The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-09-05
LETTUCE.
A bitter da,

A bitter day,
Not pleasant day to travel on, b
any means; but then Lettice Mainwal
ing was one Of the sort that makes tb
best OF everything.
TITS long journey over the hill.
MISS" said the wife of the landlord {
the little one-story tavern that wa
pcrched OH the crest of the highway
"and the SHOWS powerful deep.S
81 think a winter landscape is tn
nrcttiest thing in the world" said Lei
tice, chcerily, as she wound her fur
round and round her neck.
"And old Stokes stage is awfull,
uncomfortable" added the landlady.
~ like stage riding" asserted Lefty
/ you'll not get there till dark.n
"Oh, that is sooner than l expected
Lefty answered.
And Lefty climbed up into the stag,
coach which stood creaking and groan
ing at the door, having just rumblcd ur
from the village, a mile or go down the
hill. WV
One solitary passenger occupied IN.
opposite corner-a tall, dark man, with
spanish sort of complexion and clear
DARK eyes, who wore an odd sort of an
oiivegreen cloak or mantle, heavily
trimmed with sable fur.
He nodded briefly in return to Let.
ty's smiling recognition.
Our little heroine would have talked
with polar bear, had polar bear
chanced to be her travelling companion.
Lettuce arranged her bags and her
basket and her bonnet strings, and
wondered secretly how far the tail man
was going.
"Can be of any assistance TO Won p,
courteousIy queried the gentleman. as
Lefty searched in the straw at her feet
for dropped glove.
"Thanks-no," said Lefty, coming
up again with very red cheeks. on3
cnrls little disheyelled. care Won
going all the way through?"
GAS far rs the stage goes-yes.n
"Oh," said Miss Mainwaring, $50
The gentleman nodded interrogatiye.
ly and went back to his paper.
"Cross thing" thought Lettv. ;nvo,.
unfairly pouting her cherry lips. "Why
cant he talk and make himself agreea-
bier And he knows very we'll that we
are to be shut up here together for
eight long hours"
But the wild landscape, as it fitted
by, white, cleaning with snow, and
darkly fringed with the waving bougbs
was, after all, nearly as good a study
rs the "human face divine"
Lefty soon forgot her temporary an.
noyance and chagrin in the white. skel-
eton-like wall of an old paper mill.
long since disused and fallen to ruin.
81 wonder If il is haunted?' she said
aloud. '"'0
The stranger smiled and laid down
his gsper.
asked. ~ "
Lettice Mainwaring laughed and col.
ored.
"Of course not. And yet. Are
the countryr
deal" = e"'o
"oh! then perhaps you know Easter.
His face brie ehtened.
"Oh, yes. You are going there?,
Eyes. am going to be goyernes,
10 the little children, !" said Lefty, max.
ing haste to enlighteu him as TO he,
true position, in order that he Should
iuiiy comprehend that she was no ele,
giant young lady coming to the Hall tc
make visit, but a humble little work
ing girl, who was obliged to toll stead
fastly for the daily bread she ate.
"Indeedp he said.
And Lefty was vexed at herself 70,
noticing the polite indifference int
which his tone subsided.
81 suppose is very fine old place. ,
she went on.
"Very-for those who fancy fine ole
places TO my taste they are apt to b,
overrun with rats, full of draughts an(
picturesquely inconvenient."
"And haunted, perhapsr' mischiey
ously put In Lettice, the roeuish spark,
coming back to her eyes.
$50 far as / know, Easlerham Hal
is free from any supernatural occu
pants"
81 am sorry for that" said Lefty.
He arched his eyebrows.
"fou would like to share your room
with ghost or twoY
''No; but l do like little tippe O
romance about the place-sometbinp /,
sci 1t above and beyond the level of th'
commonplace"
He did not answer, and talkatiy,
Lefty once more to set the converse
tional ball rolling said:
"rhe Easterhams are very rich,
supposef"
eyes"
81 never heard of them until las
week." said she, musingly. "And nov
I-how strangely things are ordered |,
this world-I am going TO cast my 10
among them"
GLOW does that happen?' said tn
gentleman. He could not very wei
say less, In ordinary politeness, and We
Lefty felt triumphantly that she ha,
"drawn him out"
"They wrote 10 Madame Moligny
my old teacher, 10 select governes
qualified to teach two little boys; an,
madame knew that | wished for stu
alton, and 80 here ! am. l wonde
how they will like. mop"
II hope you will like them, !" said th
gentleman, sti1ing q yawn.
"That isn't the question:" said Lett
imperatiyely. "Mr. Easterham is
dreadful bear"
"Yop are acquainted with himr
"Oh, no; only what have heard,
answered Lefty. "You are neigh
bor" said Lefty, doubthilly. "Perhap
i have said too much already"