The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-10

the people at the registry Offices, where
l had more than once been told rudely
that l was not likely to get a place as
governess or companion, but had better
look lower That afternoon, evidently
suspicious of my ability to pay, and per
haps disguised with my miserable way
of living, and afraid | should be left an
invalid upon her hands, she had-rude-
ly, it seemed to me-requested me to
leave.
In my present circumstances l was
utterly Frustrated by the news, for |
dared not take lodgings elsewhere; and
| could see nothing now but to sell a
portion of my scanty wardrobe and 90
back to beg for assistance from my IA
theirs friend.
What a change! and how soon had
my hopes of Independent action been
blighted! | was heartsore as | felt how
that in that great city there was wealth
being squandered and luxury around
me while | was literally starving; for
my poor living was telling upon me
fast. What should l do? What should
l do?
1t was with weary iteration | had
said those words and wept till tears
| came no more, and dull stolid feeling
of despair had come upon me. | had
almost shrunk away in the streets from
the bright-faced, happy girls Ipassed,
and at times | found myself asking
what had been my sin that l should be
thus punished.
lay awake that night for many
hours, watching the light from the
street lamp playing upon my ceiling;
and at last, toward morning, the re-
| membrance of the words | had often
heard came to me with a calm sense of
repose, trust and restfulness, and | be-
lieve | fell asleep at last with smile
upon my lips, repeating Il portion of
| that comforting sentence ending: g. Are
we not much better than they?"
1t was a bright, sunshiny morning
when l awolle, to hear some one knock
ing at my door, and hurrying On a few
things, | answered.
All! | was Just agoing to take 'em
down again" said my landlady harsh
ly. "Some folks can afford to lay in
bed all day; l can't. Here's two letters
for you. And mind this Miss Laurie;
never bargained to come tramping up
to the top of the house with letters and
messages for you"
I'm very much obliged, Mrs. Rud-
dock, | said, gently, as l took the let
tiers with trembling hands, while, NUT
tering and complaining, their bearer
went downstairs. 1t seemed very hard
then, but | believe it was the woman's
habit, and that she was not bad at
heart, but warped and cankered by
poverty, hard work and ill-usage from
a drunken husband, whom she entirely
kept.
One letter l saw at glance was from
Minna, the other was in strange,
grabbed hand, and | longed to read
them; but, exercising my self-denial, |
dressed, lit my fire, and prepared my
very frugal breakfast before sitting
down and devouring Minna's news.
What right had [ to mumur as l did
last night, | asked myself, when she
was evidently so happy and contented?
and then | opened, with tluttering
hand, the other letter, and was puzzled
by it at first; but at last | recalled the
fact that three weeks before | had an
swered an advertisement in the Times
where a lady wanted companion.
The note was very brief and curt, and
ran as follows:
g If Miss Laurie is not engaged she
can call upon Mrs. Langton Porter, AZ
Morton street, Park Village South, at
eleven o clock tomorrow (Thursday) :"
cat lastn' | said to myself, joyfully,
and with beating heart prepared my
self for my journey, for the appoint
ment was for that morning.
Just as had pretty well timed my
self for my walk a sudden squat came
on, the sky was darkened, snow fell
heavily, and, in place of morning in
spring, we seemed to have gone back
into winter, for the snow lay thickly in
very short time, and the branches of
the trees in the squares were whitened.
Weak as Twas, this disheartened me,
but | fought my way bravely on, and
just at eleven rang timidly at the door
of an important-looking house, and was
superciliously shown, by a stout, tall
footman in drab livery, into hand
somely-furnished room. Everything in
the place | noticed was rich and good;
heavy curtains hung by window and
door, skins and Eastern rugs lay on the
polished wood floor, and a tremendous
fire blazed in a great brass fireplace,
and the flames danced and were re-
Elected from the encaustic tiles with
which it was surrounded.
."rll take your note in," said the
footman, as handed it. "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 wistfully to look at the door,
wondering whether the footman had
taken in the note which L had given
him as my passport.
| started, for close behind me, having
entered unheard, was a rather plump,
tall lady in black. She was dressed as if
for going out, and well wrapped in furs.
"Oh! you are waiting" she said,
harshly, and shade of displeasure
crossed her face as she looked full at
me till my eyes dropped. "There,
Miss-Miss-M
Laurie" | suggested.
eyes, yes; know" she said, sharp
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