River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-24
LETTICE.
ny ANNA BRANDON.

A bi tier day. Not pleasant day to
travel on, Ivy any means; but then Lettice
Mainwaring was one of the sort that makes
the best of every thing.
"lts 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, land the SHOWS
powerful deep.
II think winter landscape is the pref
test thing in the world,n said Lettice,
cheerily, as she wound her fur round and
round her neck"
"And old Stokes stage is awful uncom-
Portable, y added the landlady
II 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 cracking and grooming
at the door, having just ramnled up from
the next village, a mile or so down the
hill. One solitary passenger occupied the
opposite eorner-a tall, dark man, with
u Spanish sort Of complexion and clear
dark eyes, who wore an odd sort of olive
green cloak or mantle, heavily trimmed
with sable fur lie 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. Lettuce ar
ranged her rugs and her basket and her
bonnet strings, and wondered secretly
how far the tall man was going.
"Can be of any assistance to your"
courteously quened the gentleman, as
Lefty searched in the straw at her feet
for a dropped glove.
tThanks-no,n said Lefty, coming up
again with very red checks, and curis a
little disheveled. care you going all the
way throughl'
"As far as the stage goes-yes.'
oOhN said Miss MainWaring; $50 am ]
The gentleman nodded interrogatively,
and went back to his paper
Gross thing" thought Lefty, involun
tarily pouting her cherry lips. Why can't
lie talk and make himself agreeable2
And he knows very well that we are to
be shut up here together for eight long
horrsr
But the wild landscape, as it fitted by, |
white cleaning with SHOWS, and darkly |
fringed with the waving boughs, was, at- |
ter all, nearly as good study as the |
"human face divine Lefty soon forgot
her temporary annoyance and chagrin in
the white, skeleton-iikc wall Of a deserted |
old paper-mil, long since 1isused and
fallen to ruin.
~ wonder if it is haunted" said she
aloud.
The stranger smiled, and Land down his
paper.
"Do you believe in such thingsl" he
asked.
Lefty Mainwaring laughed and colored.
ssOf course not. And yet 49,, are you
much acquainted with this part of the
country
II have lived hereabouts a good deal"
"Oh then, perhaps you know Easter
ham Halll'
His face frightened.
''Oh, yes. You are gong thcref
Eyes. / 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 T. he said
And Lefty was vexed at herself for
noticing the polite indifference in which |
his tone subsidized
81 suppose it is very fine old place"
she wenton.
"Very-for those who fancy find old |
places To my taste, they are apt to be
over-run with rats, full OF draughts, and |
inconvenicnt.
"And haunted, perhaps?" mischievous-
ly put in Lettuce, the rough sparkle com
ing back 10 her eyes.
$50 far as know, Easterham Hall is
free from any supernatural occupants.
II am sorry for that sad Lefty
He arched his eyebrows.
"You would like to share your room
with ghost or twof"
"No; but do like little tinge OF 70
nance about the placc-something to set
il little above and beyond the level of
the commonplace"
He did not answer; and laxative Let
ty once more set the conversational ball
rolling.
"Thc Easterhams are very rich, sup
poseI"
eyes"
~ never heard Of them until last week, "
said she, musingly. "And now-how
strangely things are ordered in this
world IL am going to cast my lot among
them
GLOW does this happenl" said the gen
temp.. lie could not very well say less,
in rdhnary politeuess, and yet Lefty felt
trn nphaptfy That she had 'drawn him
out.
"Thev wrote TO Madame Moligny, my
old teacher, to select govcIness qualified
to teach two little boys; and madame
knew that wished for situation, and
50 here I am. wonder how they will
like me2"
~ hope you will like Them" said the
gentleman, sitting yawn.
"That isn't the question" said Lefty,
mperativeIy 'Mr. Easterham is dread
al bear
"You are acquainted with himln
ooh, no; only what have heard, an
swered Lefty.
"And what may that be-
'sYou are neighbour" said Lefty,
''Perhaps | have said too
much already"
He laughed, with more animation than
she had vet seen in his manner.
'sDepend upon it, shall not bctray you
to MrfEastornam. So he is bear. Well,