The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-28

ent AS a guest. This was the first of her
coming out, and 1 presume Mrs. Rushton
thought my presence would act rs
stimulant to Elsie on the occasion, and,
for this reason, allowed me to be pres
ent apparently on an equal footing with
themselves. So was permitted to play
duets with Elsie, to sing for the enter
tainment of the company, although no
one had taken the pains to Introduce
me TO but few of number, rs Elsie was
too bashful and Mrs. Rushton too
proud. A part of the ladies l had seen
before, and, rs they knew the position |
occupied Mt the villa, / naturally felt
very humble in their presence. Others,
who knew nothing of me, inquired who
was of Mrs. Rushton, and L overheard
her saying to one lady, 'Oh, she is only
Elsie's privileged maid, who, for this
once, is acting the part OF guest.
90 Ii you had not told me this Ishould
says she is an accomplished, elegant
young lady. How finely she plays and
how sweetly she sings!
"Well, she has been brought up
here, having the benefit OF our gov
erness' instructions.
"'That accounts for it, then, replied
the aristocratic lady, looking at me
sharply.
SO Yes, but we cannot think of making
an equal of her; it was only to crafty "A
within of Elsies that l consented to her
being present on this occasion.
81 could not bear any more, andlmme-
diately left the room. Half an hour
later Elsie found me crouched upon one
end of the sofa in our school-room cry
ing as hard as / possibly could. She
began to cry too, and declared she
would not go back to the drawing-room
until l accompanied her. Then she
kissed me, and told me l was dearer TO
her than anyone else, and said she
wished she was half as good or pretty as
L, and that l must excuse her mother,
for she thought more of style than of
hurting anyones feelings.
"'Well, l said, Miss Elsie, since
you desire it SO much, | will go back
with you, but it is wholly on your ac-
count, rs it would cause SO much talk ii
you were not to return !; SO l dried my
tears, and Elsie did hers, and then we
made our way back to the company.
The rest of the evening, or night, rath-
er, for our party did not break up till
nearly morning, Elsie was particularly
attentive to me, and | was treated very
civilly by all present. But | rejoiced
in the idea that this was to be the last
time [ would be required to appear in
such formidable company My hap
piness consisted in nothing OF the kind.
L was of n retiring nature, and the quiet
days spent alone with Elsie and our
books made up the sum of my enjoy
ment Happier than ever now seemed
the days of our studying together in the
lovely school-room under the di-
rections of our dear goyerness.
Alas they were past, and Elsie
would go more into society, and,
perhaps, in Il little while care less for
my company. How swiftly these
thoughts revolved III my mind, as min
Cling i'll that august company | strove
to appear ut ease, and how glad WAS
when the guests dispersed and | could
creep to my little room, and there pour
out my tears afresh.
after this Elsie and her mother
were constantly on the 90, but | had no
desire to accompany them, nor was |
invited. Elsie would gladly have taken
me everywhere she went, and often on
her return from places she cared moth
ing for going would seek me ont the mo-
ment she entered the house to embrace
me and cry III my arms. Then L would
remove her jewels, undo her hair, lay
her wraps away in the press, and, per-
haps, battle her temples, feeling quite
happy for the privilege of doing this.
The position occupied at the villa was
a very comfortable, easy one, and one
for which | was well paid, SO | had no
cause for complaint, after all. Still,
there slumbered III my bosom that de
sire for liberty or independence which
is so dear to all, and which / could not,
as | was then situated, really enjoy. So l
one day intimated TO Elsie that |
thought | would leave the villa, for the
purpose Of conducting small private
school for young ladies, which should
be completely under my own insight and
supervision, feeling capable and desir-
ous of the undertaking. She at once
began to sob. and said she could not
hear a word about my leaving her. A
young man was paying attention to her,
and had been for some time, but / did
not know us anything serious would re-
suit from it, until she now told me that
she would probably be married in about
six months, and she wanted me very
much to remain at the villa until after
that event, when we would go to her
new home, which was to be very lux
urious one, and there | would be on an
equality with her III every respect, rs l
would pass for her sister.
Loving her as l did, how could re-
fuse this request, made while she tear
fully chung to my neck, and looked so
affectionately into my eyes. So prom
ised to remain, trying to assist her i'll
every way | could until she was mar
ried, and we both went to the city to
live III her new, elegant home, where, as
she had promised, / was introduced to
all her new acquaintance rs her own
sister, though / continued to assist her
in various ways as heretofore, for / had
grown up III that way, and would not
have been happy if L had been denied
that privilege. Everything that money
could procure we both had still, after
"A short time, l could see Elsie was not