The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-15
WANTED, AT ONCE

81 ., Yes, I WILL" said Amy Jennings.
"This time will. My brothers wife
has called me "a little vixen long
enough. Now I'll be little vixen. I'm
tired of this persecution-I'm tired OF
it." Amy spoke angrily her eyes were
blazing; her cheeks were flushed.
But at the last sentence she faltered ;
repeating it, she fell upon her knees be-
side her bed and buried her face in the
pillow. "I'm tired of it" she cried,
with passionate sobs.
A rap at the door aroused her. She
arose, wiping her eyes ruefully. and
asked, N voice Of forced calm, ""ho's
there?"
"Me, answered rough but friend
" voice" "Jack."
"Have you brought me the Times :"
"Yes.
swell, then, you can't see me just
now, dear Jack. Put the paper through
the crack" She opened the door for a
creyice, received the newspaper which q
clumsy browp hand thrust in, and then,
with quick "Thank You, dear
thanks, my dear good jack" reclosed
the door, and turned the key in the
lock.
The boyish footsteps bounded down
the stairs, and Amy, once more in soil.
tude, few to the window. flung herself
into the armchair that filled its en-
brasure, and opening the newspaper.
spread it upon her writing table, and
began eagerly to search the "Wants'"
Her eyes drifted over column after col
umn of those marshalled appeals in
print that stand side by side as unrecog-
nizable as faces in crowd, but each
one bearing its own individual burden
Heaven knows what heavy burdens for
some, homeless and friendless in the
great city. Her eyes drifted over these,
and seized the brief column devoted to
instruction.
"WANTED, AT ONCE-A goyerness for a
girl eleven years old. Must be Of an amiable
disposition, and mistress Of the modern &C.
cpmpIshments. Call Immediately" etc, etc.
This advertisement, 80 peremptory in
regard to time, struck the fancy of Amy
Jennings. TWAS urgent and impetuous,
and she was in accord with impetuos-
tiles and urgencies. - -
"Thiss is just the thing for me" she
thought. 80 A girl? I like girls : boys
are so lawfully affectionate and rough.
Eleven years Old. That is quite
young Il could manage that. Oh, !
wish I we're eleven years old-I wish l
were hack again to happy eleven Il
had myIdarling mother then, and my
] kind father. Now they are both gone
e-gone forever. It is, terrible to be an
orphan, and terrible to think how un,
kind some people can be to orphans. I
hope Heaven will keep me from ever
being unkind to unhappy people. ]
think it is the worst sin Of the soul :"
=, She bathed her eyelids, 80 red with
weeping, and prepared herself for a
swalk LEFT the house without word to
any one, and went, directly to the place
described In the advertisement.
|. -. The location WAS remote from the
brilliant avenue where Amy lived in he1
brothers. house; it had strange, un
familiar, and rather dingy air. The
house stood opposite small park, not
frequented throngingly or girt with
steams of travel like The larger squares.
It was early winter, and the trees were
bare, but children played in the walks,
and sparrows fitted tamely across the
faded sward.
Amy gazed at this wintry park while
she stood in the doorway OF the strange
house waiting for some one to answer
the bell. She waited long, and when
the door was opened, the face that re-
sponded to, her timid "Miss Jennings
an answer to the advertisement for gov
erness," was so stern and repelling, hel
heart sank with sudden chill. This
depressing impression was not lessened
when she entered.
"A lady entered, and Amy arose, trem,
bling. The lady WAS in travelling cos
tune, and carried, as if in act of depart
ure, O sachel and blanket-shawl. She
.motioned to Amy to be seated, and her
SELF, in stiAfest possible attitude, ap
propriated an armchair. She was tai
and gaunt and severe. With SHARP
assumptive and grating voice she enter
ed into examination:
Chow old are you ?"
"I shall be twenty. one in two years.
"Too young. Where were you edu
Gated? What are your qualifications
To whom do you refer? What system
do you use in the study of languages
What method do you employ in teaching
music, and in drawing and water color
Give me your answers as expeditiouslJ
as possible. The train starts at 11:45
the carriage should be here at this mo.
ment. T am going to Montreal for 6
, month, and am unwilling to leave my
niece alone. And our cook has given us
q warning. IT'S pity, for although she
has afiery temper, she pleases brother,
With difficulty I have persuaded her tc
remain month. The waitress, too
expresses dissatisfaction; the seamstress
I think, is more reliable; but altogethe,
the household is in q state particularly
untitled to be, managed by mere chilc
like my niece Martha, VIII however, il
head of the house, and you will cal
her Miss Martha, please? And I neet
: for the place an experienced person
But really, as this is the last moment
and you may be better than no one, per
haps had better engage you for ont
month; provided, of course, that you
credentials" 49,.
"The cab is at the door, mem, ant
says he's late, and must hurry up; ant
--oh here is Mr.. Rainor himself"