Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-22
Consequence of a Mistake.

! street. There was much other prop
erty, and no inconsiderable sum of
money, besides pretty little farm
twenty miles out of the city. / was
in fact rich woman, and what was
still better, perfectly free one, and
I enjoyed my liberty for the first few
weeks with all the abandon of an un-
Gagged bird. But as the winter came
on grew little lonely. / had been
to my farm, and found it a weari-
ness. Not even the pride of poses
| sion could reconcile me to its soil
tude and monotony. / had tried
watering place, and the patronage of
some and the servility of others had
so wounded and disgusted me. that
early in September came back to
my home in the city. 1t had become
plain to me, moreover, that some
sort of chaperon was necessary, for
though 1 knew [ was able to take
care of myself, society did not seem
to think so !; and l had been continu-
ally irritated by the constant propos-
ais of friends to look out for me
suitable person.
But if | was to have an incum-
brance l was determined to select it
myself, and after some consideration
[ wrote to my old teacher asking her
to accept the position. This scheme
had it's advantages and its drawbacks
as every scheme has; the advant-
ages being that Mrs. Whitney was
thorough lady, clever housekeeper,
and quite manageable; the disad
vantage being that she had daugh-
ter whom | must take, and whose
position it would be difficult to de-
fine.
However, the agreement was made:
Mrs. Whitney was installed as Lady
Propriety, and Rose Whitney as my
companion. Then, soon after, the
usual round of winter gayeties be-
gan, and though etiquette forbade
! my taking an active part in them
while / was in mourning, still |
found, in calling, shopping, concerts
and lectures, most abundant recra-
ton.
| Mrs. Whitney proved valuable.
My house and housekeeper under
her management were models of
comfortable elegance but Rosa was
something of trial. She was only
sixteen, and she was insufferably
vain of her pink and white pretti-
ness, and her youthful bloom. l tri
ed, however, to be kind and just to
her, for / clothed her handsomely,
and took her with me wherever /
went. / was careful, too, to avoid
anything which might make her feel
her position as dependent; and for
these things l think / deserve some
credit for the servitude of one woman
to another is generally very bitter
one.
One evening my lawyer called to
transact some business with me.
He remained to dinner, and proposed
after it to take us to hear some fam
Gus singer There seemed to be no
reason for refusal, for the night
was fine and the moon full; besides,
I had no other engagement; so the
, offer was accepted. AS we were 60
ing up the wide stairway at Stein
; way Hall, a gentleman accidentally
trod on my dress. He stopped a
moment to apologize. My friend
recognized him, and introduced us.
, l mad heard of Frank Ellers before,
! and had read many of his contribu-
tions to various magazines, so | felt
n no little pleased and excited at the
e rencontre. His chair happened to be
next to mine, and our acquaintance
! made such progress that I made nc
d objection 10 his proposal to walk
r home in the clear frosty night. Sc
e Rose and lawyer Denton, and Franl
It Ellers and l made very merry par
ty, and 1 went to bed that night will
+ strangely happy feeling in m.
heart.
it Next morning he made a forma
!" call, and indeed-though l dom
know quite how it happened -befor
y :, long, he was always calling on SOM
= pleasant pretext or another. Ros
q grew quite familiar with him, and in
deed Frank took a great interest il
e the pretty child, and persuaded m
Is to have her voice cultivated, and t
IS make her practice carefully ever
: day. When New Years festiva
II came he made us both presents 0
n equal value and beauty, and l wa
20 not jealous though many girls woul
+ have been, but / loved him all th
IN better for his thoughtful and sensi
tive kindness. Yes, l loved him
ID 1t had come naturally to that: and
: felt sure he loved me; but he wa
y. proud and poor, and that closed hi
" mouth.
1 How swiftly and happily the wiz
e, ter passed Every night we were te
u gether. At first we went out, br
80 80 gradually we fell into the habit {
ad spending the evenings in the quit
comfortable splendor of my ow
drawing-room. There, hour afte
s,v hour, Listened to his voice readin
eg- the thoughts of great minds, {
'sa ss, blending with Roses in some wol