Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-20
.LETTICE.
BY ANNA BRANDON.

BY ANNA BRANDON.
A bitter day. Not pleasant day to
travel on, by any means; but then Lcttice
Mainwaring was one Of the sort that makes
the best Of everything.
Its long journey over the hills, miss,
said the wife of the landlord of the little
one story tavern that was perched on the
crest Of the highway, "and the SHOWS
powerful deep.
Il think winter landscape is the pref
test thing in the world,'' said Lettice,
cheerily, as she wound her fur round and
round her neck
Sand old Stokes stage is awful uncom-
Portable, . added the landlady.
q like stage riding asserted Lefty.
"You'll not get there till dark"
'Oh, that is sooner than expected.
And Lefty climbed up into the stage
coach which stood creaklng and grooming
at the door, having just ramDled up from
the next village, mile or so down the
hill. One solitary passenger occupied the
opposite corner "a tall, dark man, with
q Spanish sort of complexion and clear
dark eyes, who wore an odd sort of olive
green cloak or mantle, heavily trimmed
with sable fur. He nodded briefly, In
return to Letty's smiling recognition. Our
little heroine would have talked with
polar bear, had polar bear Glanced to
be her travelling companion. Lettice ar
ranged her rugs and her basket and her
bonnet strings, and wondered secretly
how far the tall man was going.
SsCan be of any assistance to you?"
courteously quer1ed the gentleman. as
Lefty searched in the straw at her feet
for a dropped glove.
''Thanks-no,' said Lefty, coming up
again with very red cheeks, and curls a
little disheveled. care you going all the
way through?''
s'As far as the stage goes-yes."
0Oh'' said Miss Mainwaring; $50 am ;
The gentleman nodded interrogatively,
and went back to his paper.
'sCross thing!' thought Lefty, involun-
tarily pouting her cherry lips. Why can't
he talk and make himself agreeable?
And he knows very well that we arc to
be shut up here together for eight long
horrs!"
But the wild landscape, as it fitted by,
white cleaning with SHOWS, and darkly
fringed with the waving boughs, was, af-
ter all, nearly as good study as the
'shuman face divine" Lefty soon forgot
her temporary annoyance and chagrin in
the white, skeleton-like wall Of deserted
old paper-mill, long since disused and
fallen to ruin.
II wonder if it is haunted,'' said she
aloud.
paper. =
do you believe in such things?" he
asked.
Lefty Mainwaring laughed and colored.
sOf course not. And yet, are you
much acquainted with this part of the
country?'' rs.
II have lived hereabouts good deal"
ooh then, perhaps you know Easter
ham Hall?''
His face frightened.
.'Oh, yes. You are,,golng there?"
'sYes. I am going to be governess to
the little children" said Lefty, making
haste to enlighten him as to her true po-
sition, in order that he should fully COM
prehend that she was no elegant young
lady coming to the Hall to make visit,
but an humble little working-bee who
was obliged to toll steadfastly for the
daily bread she ate,
.Indeed!' he said.
And Lefty was vexed at herself for
noticing the polite indifference in which
his tone subsidized.
II suppose it is very fine old place."
she went on.
"Very-for those who fancy find old
places. To my taste, they are apt to be
over-run with rats, full Of draughts, and
picteresquely inconvenient''
''And haunted, perhaps?" mischievous-
ly put in Lettice, the rough sparkle COM
ing back to her eyes.
$50 far as know, Easterham Hall is
free from any supernatural occupants"
81 am sorry for that, said Lefty
He arched his eyebrows.
"You would like to share your room
with ghost or two?"
"No; but do like little tinge of ro-
nance about the place something to set
it little above and beyond the level of
the commonplace
He did not answer; and talkative Let
ty once more set the conversational ball
rolling.
"The Easterhams are very rich, I sup
pose2"
| eyes"
''sI never heard Of them until last week.
said she, musingly. "And now-how
strangely things are ordered in this
world! II am going to cast my lot among
then.'
"How does this happen?' said the gen
tlemo.. de could not very we'll say less,
in rdlnary politeness, and yet Lefty felt
tri, mphantiy that she had "drawn him
out.
"They wrote to Madame Moligny, my
old teacher, to select a govc1ness qualified
to teach two little boys; and madame
knew that wished for situation, and
so here I am. wonder how they will
like me?"
81 hope you will like them,n said the
gentleman, sitting yam.
! 'That isn't the question: said Lefty,
imperatively. ssMr Easterham is a dread
full bear
"You are acquainted with him?'
sob, no; only what have heard, an
swered Lefty.
sAnd what may that Beg
"You are neighbor?" said Lefty,
doubtfully. Perhaps have said too
much already"
| He laughed, with more animation than
she had yet seen in his manner.
depend upon it, | shall not bctray you
to Mr.. Easternam. So he is bear. Well,
have thought so sometimes myself.
'sBut he won't bite me if am GOOD
| little girl and do my duty to the little
ones; and they are very nice boys per