Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-06-10
Misffllantous.

As a Companion fOr a Lady

As Companion fOr Lady
Il am very sorry, Miss. but I'm oni,
poor woman myseli and # You can't paw
the rent Of this room. don't see a. you can
Aford the rcn, Of the one up>;Airs"
Here the lanliady rubbyd her nose VIC
iousl, upon her apron and stared straight
out Of the yer, dirty window.
\, tins vas &, identity 4 challenge to me 20
r,pl, | aid. a. frml, a. could a fe~ " ord,
which brought ou; the reason for the NO
mans visit that morning.
Am ! TO understand, then. that YOU wish
the TO leave"
III YOU please. Miss, at the end Of the
week. for there's the gent on the first floor
would like TO have this bedroom"
Very well. Mr.. Kuddook. said | viii
find room else~ here"
"Thanky. Miss" she said sharply; and
giving her nose another vicious rub, she leit
me TO nv thoug ghts-and nv tears.
For | was weak. faint and heartsick. and
the coins in my purse had du indled down.
50 thA, Il did not succeed in obtaining an
engagement IN Il very few DAYS, had no
resource but TO creep back TO the countr,
aud asow my failure.
Just three months since, We were all so
happy IN the little country Sloaragc and
then, in visiting one Of his people, my poor
father caught a dangerous fever. while IN
| tending him my dear mother was stricken
with the same complaint. and ere three weeks
I had passed Miuna and ! sat in the little
study alone. IN deep black for the struggle
/ had been brief, and those we loved lay to-
/ ge,her in the green churehya ard, aud We were
/ only intruders now in the little yicarage tha,
+ had been our home.
/ We were nearly penniless, toe. but a broth
er clergyman Of my fathers quite ~ poor,
/ came iorw ard and offered Us 4 temporary
T home till. as he said, some opening should
occur for US
/ ! gladly accepted ii for Minna; but for
myself. ! was determined 10 Try great Lon
I don, and, unaided battle for myself In two
I wears John Murray was 10 come back from
/ Australia to fetch me for his wife. and till
then ] would be independent So the dAy
came AZ last when. with many tears. We two
! girls had to separate, and with aching heart
Z left the old Lincolnshire home. and reached
the great dreary void Of London early one
! afternoon.
| Was hot long in finding plaee where
could stay, in the shape of second floor
B
! streets near the Foundling-sireeis that echo
from morning to night with mourniul cries
uttered by ,enders whose goods il is impos-
/ sible TO surmise, and with the dismal echo
ing tones Of various organs. So painful
we're the last to mt, that often Of an evening
when ] have returned from a disheartening
search for an engagement, and sat alone and
hungry. fearing to spend money in anything
! ,A t...A .ul lu,,
I which existed. these doleful strains
cheering perhaps TO some-have had such
/ an effect upon me that have sat and sobbed
/ till. utterly worn out, have fallen asleep
to awske perhaps hours afterward. to find
4 it very late and crawl shiyering off to
my bed.
/ As the weeks passed on and my advertise
ments and fees paid the various register off,
ces had been without effect, used TO crawl
/ back TO my room feeling more disheartened-
| was always plain. sallo~ looking girl.
and now in my fast wearing black began
to feel that was day by day growing more
shabby and weary-lOOoking and that my fee
/ BILE chances Of obtaining post were growing
/ less and less.
/ used to sit and ask myself whether had
tried hard-and | knew had-but il was
/ al~ays the same. Whether | advertised for
situation a. a governess or went from reg
is,ry Office to offer myself as a companion
/ TO a lady il was always the same. noticed
look Of disappointment As soon as entered
the room for was neither pretty nor bright
looking, and my mournful black helped to
deaden my aspect. II was always the same.
| the lady did not think should suit her,
and in blank disappointment had to re-
turn.
And now it had come 20 this: my landlsdy
had grown tired of me as the people at the
registry office, where l had more.than once
been told rudely that was not likely to get
. place as q governess or companion, but !
had better look lower. That afternoon, evil
IDENTIFY suspicious of my ability to pay, and
perhaps Disguised with my miserable way
Of living. and afraid that l should be left
an invalid upon her hands, shs had