The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-06-03
IN THE FLAMES.
BY W. SCOTT WAY.

to close, as the train known as the evening
mail approached the little station Of ''Rcd-
wood" with its usual snort and whistle, and
drew up before the rude platform. Mail
bags were exchanged, baggage thrown in and
out, passengers hurried to and fro; and then
with another snort the train moved gracefully
away, while solitary figure stood on the plat
form and watched it till it disappeared from
view.
1t was a female figure, slight but very grace
full in its dress of black while the face was
beautiful one, Notwithstanding its express
sion Of sadness, and no one could have look
ed into the depths of those large dark eyes
without mentally saying, s'shc is as good as
she is beautiful"
cam dis de young lady what's goin to be
Goberness atMaple Hall p
These words recalled Rose Easton from the
reverie she had fallen into when the train she
had come so far on had disappeared from view,
and raising her soft eyes she saw one OF Al
rica's sons, whip in hand, standing before her
She replied in the affirmative, when the
negro said:
aDis way den. Here am de carriage"
She followed him and was soon seated IN
the carriage, where, sinking back among the
luxuriant velvet cushions, her mind drlfted
away into sort of day dream.
LET me see," she said to herself, as the
carriage rolled along over the smooth leVel
road, Zone year ago I was the petted and only
child of fond and wealthy parents, and now
at seventeen I am an orphan without hun
dred dollars in the world. How strange il
seems, and I am going to be a governess.. -
Rose Easton's father had been wealthy
Philadelphia merchant, but through the dis
honesty Of his head clerk, and by unfortu
nate speculation, he had been completely
ruined, and was only able to save a few hun
dred dollars from the wreck Of his fortune
The shock was too great for his weak con
stitution, and in less than month after nj
loss he was in his grave. His wife survived
him but few weeks, and then Rose Eastol
was alone in the world.
When her father and mother were boil
gone, and her pile of money rapidly growing
less, she began to think what she would do
She was not long in making up her mind, no
in acting when it was made up. She resolved
to teach, advertised ina daily paper, and sool
received an answer, which read as follows:
MAPLE HALL, Sept. 18th, 49,.
ssMIss EAsToN In reply to your advertise
ment for a situation as governess would say tina
have been looking for suitable person to tax
charge of nay two darlings, Fanny and Freddy
tagged respectively eight andten, for some weeks
Please answer, enclosing references and stating
terms Respectfully,
| ssA1Rs. JAMES M1FFIN."
/
| Rose answered, enclosing references AM
stating terms, which were entirely satisfacto
nv to Mrs. James MiAin, and now she was o.
her way to '.Maple Hall' to take charge Q
the two darlings.'
Twas grand old house, half mid witt
creeping vines whose green leaves gave tn
gray walls bright and cheerful appearance
Rose thought she would like the place, a
she viewed it from the carriage window, an
when she assembled the steps and stood on tn
long high porch, she was still more please
with it.
Mrs. James M iAin met her at the door, an
/ led her into coy room on the right Of tn
hall. Said Mrs. James Mifin was rather il
clined to embonpoint, and very much given
puffs and fries. She was past forty, exceed
/ ingly homely, but not at all destitute Of van
ty. In her opinion there was no one else 0
this globe quite as good as Mrs. James Mfr
| Mr.. James Miffin was small specimen
the genus homo, therefore his wife though
it her place to keep him under He neve
disagreed with Mrs. James Mifhn, not eve
in thought.