Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21

She came round to the door and looked, and
In return she encountered the indignant look Of
an honest English girl, who. although almost
to hold her own. Directly the landlady saw me
she became suddenly and strangely altered. She
gave me smile and curtSy, and came forward
heard this strange conversation, and am glad
to say that had enough tact to refrain from
abiding to it at the time.
dear me, Miss" she exclaimed. "Mrs. wilm-
slow will be so dreadfully sorry that you have
been prevented coming to her tonight by any
accident or unpleasantness. How tired and
hungry you must be. Cemein, come In
She led the way into very pretty little room
furnished as a drawing room, where tall. hand
some, bouncing girl was sitting at a table copy
ing music, and introduced me to her as her
daughter Kate: Rectors'd daughters and inn-keep-
ers' daughters do not, as rule, see much of each
other, but this was a wholesome, pleasant,
pretty, lady like girl, as much OF lady as any
girl whom have ever met. We shook hands
heartily, and at once became great friends. The
good people brought me tea and cold chicken,
and made me as comfortable as could have
been at home.
You have never been at an inn before, have
you, my dear?" said Mrs. Brown, now Modified
beyond all description.
IN Not to sleep, ma,am; only row and then I
ben at hotel at our market town."
Perhaps you will be little nervous at night
in strange place, she rejoned.
mot at all. ma'am,"I answered, attempting
to be polite, although In reality expected that
should feel rather uncomfortable.
g! think, my dear, If you don't mind, you had
better sleep in my daughter Rates room. There
is little bed there which will just suit you, and
you will not feel lonely"
Rates room was perfect boudofr: She had
all sorts Of pretty things, and had been at
good boarding school near London. She had
little swinging bookcase, just like my own, with
the same admixture of novels poems, and devo-
tional works. My little white couch was charm
ing. In girls fashion we lay in bed ever so long
talking. l told her all the story of my day, from
first start In the morning until Mr.. Curtis drove
me into Manningham. l was glad to hear her
son OF a big farmer. or rather Squire, just
such another as Mr. Wllmslow, to whose house
l was going. He had been the head boy of the
Mann1ngham Grammar School, and then at an
agricultural college, and he had also Travelled in
foreign parts. twas quite clear that Kate re-
garded him as one Of the aristocracy Of the
tifying the young man who had been driving
tandem. Kate denounced him as "a perfect
BRUTE" and l heartily agreed with her energetic
language. 1t was the very Mr.. Blades whom
heard her mother abiding to in her conversa-
ton with William Curtis. Whenever he came
to the inn she took care that she never came
liquor once-which she believed was his usual
cOnditton-and her mother would never let her
run the chance Of seeing him thus a second
time.
The morning came genial and brilliant. 1
slept soundly, and rose refreshed pleasant
breakfast was spread In the sitting room, where
l had been over night. There was little mat
ter, which was sorely perplexing me. Being at
the inn, ought to ask for and pay my account
but on the other hand, had been treated with
such motherly kindness and hospitality that 1
really did not like to offer them money. re-
member, however, having heard my dear father
say that it was very rarely indeed that you
could offend people by Offering them money
which might be thought their due, and he also
used to say that whether they took it or not they
at least liked to have the offer Of it. Accord
ingly, though with some stammertng, asked
for my pm; AS soon as ever had uttered the
landlady took both my hands In hers and said
that must not say another syllable on the SUBJ
ject. for they were charmed to have me there,
and were thankful that should have been their
guest.
And now, my dear" she said, 81 declare there
are visitors coming to see you already"
And sure enough, just underneath the arch
way, there was a low pony carriage with a pair
OF white ponies, and a dear old lady and gentle
man, white-headed, who exactly matched the
ponies Ina minute they were within the room
shaking hands with me very warmly.
I'VE are the father and mother of William
Curtis, who brought you here last night" said
the old lady introducing herself. I'VE are so
very glad that he was able to render you this
service. The Wilmslows are old friends of ours,
and we thought that it might perhaps be nicer
for you II we drove you over this morning in
our pony chaise. We are afraid that they must
have been very much alarmed as you did not
turn up"
Nothing could be kinder than this beautiful
Olu lduy was as we uTOVe along. she knew all
about my going to be governess at the Wins
lows, and said that she hoped that she should
be often seeing me, and that l must come and
spend my shorter holidays at their home
Langley Manor House, on the other side of
Manningham. In due time we came to Dom
nington, when the W1lmslows gave me very
kind reception. They had been greatly per-
turbed and dismayed by my non-arrlvaL Mrs.
Wilmslow, with natural feminine sagacity, laid
all the blame upon her irrational husband who
at once meekly accepted her reprimand.
This, then, was the one CLEAN Of romance
which tllumtned my g1rlhood. 1t did not last so
very long. That is to. say it lasted from five
O'Clock In the afternoon till ten o'clock that
memorable September day. Since then really
cannot say that l have ever met with anything
in the shape of an adventure 1t is said by wise
people that the nation is happy which has no his.
tory, and think that the same may be said of
woman. But from this adventure, such as it
was, there flowed several important results l
found In the Curt1SeS the kindest and most
loving friends ever made In my life AS made
some mention Of my family at the outset may
say that the young Squire married my eldest
sister, and through her influence our curate got
a living, which enabled him to marry my second
sister. AS for myself, often say that am still
goyerneSS, but with this important difference
that am governess to children of my own, and
as my boys grow up they are sometimes
cheeky" and call my dearest William the Gov
ernor. often bless the day when that one CLEAN
OF romance through tears and troubles brought
me to the settled sunshine nv ltfa-AUfbo