Sharp County record., 1878-10-24

~ lGboA' oe1tN ~
and with beating heart | prepared my
self for my journey, for the appointment
was for that morning.
Just as l had pretty well timed myself
for my walk a sudden squall came on,
the sky was darkened and snow fell
heavily, and in place of morning in
spring we seemed to have gone back in
to winter, for the snow lay thickly in a
very short time, and the branches of
the trees in the squares were whitened
Weak as | was, this disheartened me,
bnt | fought my way bravely on, ard
Just at II rang timidly at the door of an
important looking house, and was su-
perciliously shown, by a stout tall foot
man in drab livery, into a handsomely
furnished room. Every thing in the
place noticed was rich and good heavy
curtains hung by window and door,
skins and Eastern rugs lay on the pol
ished wood floor, and tremendous
fire blazed in a great brass fireplace,
and the flames danced and were reflect
ed from the encaustic tiles with which it
was surrounded.
"I'll take your note in," said the foot
man, as l handed it. " You can sit
down."
preferred to stand, and as soon as l
was alone | Shivered with fear and cold,
as caught a glance of my pale, sallow
face in great mirror Every momeno
| expected to see the owner of the place,
but remained standing YEARLY for an
hour, and then l sighed and turned
wistfully to look at the door, wonder
ing whether the footman had taken in
the note which had given him as my
passport.
started, for close behind me, hav-
ing entered unheard, was 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 a shade of displeasure
crossed her face as she looked full at
me till my eyes dropped. "There,
Miss-MisS-Miss-"
Laurie" l suggested
"Yes, yes; | know" she said, sharp
| ly; "it is in my note. Pray, why in the
name of common sense did yon not sit
down? Take that chair. Now, then,
have you been companion to a lady be-
! foreP"
"No, ma'am," l replied; and then,
in answer to her questions, all very
sharply given, l told her so much as
was necessary of my story.
81 don't think you will suit me-"
she said; give had misery enough,
and want some one cheerful and pleas
ant, lady whom l can trust and who
who will be a pleasant companion.
There, I'm sure there is not such body
/ in London, for the way I've been i'm
posed upon is dreadful! I've had six in
six months, and the number of appli-
cations l have had nearly drove me out
of my senses. re had one since you
vote to me-a creature whose sole idea
was herself. | want one who will make
me her first consideration. | don't
mind what | pay, but | want some one
tall and lady-like; and you are not pref
| ty, you know"
shook my head sadly.
"Humph! Well" she went on,
"you won't be so giddy, and be al
ways thinkingof getting married. There,
you need not blush like that; it's what
all the companions have had seem to
think about You don't, supposed"
81 am engaged to be married." |
said, hanging down my head, in a
couple of years"
"Ho! Well, he mustn't come here,
for I'm a very selfish, pragmatical old
woman; and if engaged you-which |
don't think | shall dol should want
you all to myself What is heP"
GA settler-abroad, | faltered.
"Ho! That's better; and perhaps
he'll settle there altogether without
you"
looked at her Indignantly, and she
laughed.
"Ah! l know, my good girl. l haven't
lived to eight and forty for nothing.
How old are youP"
twenty" sald, SnlVerlng, TOT ner
rough way repelled me, and | longed to
bring the interview to an end.
"Why, the girls cold" she said,
roughly. Him, twenty! Here,
90 up to the fire, and have
good warm; it's dreadful wealth
er. There! pull off your bonnet and
jacket. Put them on that chair, and 60
closer to the fire; I've deal to say to
you yet, for I'm not going to engage
any young person and have to change
directly"
obeyed her, trembling the while,
for I was very weak; and she went on
asking me questions and making COM
ments.
81 don't like your appearance at all /;
L