Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-08
VOL. XXXVI.

drudge and slave for hideous old tryant,
and wear her ridiculous finery for pay.
But anything for an excuse to leave the
drudgery here to Edith and |, you migrate
full thing.
1--we done it all my life uncomplaning-
ly," plucked up spirit to say, confident
it would not help my case, however.
Don't quarrel now, just before sepa-
rating" said poor nanny, almost stern
| ly.
And so it was settled that should leave
home; the letter was posted to my hard
aunt, who was to look for me Tuesday
fortnight, some little time being allowed
for my preparations. These were ridcu-
lousy simple. My few things were to be
gotten upn rs the clear-starchers say,
and turned changeable silk gown OF
mammy's the snutfy side out and could
bavewept at the thought of how | should
look in it. This, and my old black, and
one or two prints, were what l packed in
my mean little trunk, with many sobs and
tears at bidding farewell to poor little
nanny, who cried so bitterly, her thin
arms wound about my neck. as if all her
| DUOE IlCtlIb ltIl NV hd9
bursting in twain.
Good-by, nanny darling, l shall
write often, and if their are any earnings
they shall come to you"
lone would think that Agnes were on
the eve Of starting to America" sneered
Edith. shaking my hand coldly, giving me
dabby kiss on my tear-stained cheek.
Oh, [ never knew what n dear little
dun -colored home it was, Gntil | had turn
ed my back upon it in the chill September
rain.
A pretty robin ed-breast sat on the
limb of a stunted pear tree by the garder
wall and sang his parting hymn to me
and those mellow notes are ringing in my
ears to-day.
Of all the pictures treasured in the
heart of the exile, there is one dearer thar
all.
IT'S hame, oh, it's hame,
In my ain countrie."
A gray-haired servitor, in gray stockings
and rusty small clothes, met me at thC
station, with an ancient affair on foul
wheels, drawn by an animal not at all stn
| like the solemn old man, who said hi
name was Dark, and whom shocked un
utterably by calling him Mr.. Dark.
had plenty of time for reflection as We
left the highway, turning up through al
avenue of paternal hemlocks, to the nj
less forbiddino old house, with a quantit,
of wings and windows, "a rambling porcl
at the side, and one or two statues on thu
terraces all soggy with rain, and Uttered
over with droppings from the pines who's
| Irnv bnl for lppt tb
sunshine from that gloomy portal.
A staid elderly woman, in respectabl
silk gown, met me ut the door with TIN
intelligence that my aunt was quite pu
about at my having kept the tea waiting
; quarter of an hour, which | accepted as al
omen of bad beginning.
She was already at the head of the tabl
; in the dining room-a gaunt apartment
with Il high ceiling, heavy mahogany fur
niture, and tall silver candlcsticks.
Apallid old woman, with snow-whitc
hair and burning black eyes, with all thei
) old fire still smouldering in their depths.
She held out one hand, shrouded in
black lace glove.
"Come here! And so you are my
, niece? But you are no Rushton. she ha
} sent me the plainest one, of course. Wei
5 | cursed your mother for her beauty yeal
/ ago. am glad shall not be remnde
l of it in you. Sit down there, ut the foot
don't keep me waiting. Hand her tE
} tray, Stevens.
The pale. ghostly glimmer Of the wa
e lights on the Rushton plate, the whispe
: ines of the wind in those gloomy tree
= the rustic of the silk gown as Stever
came and went between my new miStres
y and |, taken with the strangeness of tt
: situation, and the remembrance of poo
: mammy's fearful speeches, and the plail
G tive song of the robin deprived me of a
y appetite and only minced at the curra
II lam and biscuit.
Y Stevens cleared away the things, lea
ing the cloth and the candles, and standiI
e at the back of Miss Rushtons chair
e could not accept her off hand as an aunt
II she wheeled her nearer the light. n
e aunt was Il paralytic then.
In spite of that hard face and those eye
d n sudden strange pity filled me. Ho
O hard it must have been, how hard for ol
n in whose veins still flowed the wild Rus
" ton blood.
Ie She beckoned me to her side imptier
ID ly.
ID 81 want to say, Agnes, that if yo
j. mother sent you here thinking to ma
+ much of it, she is mist tken. | take y
1r into my service as | would any wort
I'd and disinterested young person. | sh
L. pay YOU Your wages quarterly, fol
L. pounds per year and your living, which
TX all YOU will be worth, and l do not into
to add one pound or promise any fave
its from the fact of your being Gerald Ru
er toms daughter. You understand"
IS, nodded silently, feeling too much h
all to trust my voice.
er Stevens, my cabinet.
She unlocked the box and took out so
H. bank notes with her gloved hand.
ne IL make it II rule TO give one quarter
advance. Here are ten pounds. Steve
H. will acquaint you with your duties {
w show YOU your chamber. | shall not
ed ouire YOU before nine in the morni
rs Good night"
Not tired but glad to escape from t
at room, venturcd to raise one thin hand
ne NV lips. but shrank buck-those fling
ur were icy cold.
er was not naturally II timid girl, but
er lofty corridors, high vaulted passages ;
- shadowy room hung with mouldering t
ler estry, made me feel cold and frighten
us Somehow the canopied bedstead and bio
or red curtains made me think of the toy
he where the princes were slranged. |
rs, clned the assistance of n maid, and 81
ems retired, leaving me one wax lit
us which threw gigantic shadows on the W
vas Nv duties were not hard OF various,
int to amuse my aunt when she bade me !
always at her chair back, and speak G
IS. when spoken to. | fell asleep at !
Id thinking of poor little mammys dell
me when she should receive my first quart
i've salary. 49,,
me My life was an uheVcllIlul oiio "o
lie. Pines. | was never absent from my :
MS; but grew no more intimate with her
sty at fist. We had no company save \
at Rushton S surgeon and solicitor. who Ct
once a month to dinner. sang very Ii
t." and only in secret, us the grand piano,
Bile not been opened in twenty years. as
of Rushton did not tolerate music.
er. One evening when she dismissed
nv aunt said, sternly;
at "Agnes. expect the son OF my deo
ON heir. and [ caution you against deslsl
,ird or trying to gain his affections.
~ -. ), tho blood rIlShino To