Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-04-25

was poor cuYate, who died from over
Work and starvation, and his wife soon
followed, leaving this girl alone without
o relation in the world; 30 she turned
her musical talents TO account, and gives
lessons all day. Mrs. Wilson knew
something Of her. ] fancy, and she has
been here for the last two years, helping
TO amuse the boarders, and paying some
very trifiing sum for home. She plays
and sings very well, as you will hear
presently; but until Mrs. Stacey has
finished her nap the piano Is not allow
ed to be touched. "
Miss Maitland looks sad, - I remark
ed.
10, as for that" she replied, "she
won't be friendly with any one, but sits
like statue, without speaking. Last
winter fancied the Captain was struck
with her pretty face, but she tossed her
head at him, and gave herself as many
airs as though she had been a Young wo-
man OF fortune, instead of a poor music
teacher tramping the streets Of London,
and going from house to house, wet or
hne, for half q crown an hour -
Poor girl, said, compassionately.
1t is sad position for one born lady,
and endowed with beauty aud talents u
"Well, 80 IL is," said Miss White /;
and that is why say there IL nothing
like good trade. Now my father rose
from mere shop-boy, but he managed
to leave twenty thousand pounds behind
him; and without seeking it, get more
respect and attention, because am in
dependent, than the clergyman's daugh-
ter, who probably congratulates herself
upon having no relations or friends in
trade"
Mrs. Stacey now made her reappear-
ance, and 1 noticed that she gave the
young musician a patronizing shake of
the hand, and as soon rs settled in her
armchair, called out, "Now then, my
dear, give us one of your pretty songs.n
Captain Vernon advanced TO lead her to
the piano, and though he had but greeted
her with bow when she first came in,
he now held out his hand. She took ii
formally, and then intimated, that as
she sang and played without notes, she
would dispense with his presence at the
piano.
He looked vexed, and returned to his
place by Lavinia's side, and began talk
ing to her i'm a most animated strain
Every now and then she interrupted him
with, La! Captain Vernon, don't talk
such nonsense! youmake me quite vain"
Then there was the mothers echo.-
Now, Captain, i must MT let you excite
Livy SO, or she won't sleep o wink all
night. But Miss Maitland began to
sing, and the hum Of tongues ceased
Her voice was replete with equisite sweet
ness, and she sang with such simple, un-
affected taste and expression, that in
troduced myself, on purpose to thank her
for the treat she had given me. She
seemed pleased, and accorded me bright
smile, which at once won my heart. Her
office was no sinecurc, for she was called
upon for song aftersong, and looked quite
Weary and worn when we parted foT the
night.
From that first evening Hilda Matt
land wound herself unconsciously round
my affections in a manner that surprised
myself. First, my advances of friend
ship were as coldly treated as those of
others, but at last she saw that mine was
not insolent patronage, but warm liking,
and then she seemed quite glad to have
found a true friend.
She told me that all her life, short as
it was, had been one continued chain of
trials and privations; for her father had,
as Miss White said, literally died of
starvation, and for some time she was
only able to earn very little; so that
when nheI mother also laid down the bur-
den of life, it was for her own loneliness
only that she grieved. Now she could
make sufficient to support herself, and,
with strict economy, save little; but it
was hard, trying work, and joyless life
for one young and gifted.
Lavinia Primrose disliked her cordial
ly, for she was jealous of her superior at
fractions, and feared her as q rival, and
she sought to annoy and mortify her in
every way worthy of one so narrow
minded. When had made my obser-
vations for short time, l likewise fam
cied that Captain Vernon admired Hilda,
but she gave him no visible encourage
ment, and i'm sort of pettish pique he
flirted with Miss Primrose, for whom it
was easy to see he did>not care straw.
But as Hilda never introduced the Cap
tuin's name in our conversations, l
thought it better not to broach the sub
ject either.
One morning Mrs. Wilson (who from
the commencement of my sojourn in her
house had seemed to think that I was an
easily-managed bOarder) came into my
room in great tribulation, to tell me that
the Primrose" threatened to leave at
the end of their week, unless Miss Matt
land was instantly sent away; as they
considered her low, designing person,
and declared that her manner with Cap
tain Vernon was forward and presuming.
cannot afford to lose two good pay
ers, nor do like sending the poor girl
among strangers again, as really don't
think she has meant any harm," she
continued; "besides. don't believe Mrs.
Colonel Stacey would like to be without
music now it was one of the things that
made her come to live here"
"Tell Mrs. Primrose and her daughter
that you cannot possibly comply with
their request, Mrs. Wilson, said, "for
their accusations are perfectly unfOund-
ed and should Miss Maitland have to
leave in consequence shall accompany
her; for like yourself, do not think 1t
right to throw beautiful young woman
like her needlessly about the world; there
are too many wicked ones vices to take
advantage of youth and innocence
Miss Lavinia is herself the one whose
conduct is improper, but my own idea is
that she will never win her game. One
thing, however, you may be sure Of
that they will not leave 80 long as Cap
tain Vernon remains"
And thus the storm passed over; but
I think Mrs. Wilson gave Hilda few
hints about what had passed, for her
manner towards Vernon was more freez-
ing than ever, though from certain signs,
which woman alone can detect, I be-
gan to feel sure that she really loved him,
but for some private reasons she would
not allow him to see it.
After this Lavinia seemed seized with
a violent friendship for Hilda, and sought
haf any,, mn n tSanah aho u a n tft, a