Stella Rosevelt — page 266: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

260 STAR’S DELIGHT. I wish to be a Jady in the truest sense of the term, and treat her accordingly. But,” she continued, wishing to change the subject, ‘‘you have never told me yet how you happened to come to keep house for us. I think it was one of the nicest arrangements that was ever made.” ‘Thank you, Miss Star,” the woman answered, with a beam- ing face; ‘‘and youd better believe it was a chance that I jumped at. Isuppose I should have been slaving it for that ungrateful set now if I hadn’t come over to New York one day about three months ago, and met Mr. Rosevelt on Broadway, all by chance. He seemed glad to see me, and asked how I was getting on; and J] was that discouraged with the way things were being managed, the cross words, complaints, and every- thing, that I told him I was sick and tired of it all, and meant to find another place just as scon as ever I could; though good- ness knows I hadn't an idea where that would be. Upon that he looked thoughtful, and, after a moment, said ‘he didn’t believe in hiring people away from their employers, but if I teally meant to go away, he thought he knew of some one who would like just such a person for a housekeeper.’ I tell you I jumped at the chance, for ever since that young lord took him- self off so quick, the madam has been so irritable that nothing would please her; and Mr. Rosevelt said when I had worked out my notice to come to him, and I’d find him any day at home at ten oclock. I suppose he set that hour because he didn't want you to know what was going on. I gave my notice the next day, worked out my two weeks, and came over to New York lighter of heart than I'd been for years. ‘“When Mr. Rosevelt told me about what he’d been doing, and what he was going to do, and said he wanted me for his own housekeeper, my eyes stuck out so that I thought theyd never feel natural again; but if ever an old woman was happy, I was, to think I was going to serve you; and here I’ve been ever since, helping him fix up for you. Gomichbooks (E(0)