San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

temporary home till, as he said, some
opening should occur tor us.
i gladly accepted it for Minna; but
for myself, ! was determined to try
great London, and, unaided, battle fol
myself. In two years John Murray was
to come back from Australia to fetch me
for his wife, and till then ! would be in
dependent. So the day came at last
when, with many tears, we two girls
had to separate, and with aching heart
| left the old Lincolnshire home, and
reached the great dreary void OF Lon
don early one afternoon. ,,f...,..
l was not long in finding q place
where could stay, in the shape Of a
second-hoor front room in one OF those
heart-aching streets near the Found
ling streets that echo from morning to
night with mOurnfull cries uttered by
vendors whose goods tits impossible to
surmise, and with the dismal echOing
tones of the various organs Sopainful
were these last to me, that often of an
evening, when | have returned from a
weary, disheartenlng search for an en-
gagement, and sat alone and hungry,
fearing to spend my money in any thing
beyond the tea and bread and butter up
on which existed, these doleful strains
cheering, maybe, to some-have had
such an effect upon me thatiI have sat
and sobbed till, utterly worn out, have
fallen asleep, to wake, perhaps hours
after, to find II very late, and crawl
shivering off to bed. ,rnr.
As the weeks passed on and my ad-
,vertisements and fees paid to the various
registry offices had been without effect,
used to crawl back to my room, grow
ing more and more disheartened. 1
was always plain, sallow-looking girl,
and now In my 'fast-wearing black be-
gan to feel that was day by day grow
ing more shabby and looking,
and that my feeble chances of obtaining
a post were growing less and less.
! used to sit and ask myself whether l
had tried hard-and knew l had-but
it was always the same. Whether | adj
vertised for a situation as governess, or
went from registry Office to offer my
self as companion to lady, it was al
ways the same. noticed look of dis
appointment as soon as I entered the
room, for I was neither pretty nor
bright-looking, and my mournful black
helped to sadden my aspect. 1t was al
ways the same--the lady did not think
l should suit her, and in blank disap-
pointment had to return. .,.. ....
And now it had come to this-that
my landlady had grown as tired of me
as the people at the registry offices,
where | had more than once been told
rudely that l was not likely to get
place as governess or companion, but
had better look lower. That q 'ternoon,
evidently suspicious of my ability to
pay, and perhaps disguised with my
way of living, and afraid l
should be left an invalid upon her hands,
she had-rudely, it seemed to me-re-;
quested me to leave. ,... n.rt..- ....
In my present circumstances I was
utterly Frustrated by the news, forI dared
ottake lodgings elsewhere; and l could
see nothing now but to sell portion of
my scanty wardrobe and go back to
beg for assistance from my fathers
friend. $500 s.HI" o.Iy1H
What changed! and how soon had
ny hopes of independent action been
,lighted! Twas heartsore as / felt how
hat in that great city there was wealth
being squandered and luxury around
ne while | was literally starving; for
my poor living was telling upon me
asst. What should | doP What should
dop
1t was with weary iteration l had said
hose words and wept till tears came no
more, and a dull, stolid feeling of de-
pair had come upon me. had ALMOST
hrunk away in the streets from the
,right-faced, happy girls passed, and
It times found myself asking what had
,een my sin that | should be thus pun
shed. .n..l
lay awake that nightfor many hours,
the light from the street lamp
,lay ing upon my ceiling; and at last,
owards morning, the remembrance of
words had often heard came to me
With sad sense of repose, trust and
and believe / fell asleep at
asst with smile upon my lips, repeat
NC Il portion of that comforting SEN
ence ending, care you not much bet
er than they?"
1t was bright, sunshiny morning
vhen l awoke, to hear some one knock
ng at my door, and, hurrying on few
Kings, l answered.
"Ah! was just agoing to take 'em
own again." said my landlady harshly.
Some folks can afford to Law in bed
II day; l can't. Here's two letters for
on. And mind this, Miss Laurie; l
ever bargained to come tramping up
0 the top of the house with letters and
messages for you"
81 am very much obliged, Mrs. Rud-
ock," | said gently, as | took the let
ars with trembling hands, while, NUT
ering and complaining, their bearer
tent down stairs 1t seemed very hard