The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-10
ALICE's VOCATION.


pale fame of the lamp on the centre
table, which was the only light, was
hardly sufficient to more than dimly
define the carvings of the massive
furniture At the table were two
girls, one busily engaged in writing,
and the other standing with her hand
on her sisters shoulder, watching the
rapid pen.
A little way from the light was a
delicate, fragile looking lady reclining
in an invalid chair, while at her feet
quietly played two golden-haired
children.
Mamma, dear, it is finished See
if it will answer"
The pen stopped, and pushing her
hair back from her finely shaped fore
head, Alice began:
"a young lady wishes to obtain q
position as companion TO an elderly
lady or an invalid She is well ed
ucated and refined, aud would be
willing and obliging 10 any way in
her power"
"Ch, Allie" broke ia sister, Glow
queer it seems just o month ago
you were Miss Justin of Beech
wood, and now-'wiliing and oblig
ing,'n with bitter emphasis on the
Words
Josie J" the soft voice had tone
Of rebuke, as Alice glanced toward
her mothers chair. Mrs. Justin's
face was hidden by one thin, white
hand, and through the slight fingers
the tears were stealing.
la moment both girls were by
her side. Josie impulsively flinging
ber arms around her neck, while Al
ice gently drew down the hand, and
kissed away the falling tears.
A month ago things had been
very different for the Justin's. An
indulgent father had supplied them
with every luxury, and the great
halls of Beecbwood had echoed
voices of youthful gsyety But the
grim destroyer" had come and
stricken down in bis prime the indul-
gent iather, and the widow who for
some time had been in delicate
health and found herself and her
children left, not wealthy. as every
one supposed, but absolutely not
knowing where next 10 turn for the
necessities of life.
Mr. Justin, like too many others,
bad lived, spending freely and care
lessly as he went along, and not
looking out for the future and when
bis affairs were settled and all his
debts paid, there was nothing left.
At first Mrs Justin was stunned
but she had risen to the emergency
She rented a small cottage, and there
with the help of energetic Josie, was
to keep boarders and thus support
herself and children. 1t was q bit.
ter blow for her to consent to the
carrying out of Alice's plan of going
as companion but necessity
knows no law" and 80 the adver-
tisement which we have read came to
be written.
As Alice alighted from the csrs
after her journey to the home of Miss
Grey, who had answered her adver-
tisement, a gentleman approached
her, and in pleasant voice asked il
she were miss Justin" On her as.
senting, be motioned to the driver ol
a luxurious coupe near by, and as
, sisting her to enter, lifted his ha,
I courteously and walked away.
Alice found her employer to be an
old withered-up lady, with the black
est honest pair Of eyes, that could be
set in q human head.
AS she entered the room, the old
lady rose and took her hand, saying
in short abrupt sentences:
$50 this is to be my companion
You look young, child. Alice Jus
tin, 1 think you wrote was your
name? WE'LL will call you AL
ice."
And so Alice became an inmate o
the quiet house Her duties were
, light, and she found grea. deal o
time to write loving letters to th'
dear ones at home.
Before long she met the gentleman
whose face had been the 6rst sb'
saw on her arrival. He was Mis-
Grey's lawyer, and often spent I
great deal Of time in the lady's Ii
, brsry, writing at her d;ctation, Will
she knit and Ler companion read
Youth is always attracted to youth
and Roland Hall was young; ant
when his writing was done he woul'
chat animatedly with the little oil
lady, who evidently thought hin
. perfection, and liked nothing bette
than to draw him out, and show oi
to advantage his fluent conversation
al powers.
So it was that as time passed, Al
ice grew to look forward with deligh
10 the young lawyers visits. He
life was monotonous, but she ha
grown to love the eccentric old lad
. who was 30 stern and bitter to th
outside world, but go tender an
kind to her.
One dav, as they were sitting j