Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-02-23
A gentle, refined lady," said Mrs

"Will you lend her to me for The
holidays? / am going to take trip to
the White Mountains, Niagara and
Canada, and 1 want pleasant COM
panion. l will pay the same salary
she now receives"
"What treat for Edna |" cried Mrs
Holt ave will gladly lend her for
such a pleasant summer, Mrs. Hep
burn. Shall l introduce her now?"
She left the room as Mrs. Hepburn
assented, and returned in few minutes
with a tall, graceful girl Of about twenty.
The first sight of her face excused
Rob to his aunt's heart. 1t was so
delicately fair and sweet, yet with a
noble dignity of expression, that won
the old lady to Rob's side at the outset.
A short conversation, during which
the lovely face grew radiant at the
prospects Mrs. Hepburn offered, COM
pleted the conquest the first look had
gained.
AS soon as Edna could get ready the
two left Green Valley, and started upon
summer of delightful travel.
Wholly unconscious of the close
scrutiny Of every word and action.
Edna Seabright, with warm gratitude
devoted herself to her new employer.
Though she looked no further than
to the fall, to break the pleasant COM
partnership, she made every effort to
tighten the hours of intercourse and
make herself useful to Mrs. Hepburn.
She appreciated keenly the perfect
equality of position, accorded her from
the first, knowing we'll the attentions of
Mrs. Hepburn's friends, frequently en-
countered, would never have been so
cordially extended had she been intro
duced as My companion" instead of
the gentle words:
"My young friend, Miss Seabright.'
She was of a sunny, bright tempera-
ment, and even the discomforts of tray
ell 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 found all the well-known
spots took a new beauty when shared
with her new companion, whose frank
delight was as pleasant as child's to
behold
She dresses simply even within her
means, but had an artistic taste that
made the plain garments ever suitable
and becoming. while her few ribbons
suited her young beauty better than
jewels.
When she found Mrs. Hepburn
weary with a long ride or hours of rail
way jolting, she could soothe her to the
sweetest rest by singing, as she gently
smoothed the silver hair, or caressed
the withered hands.
With all her train Of crlnging rela-
tives it was something new to the old
lady to receive loving service. She had
made no further engagement with
Edna, had held outno golden promises,
but by gentle kindness she had won the
girls warm heart to an enthusiastic af-
lection.
1t was no thought of salary or future
favors that Edna Seabright gave a
daughters tenderest care to the old
lady who was giving her the novel hap
piness of a summer pleasure-trip. She
was sorry to think Of the parting soon
to come; but she meant to prove her
gratitude by ever loving device, while
she was still Mrs Hepburn's compan-
ion.
And Rob. Harkner, in his law-office
in town found no consolation in legal
studies for the keen pang of diappoint-
ment he had experienced when Mrs.
Holt told him Miss Seabright was travel
ing for the summer, and had no per-
manent address.
"Aunt Maria off, too, nobody knows
where the young man thought discon-
solately, so I might as we'll go back to
town."
Which he did, thereby receiving at
the earliest moment delicately writ
ten letter from Mrs. Hepburn, dated
Boston, begging him to meet her at the
T House and escort her home.
Odd, he muttered, after running
about all summer alone, she cannot
come from Boston without an escort"
But with Rob to her great aunt's
wishes was to obey them, and the next
train found him Fastening to Boston.
He found his aunt sitting in private
sitting room of the hotel from which
she had written, rocking herself lazily
and musing. He judged that her med
itations were pleasant by the smile
upon her lips.
She gave him cordial welcome, and
after little chat, she said:
"Rob, did you ever think meant to
make you my heir?"
The color rushed to Rob's face, but