Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-25
MRS. HEPBURN's COMPANION.


years of age, but tall and erect, with
large, soft, black eyes, and a noble yet
sweet face, sat in her boudOir, listening
gravely to the lamentations of her niece,
a fussy, dressed woman, of forty, or
thereabouts.
The older lady, being n childless widow
of great wealth, was accustomed to receiv-
ing frequent visits from her numerous
relatives, and being called upon to sym
pathize in all their troubles.
More especially did her present visitor,
Jenny 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 visions
of his inheritance of all her possessions
haunted his mothers dreams. From a
child the willy woman had trained her son
to be all his aunt desired, and from a
child he had sturdily resisted all attempts
to force him into slavish hypocrisy.
1t may have been this very manliness,
contrasting with the servile tiattering of
the Others, that had first won for him his
aunt's affection and it is certain there was
n bond of love between them entirely in
| dependent of bank accounts and real
estate. Feeling thus, Mrs. Hepburn gave
her niece grave attention when she said, 4,
vehemently:
I L" | am in such trouble about Rob"
Trouble? Is he ill?"
"Oh, no; far worse than that"
"You cannot mean that he is in dis
grace?"
"Oh, no, indeed" and the little
woman ruffled her ribbons, as bird does
| its feathers.
"What is it, then!'' said Mrs. Hep
burn, with most unusual ring of impa-
tience in her gentle voice.
" He has fallen in love with vulgar
nobody, and he declares he will marry
her, if all the world opposed him! Oh, it
is just awful to hear him defy his own
mother, as he does, and such mother as
have been.'
"Who is the girl ?"
" Goodness knows! | don'tl She is a
teacher now in a seminary at Green Val.
ley, where Rob has been visiting a
friend! An orphan, he says"
'S She can scarcely be vulgar if she
teaches in the Green Valley Seminary. |
| know something of the old school and no
Eul5'. .-----.---- --.@..i-' - - -.- = .-4--t-
there"
Well, perhaps she is not exactly vul-
gar, but she has no money, no family
Oh, 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 name?n
Edna Seabright; and Rob is going uI
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?n
"She visits at the Holmes place
where he was slayinrp ~
"H'ml we'll, | will talk to Rob, bu
not now. go away next week for thu
summer, and | had rather leave so i'm
portant a conversation until | return"
With this, as Mrs. Hepburn was known
to remain firm in all her plans, Mrs
Harkner was forced to be content, anC
the next week Mrs Hepburn left the city
without giving her summer address to he
dear niece.
1t might have somewhat astonishcd tina
lady had she looked into the private sit
ting-rOom of Mr.. Holt, the principal O
Green Valley Seminary in the early par
Of July, to see Mrs. Hepburn conversia:
with that gentleman, evidently upon tn
footing of an old friend. Gentle Mrs
Holt knitted busily, speaking now AM
then, as Mrs. Hepburn pursued train o
, inquiries.
of these. Miss Seabright is an orphan
and her only home for years was tn
aims house. She came here first as a
errand girl TO attend the door, clea
knives and run errands But Mrs. Hol
! found she was starving for education, an
/, /, we took her into the school. She wei
repaid all the efforts we made to educat
her, and at sixteen was a pupil teacher
studying the higher branches while teach
, ing the lower ones. Two years ago sh
, took the place as Mrs. Hollis assistan
with the usual salary
s "She is well educated, what more?'
= "a gentle, refined lady" said Mr.
5 Holt; g a conscientious, noble woman!
have never met girl for whom | fe
0 more respect, as well as affection"
"Will you lend her to me for the hol
days? | am going to take trip to I'll
: White Mountains, Niagara and Canadi
and want pleasant companion. | wi
e pay the same salary she now receives
0 "What a treat for Ednal" cried MIR
d Holt. "We will gladly lend her for sue
/ Il pleasant summer, Mrs, Hepburn. Sha
8 introduce her nowY'
a She left the room as Mrs. Hepburn a
g sented, and returned in few minut
G with tall, graceful girl of about twent
: to his aunts heart. 1t was so delicate
fair and sweet, yet with noble dignity
@ expression that won the old lazy to Rob
y side at the outset.
g A short conversation, during which Il
:. lovely face grew radiant at the prospec
s Mrs. Hepburn offered, completed the CO.
! quest the first look had gained.
IL AS soon as Edna could get ready Il
9 two left Green Valley, and started upC
h a summer of delightful travel
3. Wholly unconscious of the close scr
y tiny of every word and action, Edna Sc
q bright, with q warm gratitude, devote
d herself to her new employer.
d Though she looked no further than
p the fall, to break the pleasant cOmpanio
k ship, she made every effort to Tighten d
hours of intercourse and make hersI
y useful to Mrs. Hepburn.
Il She appreciated keenly the perie
A equality OF position accorded her from d
D. first, knowing we'll the attentions of MI
n Hepburn's friends, frequently encOu
e. tered, would never have been so cordii
Of ly extended had she been introduced
,. "my companion" instead of the gem
ID words;
e. MY young friend, Miss Seabright," "
sr She was of a sunny, bright temper
4 ment, and even the discomtorts OF tray
20 lost half their annoyance in her pleasa
ri manner Of meeting them.
" In the delightful resting places wht
le they soiourned for week at time, Nj
0. Hepburn found all the wellknown sp
took u new beauty when shared with h