The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-22
Alice'S Vocation.


It was large elegant room. The pale
fame of the lamp on the centre table
which was the only light, was hardly suffi-
cient to more than dinly 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 deli
cate, 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 forehead,
Alice began:
"a young lady wishes to obtain a posi-
ton as companion to an elderly lady or al
invalid. She is we'll educated and refined,
and would be willing and obliging in any
way in her power"
Ou, Alue, UIOho Ill u6f blSItT, now
queer it seems-just month ago you were
Miss Justin of Beechwood' and now
willing and oblging,'" with bitter enl-
phasis on the words).
'Josie!" the soft voice had tone of re-
buke, 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 steal
ing.
In moment both girls were by her side.
Josie impulsively finging her arms around
her neck, while Alice 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 Beechwood had
echoed voices of youthful gayety. But the
grim destroyer" had come and stricken
down in his prime the indulgent father, and
the widow who for some time had been in
delicate health had found herself and her
children left, not wealthy as every one sup
posed, but absolutely not knowing where
next to turn for the necessities of life.
Mr.. Justin, like too many others, had
lived, spending freely and carelessly as he
went along, and not looking out for the fu-
ture; and when his 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
small cottage, and there with the help of
energetic Josie, was to keep boarders, and
thus support herself and children. 1t was
bitter blow for her to consent to the car
rying out of Alice's plan of going as a com
panion; but necessity knows no law" and
so the advertisement which we have read
came to be written.
As Alice alighted from the cars after her
journey TO the home of Miss Grey, whe had
answered her advertisement, gentleman
approached her, and in a pleasant voice
asked if she were Miss Justin" On her
asserting, he motioned to the driver of a
luxurious coupe near by, and assisting her
to enter lifted his hat courteously and
walked away.
Alice found her employer to be an old
withered-up lady, with the blackest, honest
pair of eyes that could be set in 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 Justin, think
you wrote was your name? Well will
call you Alice"
And SO Alice became an inmate of the
quiet house. Her duties were light, and
she found great deal of time to write
loving letters to the dear ones at home.
Before' long she met the gentleman
whose face had been the first she saw ON
her arrival. He Was Miss Greys lawyer,
and often spent great deal of time in the
old lady's library, writing at her dictation,
while she knit and her companion read.
Youth is always attracted to youth, and
Roland Hall was young; and when his
writing was done he would chat animatedly
with the little old lady, who evidently
thought him perfection, and liked nothing
better than to draw him out, and show off
to advantage his fluent conversational
powers.
So it was that as time passed, Alice grew
to look forward with delight to the young
lawyers visits. Her life was monotonous;
but she had grown to love the eccentric
old lady who was so stern and bitter to the
outside world, but SO tender and kind to her.
One day, as they were sitting in the
library, Roland with them, the bell rang,
and in moment the door few open, and in
rushed radiant vision.
1t was beautiful girl, tail and exquisite
ly formed. The golden curls, flowing