Bella's Story
Ch. 1 Prologue
Chicago 1917
The floor was cold where I lay; I had lost every thing I worked for. They had fired me, telling me that didn't need me anymore. And now I was alone in Chicago, in a dark ally, alone. Well at least, I had a little bit on money, and a small bag of my things;
That day was beautiful; it was a perfect day in Chicago. Lady Mary had been letting go of so many maids lately; I hoped for my own sake that I didn't lose my job. Lady Mary had taken her in after her mother and father died house fire, she had known I had no family to go to; I was six at the time. Mary hadn't taken me in as her child; she took me in as a maid.
I loved her nonetheless, she would give me, hand-me down dresses and corset that no longer in style or no longer fit her. Being a maid, I never wore them. But I loved looking at them, when I was alone at night in my room, dreaming of wearing one to a ball, and dancing the night away, like I had seen so many other girls do.
I was cleaning the front hall when she told me the news, "Bella, I will be letting you go. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to keep all of you. You have two days to leave and try to find a job. Here" she handed me a few dollars and coins; it was about all I needed to live off of for about two weeks.
"Thank you, Lady Mary. For telling me thing, and for the money" I tell her, even though I had just lost everything I had worked for in the past ten years.
When I was done cleaning the front hall, I made my way to the maid house, and went towards the smallest bedroom, my room. I grabbed the small suitcase out from under the bed; it had been lady Mary's before she had gotten a new one. I then went to the small old wood closet, which held four beautiful dresses and a nightdress. I folded them up nicely, everything fit, and then I grabbed my hairbrush and the only other pair of shoes I owned, white boots.
I fell asleep quickly after that, I dreamed about parties and dresses and courtship. The next morning I said my goodbyes to the other maids and took a small piece of bread for the road.
It was a short walk to the heart of Chicago, from where Lady Mary lived. I would look for a job doing what ever I could. With my bag in hand I set forth to find the dress shop, to see if they had a job opening.
The door open a let out a ring, the storeowner looked up, "Hello Miss, what can I get you" the older women, looking over me. I was wearing a simple black dress and black shoes.
"I new here, and in search of a job. My name is Isabella," I said holding out my hand.
"Well Miss Isabella, I am sorry but I am not looking to hire anyone, best of luck finding one," she said with a fake smile
"Goodbye, then" I said, and left the store feeling, even more sorry for myself.
The same thing happen six more times, then I gave up. I was a maid and nothing more. I had no family to stay with, I was alone. I found myself making my way to the churches abbey, to see if any of the sisters, could help me.
"May I help you, Miss" asked a quite young women.
"Yes, my name is Isabella, and I have no where to spend the night.
"Well, come, come" the sister said. She was leading me though the dark hall, at the end was one small candle.
"Where are we going? " I asked
"To the third floor" she said, then added "There's one open bed up their, but you're only staying for a night or two, right miss?"
"Yes, in till I find a job" I said, sadly
"I know, how hard it is deer. You must only be about fifteen. Do you mind telling me your story?" she asked.
"I'm sixteen, I wouldn't mind telling you my story," I said, and the began.
It was beautiful day, my father Charlie worked as the city chef officer. My mother took care of me. I was her only child. We lived it a beautiful house, with lots of bedrooms. I was six, at the time. I was out playing in the backyard, with one of the dolls, the maid had made me. I was not too close to the house. But I remember seeing smoke coming up from the roof. I got so scared, I ran into the woods away from the house. I could still see it though. I remember see the roof fall to the ground, not knowing if my mother and father got out.
When the firemen had put the fire out, they searched from my parents. But found them dead. I had run from the woods, out to them.
I was to be up for adoption, since I had no family to take care up me. A lady named Mary had come for me, and kept me with her maids. She saved me. I lived with her in till she fired me the other day. Ten long years I was with Mary, I loved her.
I looked up to see that the sister was crying "You poor young soul" she said.
"I'm fine, I said, what doesn't hurt mw, will make me stronger" I said.
"Here we are" she said, she had stopped at a door, I opened it, to see a small bed and closet.
"It's lovely" I said, it was a lie, Lady Mary's room was lovely. This room was awful, worst then my maid room.
But I would have to be strong to get though this.