Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-04-03

| Are We not much better than they?"
1t was a bright, sunshiny morning
when woke, to hear some one knock
| ing at my door, and hurrying on few
things, 1 answered.
"Ah! | was Just going to take 'em down
again" said my landlady harshly "SOme
| folks can afford to lay in bed all day:
can't. Here's two letters for you. And
mind this, Miss Laurie; never bargain
ed to come tramping up to the top of the
house with letters and messages for
you"
I'm very much obliged, Mrs. Rud-
dock" | said, gently, as took the letters
with trembling hands, while muttering
and cOmplaining,th their bearer went down
stairs. 1t seemed very hard then, but l
believe it was the woman's habit, and
that she was moi bad at heart, but warped
and cankered by poverty, hard work and
ill-usage from drunken husband, whom
she entirely kept.
One letter l saw at glance was from
Minna, the other was in strange, crab
bed hand, and longed to read them;
but, exercising my self-denial, l dressed,
lit my fire, and prepared my very frugal
breakfast before sitting down and de-.
vouring Minna's news.
What right had to murmur as l did
last night, asked myself, when she was
evidently so happy and contented? and
then opened, with fiuttering hand, the
other letter, and was puzzled with it at
first; but at last l recalled the fact that
l had answered an advertisement in the
Times where lady wanted cOmpan-
ion.
The note was very brief and curt, and
ran as follows;
''If Miss Laurie is not engaged she
can can call upon Mrs. MangtOn Porter,
Al Morton street, Park Village South, at
eleven o'clock tomorrow Thursday"
''At lastr said to myself, jOyfully,
and with beating heart prepared N.Y.
self for my journey, for the appointment
was for that morning.
Just as 1 had pretty well tidied my
self for my walk a sudden squall came
on, the sky was darkened, snow fell
heavily, and, in place of a morning in
spring, we seemed to have gone back in
to winter, for the STOW lay thickly in
very short time, and the branches of the
trees in the squares were whitened.
Weak as / was, this diSheartened me,
but l fought my way bravely on, and
just at eleven rang timidly at the door of
an mportant-lOoking hOnse, and was
superciliOusly shown, by stout, tall
fOotman in drab livery, into handsome
ly-furnished room. Everything in the
place 1 noticed was rich and good heavy
curtains hung by window and dOOr,skins
and Eastern rugs lay on the polished
| floor, and Il tremendous fire blaZed in a
great brass fireplace, and the flames
danced and were reflected from the en-
caustic tiles with which it was surround
ed.
I'll take your note in," said the foot
man, as | handed it. "YOu can sit down.
preferred to stand, and as soon as l
was alone l shivered with fear and cold,
as l caught glance of my pale, sallOw
face in a great mirror. Every moment
l expected to see the owner of the place,
but remained standing wearily for an
hour, and then sighed and turned wist-
fully to look at the door, wondering
whether the fOotman had taken in the
note which l had given him as my pass
port.
started, for close behind me, having
entered unheard, was a rather plump,
tall lady in black. She was dressed as if
for going out, and we'll wrapped in furs.
"Ohl you are waiting" she said, harsh
ly, and shade of displeaSure crossed
her face as she looked full at me till my
eyes dropped. "There, Miss-Miss
Miss"
Laurie" l suggested.
"Yes, yes; know" she said, sharply
"it is my note. Pray, why in the name
of common sense did you not sit down
Take that chair. Now, then, have you
been companion to lady before?
NO, ma'am," replied; and then, in
answer to her questions, all very sharp
ly given, told her so much of my story
as was necessary.
| Il don't think you will suit me" she
said; "Pve had misery enough. and /
want some one cheerful and pleasant, a
lady whom l can trust and who will be
pleasant companion. There, I'm sure
there is not such body in London, for
| the way I've been imposed upon is dread
full! I've had six in six months, and the
number of applications have had near
ly drove me out of my senses. I've had
one since you wrote to me-a creature
whose sole idea was herself. l want
one who will make me her first consider
alton. 1 don't mind what l pay, but /
want some one tall and lady-like; and
you are not pretty, you know"
shook my head sadly.
"Humph! WE'LL" she went on, "you
won't be SO giddy and be always think
ing of getting married. There, you need
not blush like that; it's what all the
companions I've had seem to think
about. You don't, suppose?"
81 am engaged to be married" said,
hanging down my head, "in couple of
years."
"HO! Well, he mustn't come here, for
I'm very selfish, pragmatical old wO-
man; and if 1 engage you-which don't
think l shall dol should want you all
to myself What is hep"
"a settler-abroad,' faltered.
"Hol That's better; and perhaps he'll
settle there altogether without you"
looked at her Indignantly, and she
laughed.
"Ahl know. my good girl. haven't
lived to eight-and-forty for nothing,
How old are you?"
Twenty" l said, shivecing, for her
rough way repelled me, and 1 lOnged to
bring the interview to an end
"Why, the girls cold," she said rough
ly. Him, twenty Here, go up to the
fire, Ond have good warm; it's dread
full weather. There, pull off your bon
net and jacket. Put them on that chair,
and go closer to the fire; I've good deal
to say to you yet, for I'm not going to en-
gage any young person and have to-
change directly"
Iobeyed her. trembling the while, for
l was very weak; and she went on ask
ing me questions and making comments.
Il don't like your appearance at all
you look pale and unhealthy. Not bit
like girl from the country"
81 am very sorry" said ;"but, indeed,
ma'am, have excellent health"
''Then your face tells stories about
you. You play, of course?"
"Yes, ma'am."
YOU'RE warm now. Go and play
something. Can you sing?'
"Yes, ma'am."