The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-08-17
ghs @apirg GHrle.
All Things Change.
4 a WAs 81 q -

snow were tapping sharp and furi-
ously at the crystal surface of the
plate glass windows; the wind
shrieked piteously through the keen
and piercing air; and the thermom-
eter in the hall was rapidly lower
! ing its crimson vein towards zero.
'It's dreadful coIdP' mused Mrs.
Angel, as she sat with one slipper
ed foot on the tenders, and her I'm
! ger ornamented with two emeralds,
a diamond and a gandy regarding
between the leaves Of her book
"I'm glad I'm not compelled to be
out Of doors on such a day as this. y
And she looked complacently
round at the elegantly furnished
little boudoir where she sat. A
handsome ectagonaI room, its walls
pannelled in pink, velvet and gold,
with a heavy traeery of gold vine
leaves around the ceiling by way of
cornice, it had all the charms ofnov-
city. The fire heaped high with
coal kept up a low cracking sound !;
the scarlet winged 1ory swung to
and fro in the ring Of his cage be-
tween the curtains, an asthmatic
little poodle nodded sleepily on the
hearth-rug.
Mrs. Angel herself was a plump,
pretty brunette of about thirty,
with hard, brilliant black eyes;
hair brushed in the fashionable
style, awry from a square, low fore
head; and lips that although rather
thin were of the brightest vermill-
ion. Her dress was an elegant
negZigse; and her hands were minia-
ture jewel stands for the display of
expensive rings
mammal
She looked up quickly and held
out her arms as a rosy girl Of about
nine, the fac-simile on a small scale
of herself, came bounding into the
room.
''What is it, Nina, mammals little
petr'
"It's Miss Elmer, mamma. She
says could she see you for mo-
mentp'
at is ten o'clock, my child; your
lessons should have begun long
ago."
'cBut Miss Elmer has just come,
mamma"
The handsome olive brow con
tracted ominously.
Tell Miss Elmer that I viii see
her.
Little Nina tripped away to de-
liver her message. A minute after
wards there was a low tap at the
door and Juliet Elmer, the daily
governess, entered.
She was tall, gracefully formed
girl, apparently about twenty-five
or three years of age, dressed in
black that had evidently bidden
adieu TO its best days some time
since. Generally she might have
been rather pale, out there was a
deep, vivid, carmine spot on either
cheek just now, that told of the re-
cent agitation or excitement. Her
eyes were of the deepest hazel, large
and liquid, and her hair was of
warm, sunshiny brown. But it was
her mouth, red and sensitive and
mobile, that constituted her best
feature; every emotion that stirred
the surface of her mind seemed
mirrored in the unconscious move
ment Of her lip.
81 am surprised, Miss Elmer
began Mrs. Angel, after she had
recognized the governess' presence
by a stiff inclination of her head.
''Nine is your hour, and here it is
after ten and not a lesson commene-
ed. Nina, call your little brothers
and sisters Immediately and tell
them to proceed to the schoolroom.
Sufficient time has already been
lost"
She opened the book once more,
as if to dismiss the subject and the
governess together; but Miss Elmer
still stood by the door, nervously
playing with the shabby strings of
her Grape bonnet.
''Nfrs. Angel" she said in a low,
hurried tone of voice, Il am afraid
Imust beg you to excuse me to-day
for"
s'Indeed, Miss Elmer, I shall do
no such thing sharply interrupted
Mrs Angel. "If you wish to be
relieved from the duties Of your
situation, beg you viii say SO at
once"
81 do not, madam; do not in
deed. faltered Juliet, growing scar
let in her embarrassment and NOR
tifcation. ave could not live with
out the'money you are so good as
to give; but i should esteem it a
great favor TO be excused to-day;
for my mother is very much worse,
aud / have no one to leave with
her"
Il am surprised shat you should