The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-04-22
Mrs. Hepburn's Companion.


yet sweet face, sat in her hondoir,
listening gravcly to the lamcntation Of
her niece, a fnsSy, overtlrrssed wo-
man, of forty, or thelcab"nts.
The elder lady, being Il childless
widow Of great wealth, was accus-
toned to receiving frequent visits
from her numerous relatives, and be.
ing called upon to sympathize in all
their troubles.
More especially did her present
visitor, Jennie lIarkner, make such
demand upon her time and patience.
| Robert Harkner, the only son of
the fussy widow, q men of twenty.
two, had been from his babyhood the
pride and darling Of III; great-aunt,
and rosy visions of his Inheritance of
all her possessions haunted his moth.
cr's dreams. From a child the willy
woman had trained her son to be all
( his aunt desired, and from 4 child he
had Sturdily resisted all attempts to
force him into a slavish hypocrisy.
1t may have been this very man
illness, contrasting with the servile
tlattcring of the others. that had first
won for him his aunt's affection, and
it is certain there was bond If love
between them entirely independent
OF bank accounts and real estate.
Feeling thus, Mrs Hepburn gave her
niece grave attention when she said
vehcmcntly:
III am in such trouble about Rob-
"rroubIc! Is he i'll p
ooh, TO ; tal worse than that"
"lou cannot mean that he is in
disgrace"
"Oh no, indeed y and the little wo-
man rnt1led her ribbons, as q bird
does its feathers.
"What is it then ?" said Mrs Hep
burn, with a most unusual ring of
impa,icnce in her gentle voice.
"llc has fallen in love with vul.
g7r nobody, and he declares he will
marry her, if all the world opposed
him! Oh it is just awful t" hear him
defy his own mother, as he does, and
such a mother as have BEEN"
"Who is the girl :"
"Goodncss knows l don't. She
isa teacher now in Il seminary ut
Green Valley where Rob has been
visiting Il friend! An orphan, he
says"
''Shc can scarcely lie vul gar if she
te chcs in the Green Valley Seminary.
know something Of the school, and
no vulgar woman would be allowed
to teach there
"Wcil perhaps she is not exactly
vul gar. but she has no moncy--no
family! Oh, Aunt Masy, if you only
use your influence with Rob, he may
see things in proper light, and give
hcr "r"
"What is her name p
EDNA Seabri yht and Rob is 60
ing up again III July, because she has
no home but the seminary. and will
De there during the holidays"
elbow did Rob come to meet her p
"She visits at the Holmes place,
where he was staying.'
elm! Well, Ill talk to Rob. but
not now. | &" away next week for
the summer, and l had rather leave
so important il conversation until |
rcturm.'
With this, as Mrs. Hepburn was
known to remain firm in her
plans, Mrs. Harkner was forced to he
content. and the next week Mrs. Hep.
burn left the city without giving her
summer address to her dear niece"
1t might have somewhat astouis|led
that lady, had she looked into the
private sittingroom of Mr.. Holt, the
principal Of Green Valley Seminary
in the early part Of July, to see Mrs.
Hepburn conversing with that gentle.
man evidently upon the footing Of an
old friend. Gentle Mrs. Holt knitted
bus'ly, speaking now and then, as
Mrs. Hepburn pursued train Of in.
Qui,ies.
"Ycs," Mr.. Holt said, in answer e
one of these, "Niss Seabright is al
orphan, and her only home for year.
was the alms-honse. She came here
first as an errand girl, to attend the
the door, clean knives and run er
rands. But Mrs. Holt found she WA.
starving for education, and we took
her into the school. She we'll re-
paid all the efforts VIC made to edu
cate her, and at sixteen was a pupi
teacher, studying the higher branches
while teaching tho lower ones. Nv,
years ago she took the place as Mrs
Hollis assistant, with the usual sal
larry"
"Shc is we'll educated, what more y?
+ "a gentle, refined lady," said Mrs
Holt; IA conscientious, noble woman
l have never met girl from whom
l felt more respect, as we'll Il affection.
"Will you lend her to me for til
d holidays lam going to takea tri
: to the White Mountains, Niagara an
Canada, and l want a pleasant com
6 p"nio", I will pay the same salar;
she NOV receives"
= "What a treat for Edna" erie
Mrs. Holt. 1--WE will gladly lend he
for such q pleasant summer, Mr.
Hepburn. Shall introduce her now
She left the room as Mrs. Helpbur
assented, and returned in IL few mil
utes with tall, graceful girl Of abou
twenty.
. The first sight of her face excuse
Rob to his aunt's heart. 1t was 8
delicately fair and sweet, yet with
noble dignity of expression, that va
the old lady to Rob's side at the on
set.
A short conversation, during whic
, the lovely face grew radiant at Il
prospects Mrs. Hepburn offered, con
y pleted the conquest the first look ba