Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-04-05

"She visits ut the Holmes place
where he was staying"
"H'm I! well, l will talk to Rob, but
not now. 60 away next week fol
the summer, and had rather leave SO
important 4 conversation until | re.
turn"
With this, as Mrs. Hepburn was
known to remain firm in all her plans,
Mrs. Harkner was forced to be con-
tent, and the next week Mrs. Hep.
burn left the city, without giving her
summer address to her dear niece.
1t might have somewhat astonished
that lady had she looked into the 'pri-
vate sitting-room of Mr. Holt, the
principal of Green Valley Seminary
in the early part of July, to see Mrs
Hepburn conversing with that gen.
tleman, evidently upon the footing of
an old friend. Gentle Mrs. Holt
knitted busily, speaking now and then
as Mrs. Hepburn pursued a train Of
inquiries.
eyes" Mr.. Holt said, in answer to
one of these. miss Seabright is an
orphan, and her only home for years
was the aims house. She came here
first as an errand girl, to attend the
door, clean knives and run errands.
Rut Mrs. Holt found she was starving
for education, and we took her into
the school. She well repaid all the
efforts we made to educate her, and at
sixteen was a pupil teacher, studying
the higher branches while teaching
the lower ones. Two years ago she
took the place as Mrs. Holt's assist
ant, with the usual salary"
"She is well educated, what more ?"
"a gentle, refined lacy" said Mrs.
Holt "a Conscientious, noble wo-
man l have never met girl Tor
whom | felt more respect, as we'll as
affection
"Vill you lend her to me for the
holidays ? l am going to take a trip
to the White Mountains, Niagara and
Canada, and l want pleasant COM
panlon. l will pay the same salary
she now receives" )"
"What q treat for Edna y cried
Mrs. Holt. "We will gladly lend
her for such pleasant summer, Mrs.
Hepburn. Shall l introduce her
now ?"
She left the room as Mrs. Hepburn
assented, and returned in few min.
utes with a tall, graceful girl of about
twenty.
The first sight cf her face excused
Rob to his aunt's heart. 1t was SO
delcately fair and sweet, yet with a
noble dignity of expression that won
the old lady to Rob's side at the out
set
A short conversation, during which
the lovely face grew radiant at the
prospects Mrs. Hepburn offered, COM
p'eted the conquest the first look had
gained.
AS soon as Edna could get ready
the two left Green Valley, and start
ed upon a summer of delightful tray
el.
Wholly unconscious of the close
scrutiny of every word and action,
Edna Seabrigh', with warm graft
tude, devoted herself to her new EN-.
ployer.
Though she looked no further than
to fall, 10 break the pleasant compan-
ionship, she made every effort to
Tighten the hours of intercourse and
make herself useful to Mrs. Hepburn.
She appreciated kneenly the perfect
equality of position accorded her from
the first, knowing we'll the attentions
of Mrs. Hepburn's friends, frequently
encountered, would never have been
so cordially extended had she been
introduced as my companion," in
stead of the gentle words:
"My young friend, Miss Seabright.
She vas ofa sunny, bright temper
ament, and even the discomfor's of
travel lost half their annoyance in
her pleasant manner Of meeting
them.
In the delightful resting places
where they sojourned for week at
time, Mrs. Hepburn founl all the well.
known spots took new beauty when
shared with hew companion, whose
frank delight was as pleasant as
child's to behold.
She dressed simply, even within
her means, but had an artistic taste
that made the plain garments ever
suitable and becoming, while her few