The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-14


me while was literally starving for
my poor living was telling upon me fast.
What should I do? What should do !?
10 was with weary iteration had said
those words, and wept till tears came no
more. and O. dull, stolid feeling of de-
spair had come upon me. / had almost
sDrunk away In the streets from the
bright-faced, happy girls passed; and
at times | found myself asking what
had been my sin that should be thus
punished.
/ lay awake that night for many
hours, watching the light from the
street lamp playing upon my ceiling
and ut last, toward morning, the re-.
membrance OF words ] had often heard
came to me with a calm sense OF repose,
trust and Testfulness, and / believe /
fell asleep at last with smile upon my
lips, repeating passage OF that com
forting sentence ending, Are We not
much better than they2"
1t was o bright, sunshiny morning
when | awoke, to hear some one knock.
ing at my door; and hurrying on few
things, answered.
One letter saw at glance was from
Minna, the other was In strange crab
bed hand; and / lonped to read them .
but exercising my self-denial, / dressed,
lit my fire, and prepared my very frugal
breakfast before sitting down and de-
vouring Minna's news.
What right had to murmur as / did
last night, asked myself, when she
was evidently SO happy and Contented?
and then opened, with fluttering hand,
the other letter, and was puzzled by 1t
at first; but OF last / recalled the fact
that three weeks before I had answered
an advertisement In the Times where a
lady wanted q companion.
The note was very brief and curt, and
ran as follows:
IF Miss Laurie is not engaged she
can call upon Mrs. Langton Porter, No.
AZ Morton street, Park Village South,
at IL o'clock tomorrow Thursday"
AT last ~ / said to myself ioyfully;
aud with beating heart [ prepared my.
self for my journey, for the appoint
ment was for that morning.
Just as had pretty well timed myself
for my walk, q sudden suuall came on,
the sky was darkened. suow fell heavi.
ly. and in place of morning in spring
we seemed TO have gone back into win
ter, for the snow lay thickly in o very
short time, and the branches OF the
trees In the square were whitened.
Weak as ] was, this disheartened me,
but | fought my way bravely on, and
just at IL rang timidly at the door Of an
important looking house, and was su-
perciliously shown by stout, tall foot
man In drab livery into a handsomely
furnished room. Everything In the
place, l noticed, was rich and good
heavy curtains hung by window and
door; skins and Eastern rugs lay On the
polished wood floor, and tremendous
fire blazed In great brass fire. place,
and the flames danced and were reflect
ed from the encaustic tiles with which
1t was surrounded.
'I'll take your note in, ;" said the foot
man, as / handed 1t. "You can sit
down."
preferred to stand, and as soon as |
was alone shivered with fear and cold, |
as caught glance Of my pale, sallow |
face In great mirror. Every moment |
] expected to see the owner of the place, |
but remained standing YEARLY for an |
hour, and then / sighed and turned |
YEARLY to the door, wondering whether
the footman had taken in the note which |
had given him as my passport.
| started, Tor close behind me, having
entered unheard, was rather plump, |
tall lady in black. She was dressed as
i for going out, and we'll wrapped In
Turs.
"Ohi you are waiting" she said,
and shade Of displeasure
crossed her face as she looked full at
ne till my eyes dropped. There, Miss
Miss-Miss--"
Laurie" / suggested.
Yes, yes; KNOW" she said sharply;
1T Is in my note. Pray, why in the
lame OF common sense did you not sit
Town? Take that chair. Now then,
rave you been companion to lady be-
"No, ma'am," replied; and then. in
answer to her questions, all very sharp
ygtyen,. told her 80 much as was nee
'ssary of nay story.
II don't think you will suit me-" she
aid; I've had misery enough, and I
want some one cheerful and pleasant,
lady whom l can trust, and who will
20 pleasant companion. There, I'm
ure there is not such a body in London,
or the way I've been imposed upon is
Ireadfull I've had six in six months,
md the number of applications have
lad nearly drove me out of my senses.
We had one since you wrote to me-a
reature whose sole idea was herself.
want one who will make me her first
[ don't mind what I
Jay, but want some one tall and lady
lnow."
| shook my head sadly.
"Humphl WE'LL" she went on, "you
WON'T be go giddy, and be always think
ng of getting married. There, you
iced not blush like that: it's what all
he companions [ have had seem to
hink about You don't I suppose?"
Il am engaged to be married" [ said,
hanging down my head, in couple of
'Hoi Well, he musn't come here, for
I'm a very selfish, pragmatical old
woman; and II l engaged you-which I
ion't think | shall do should want
1ou all to myself. What is hep
"a settler-abroad, faltered.
"Ho! That's better and perhaps he'll
'ettle there altogether without you"
looked at her Indignantly, and she
aughed.
"Ah 1 know, my good girl. haven't
ived to see eight-and forty for nothing.
How old are your"
Twenty" I said, shivering, for her
'ough way repealed me, and longed to
bring the interViaw tn an end