Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-15

bright and gay. and seemed to enjoy
every hour and moment Of his life. Now
he was grave and stern and at times very
irritable. We had heard from him very
seldom while he had been away. But at
this we did not wonder much, for even as
a child he had disliked letter writing, and
the distaste had grown with his years.
Mother was quite feeble when Leonard
returned, and she seemed so much disap-
pointed in him-she had expected his
companionship to eniven many weary
hour-that she seemed to sink very rap
idly, and l had to be with her so much
that the household affairs were sadly neg
lected, and father and Leonard suffered
so much from this neglect that we all con-
cluded that we had better engage house
keeper, that is, il we could find one who
was all a housekeeper ought to be-
economical, thrifty and painstaking.
| spoke to Mrs. Dalrymple one day of
our sore need, and she spoke up at once:
80, l know OF the very person you
want, | think. Mrs. Conway has lady
with her as governess to her three chill
dren, and she has been perfectly charmed
with her. But Mrs. Hastings-that is the
name of the governess-fnds that teach
ing SO steadily is impairing her health,
and she is looking for something else to
do. May l not send her to you' Mrs
Conway has had her five months or more,
and can recommend her as perfectly trust
worthy"
consented to having Mrs. Hastings
sent to us on trial, and in a few days she
arrived. A middle aged lady with very
grey hair, and the most beautiful brown
eyes ever beheld. So bright and youth.
t.,l 81 tI.,t \
believe they could belong to such mid
die aged. grey-haired woman. chow
many are there in your familypn she
asked. after / had motioned to her to be
seated.
"Only myself, father and mother and
brother Leonard returned Mrs. Has
tings stopped TO the floor to pick up her
handkerchief which had fallen, before
she replied.
II prefer taking my meals after the
family have finished it it will be the same
to YOU she said. 1T is simply whim
which Mrs. Conway indulged."
said she might do as she liked. and
after few more questions and answers
on both sides she was installed as house
keeper, and came TO us the next day bag
and baggage.
The evening Of her arrival, Leonard and
| ! were standing by the hall door talking.
| He had his riding whip in his hand and
| was tapping his boot, impatiently waiting
| for John to bring his horse to the door.
May speak to you moment, Miss Jo-
sephine p' asked voice which | recog-
nized as that of our new housekeeper.
l turned to her and said, Certainly,
| come here, is it anything importantP Is
mamma i'll ?"
She did not reply, and glanced up to
| see that her eyes were riveted on Leonard,
who glanced up as did, and then dropped
| his riding whip and started violently.
Mrs. Hastings had grown very pale, and
| replying that she would see me when |
was at leisure, went swiftly up the stairs
to her own room. Leonard had gone out
on the piazza, and stood leaning against
one of the pillars.
"''What makes you look so strange ?"
asked, the sight of his compressed lips
and white face startling me.
Am l looking strange? ?" he asked,
with rather bitter laugh.
| "Yes, you are, was it the sight of our
housekeeper. Leonard Isn't she regal
lookingP'
is that the new housekeeper? She
reminds me OF an old lady | once knew
in London"
VERY likely you flirted with the daugh-
ter of the old lady. and this woman calls
| up unpleasant recolleetions,n said. But
Leonard made no reply. He ran down
the steps and walked toward the stables,
muttering something about "that lazy
John"
When l went into the housekeeper's
room she was sitting by the window, her
brown, faded cheek resting on her still
soft and dimpled hand. She told me what
she had desired to say in the hall. and as
| was about to leave the room she came
towards me and said in careless tone:
You are not much like your brother,
Miss Josephene. What blue eyes he has,
and such bright hair, while your eyes and
hair are as dark as the ravens wing. Is
your brother married P"
| No, he is not" | replied. "But think
he rather fancies young lady friend OF
mine, Miss Mabel Winters. But | eau
scarcely tell anything about Leonard now.
lie is greatly changed
| Changed ~ echoed the housekeeper,
sin what way is your brother changed
"He used to be so happy and light-heart-
ed before he went to Europe. He returned
a morose. cold man, seeming indifferent to
everything and verybody. You should
have seen him four years ago!' | sighed
as recolected all Leonard had been to
us in that happy past and then hurried
away, blaming myself for talking to the
housekeeper OF our private affairs, but her
Luminous eyes and evident interest had
drawn me on irresistibly.
Leonard appeared to avoid our new
housekeeper, and never even looked at
her if he could help doing so, while she
on the contrary seemed never tired OF do
ing little things for him, and she would
watch for his coming home that she might
take him his dressing gown and slippers.
! He ever { lked her for any such fayors;
they seemed to irritate him.
One day was sitting in my easy chair by
mothers bedside, reading aloud to her from
| "Dapiel Deronda," when Leonard came