The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-01-23
THE YOUNG GOVERNESS.

pluuer uay' Nob pleasanb Ga
to travel on by any means; but the
Lettice Mainwaring was one of tn
sort that makes thes best of every
thing.
"Its long journey over the hills
miss, said the wife ofthe landlord O
, the little one-story tavern that wa
perched on the crest of the highway
"and the snow is powerful deep"
81 think Winter landscape is th
: prettiest thing in the world" san
Lettice, cheerily as she wound her fu
round and round her neck.
"And old Stokes stage is awfu
uncomfortable" said the landlady.
81 like stage riding" ASSERTED
Lefty, "
you'll not get there till dark"
ooh, that is sooner than I expect
ed"
And Lefty climbed up into the stag,
coach, which stood creaking anc
groaning at the door, having just rum
bled up from the next village, milt
or SO down the hill.
One solitary passenger occupied
the opposite corner-a tall, dark man
with a Spanish sort of complexion
and clear dark eyes, who wore an ode
sort of olive green cloak or mantle
heavily trimmed with sable fur.
He nodded briefly, in return to Let.
tvs smiling recognition'
Our little heroine would have talk
ed with polar bear, had a polar beal
CHANGED to be her travelling compan-
ion.
Lettice arranged her rugs and her
basket and her bonnet strings, and
wondered secretly how far the tall
man was going.
"Can I be of any assistance to
you?"
'"Thanks-no," said Lefty, coming
up again with very red cheeks, and
curls little dishevelled. "Are you
going all the way through?"
GAS far as the stage goes-yes."
co." said Miss Mainwaring, $50
am 1.
The gentleman nodded interroga-
lively, and went back to his paper.
"Cross thingr' thought Lefty, in
voluntarily, pouting her cherry lips.
"Why can't he talk and make him
self agreeable? And he knows very
well that we are to be shut up here
together for eight long hours" "
But the wild landscape, as it fitted
by, white, cleaning with snow, and
darkly fringed with waving boughs,
was, after all, nearly as good study
as the human face divine"
Lefty soon forgot her temporary
annoyance and chagrin in the white
skeleton-like walls of deserted pa
per-mill, long since disused and fallen
to ruin.
81 wonder if it is haunted" said
she aloud.
The stranger smiled and laid down
his paper.
"Do you believe in such things3"
he asked.
Lettice Mainwa1ing laughed and
colored.
"Of course not. And yet-are you
much acquainted in this part of the
country"
81 have lived hereabouts good
deal"
"Ohl then perhaps you know East
erham Hall?"
His face frightened.
ooh, yes. You are going there?"
eyes. I am to be governess to the
little children" said Lefty, making
haste to enlighten him as to her true
position, in order that he should full
ly comprehend that she was no elegant |
lady coming to the Hall to make a
visit, but a humble little working bee
who was compelled to toll steadfastly |
for her daily bread.
"Indeed?' he said.
And Lefty was vexed at herself for
the polite indifference into
which his tone subsided.
81 suppose it is very fine old
placer" she went on.
"Very-for those who fancy fine
old places To my taste they are
apt to be overrun with rats, full of
draughts and Observation-Disclosures
lent"
"And haunted, perhaps, mischeiv-
ously put in Lefty, the rogllish spar
kle coming back to her eyes.
$50 far as 1 know, Easterham Hall
is free from any supernatural occu-
pants"
81 am sorry for that, )" said Lefty.
He arched his eyebrows.
"You would like toshare your room
with ghost or two.
"No; but do like little romance
about the place-something to set it
a little above and beyond the level of
the commonplace"
He did not answer, and talkative
Lefty once more set the conversation
al ball rolling.
"The Easterhams are very rich, I
eyes"
81 never heard of them until last
week" " she said, musingly; "and now
how strangely things are ordered
in this worldl-I am going to castmy9
lot among them"
GLOW does that happen?" said the
gentleman. He could not very well
say less in ordinary politeness; and
ret Lefty felt triumphantly that she
lad "drawn him out. .
"They wrote to Madame Moligny,
ny old teacher, to select a goyerness
qualified to teach two little boys; and
Madame knew that / wished for sit
lation, and SO here l am. l wonder
low they will like me?"
81 hope you will like them," said
he gentleman, sitting yawn.
''That isn't thequestion, said Let
y, imperatively. "1Ir. Easterham is
dreadful bear.
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