
" Yes Lizzio. Agnos has told mo ber
story, and I camo to try my luck. What
is tho matter, don't you liko the idea."
" Lizzie is good enough for yon or any
ono else, but I shall wish she wore not my
housekeeper, if you succeed."
"Afraid of Mrs. Grundy? Pshaw, Kate,
I thought you were not afraid of what peo
ple say."
Mrs. Donning did not nnswer, but hor
usually pleasant faco woro a frown.
"Como, Kato, you just said sho was
" good enough for mo or any ono else," and
I am sure sho is a woman no man living
need bo ashamed to call wife. But I am
talking as though I felt sure of success. I
do not at all. Your husband told me yes
terday that he thought sho bod refused
Graham. Is it so?"
" We only think so. Lizzio is not tho
girl to talk of such a cbanco, if she had it.
I would as soon think of asking Mr. Gra
ham himself, as of asking hor."
" Sho is not looking for monoy then, or
sbo would not havo dono that. Well, I
shall try at all events. What will you do,
Kate ?"
" Lot you olouo. ' I shall neither holp nor
hinder. You must do it all yourself. "
I havo not space to tell a love story now,
so tho reader must fill it up to suit him or
herself. One day, three months after tho
above conversation, Julia (now Mrs. Grey)
was much astonished, during a call at her
mother's, by tho news that Lizzio was com
ing homo to bo married. .
" Who in the world is sho going to mar
ry ? Somo coachman or waiter, I suppose ;
that would be just ber stylo. What is his
namo, nothing Irish, I hopo?"
When sho was married, two years before,
Lizzio bad not been informed until the
wedding was over, and now, iu return,
Lizzio had requested ber parents not to toll
Julia who sho, was te marry.
Ada Leo was at this timo engagod to her
friend, tho editor, and after a consultation
with Lizzio it was decided that thoy should
have a double wedding.
Lizzio wrote : " Mrs. Denuing wants to
give mo a grand wedding, but I do not
wish to mako a show for peoplo who como
to criticise my dress aud'seo the housekeep
er who is going to marry her brothor, and
do not caro two pins whothcr I am mado
happy or miserable for life. . Tho plan you
proposo suits mo exactly."
Lizzio did not meet Ada's lover until tho
oveniiig beforo the wedding. She looked
at him agalu and again, trying to reraem
bor where sho had seen bim before, but for
a long time she could not think. At last
it flashed across ber mind, and just thon he
said :
" Miss West, I am certain that I have
seou you beforo, but whore I cauuot think
I have a good memory for faces, and yours.
Is ono not easily forgotten, but I cannot
place it."
" I bolieve you picked up a bundle for
me once in the street. You were walking
with my present brotber-in-law.Mr. Grey.
I believe I was so much offended at bis be
havior that I forgot to thank you. He
could not afford to be civil to a servant
girl." ., . .. ,
To say that Julia was amazed when sbo
found who Lizzie's husbaud was, and that
she bad become so well known by ber
writings, would give but o feeble descrip
tion of her state of mind. She and Laura
are now Lizzie's most devoted admirers,
and "My sister, Mrs. Cleveland," Is quoted
on all occasions. . .