The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-03-16
ALADy'S COMPANION.

gravely to the lamentations Of her niece,
a fussy, overdressed woman, of forty, OF
thereabouts.
The older lady. being a ciaiidless wild
ow of great wealth. was accustomed to
receiving frequent visits from her nu
merous relatives, and being called upon
TO sympathize in all their troubles.
More especially did her present visit
or, Jennie Harkner, make such demands
upon her time and patience.
Robert Harkner, the only son of the
fussy widow, a man of twenty-five, had
been from his babyhood the pride and
darling of his great-aunt, and rosy Wis
ions OF his inheritance of all her pos
sessions haunted his mothers dreams.
From a child the willy woman had train
ed her son to be all his aunt desired,
and from child he had sturdily resist
ed al attempts to force him into q slav-
ish hypocrisy.
It may have been this very manliness,
contrasting with the servile fattering of
the others, that had first won for him
his aclnt's affection, and it is certain
there was bond of love between them,
entirely Independent OF bank accounts
and real estate. Feeling thus, Mrs.
Hepburn gave her niece grave attention
when she said vehemently
ST AN in such trouble about Rob"
"Trouble2 Is he Ill ?''
Goa, no far worse than that"
''You cannot mean that he is in dis
grace"
an ruffied her ribbons, as bird does its
feathers.
"What is it then ?'' said Mrs. Hep
burn, with most unusual ring of impa-
tiance in her gentle voice.
''He has fallen in love with a vulgar
nobody, aud he declares he will marry
her, if ali the world opposed him Oh,
it is jnst awful to hear him defy his own
mother, as he does, and such mother
as have been"
s.Who is the girl 2''
Goodness knows I don't She is a
teacher now in seminary at Green Val
ley where Rob has been visiting friend!
An orphan, he says"
''She can scarcely be vulgar if she
teaches in the Green Valley Seminary
I know something Of the school, and no
vulgar woman would be allowed to teach
there"
"Wen, perhaps she is not exactly
vulgar, but she has no money, no fami-
ly! On, Aunt Mary, if you will only
use your influence with Rob, he may
see things in proper light, and give
her up."
"What is her name2p
edna Seabright and Rob is going
up again in July, because she has no
home but the seminary, and will be
there during the holidays
"How did Rob come to meet her p
''She visits at the Holmes place,
where he was staying"
''H'm! Well, I will talk to Rob, but
not now, I go away next week for the
summer, and I had rather leave so i'm
portant conversation until I return. 5"
With this, as Mrs. Hepburn was
known to remain firm in all her plans,
Mrs. Harkner was forced to be content,
and the next week Mrs. Hepburn left
the city, without giving her summer ad
dress to her dear niece.
It might have somewhat astonished
that lady, had she looked into the pri-
vate sitting-roon Of Mr.. Holt, the prin-
cipal of Green Valley Seminary, in the
early part of July, to see Mrs. Hepburn
conversing with that gentleman, evident
~ upon the footing CT ali old friend.
Gentle Mrs. Holt knitted busily, speak
ink now and then, as Mrs. Hepburn
pursued train of inquiries.
eyes" Mr.. Holt said, in answer to
one of these, sMiss Seabright is an or
phsn, and her only home for years was
the alns-house. She came here first as
an errand girl, to attend the door, clean
knives and run errands. But Mrs. Holt
found she was starving for education,
and we took her into school She well
repaid all the efforts we made to educate
her, and at sixteen she was pupil teach
er, studying the higher branches while
teaching the lower ones. Two years ago
she took the pare as Mrs. Holt's assist
ant, with the usual salary"
''She is well educated, what more ?"
''a gentle, refined lady" said Mrs.
Holt ''a conscientious, noble woman !!
have never met girl for whom felt
more respect, as we'll as affection"
''Will yon lend her to me for the hol-
idays? am going to take trip to the
White Mountains, Niagara, Canada, and
I want pleasant companion. I will
pay the same salary she now receives. :"
"What treat for Edna - cried Mrs.
Holt. ''We viii gladly lend her for
such pleasant summer, Mrs. Hepburn.
Shall introduce her now -
She left the room as Mrs. Hepburn
assented, and returned in few minutes
with a tall, graceful girl of about twenty
years.
The first sight of her face excused
Rob to his aunt's heart. 1t was so deli
cately fair and sweet, yet with q noble
dignity of expression, that won the old
lady to Rob's side at the outset.
4 short conversation, during which
the lovely face grew radiant at the pros
poets Mrs. Hepburn offered, completed
the conquest the first look had gained.