Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-03
OF the Blue Sulphur Springs-and of
Lieutenant Erkskine r

u tuo Dluo OuIpuur OpIlHBS-duu VI
Lieutenant Erkskine
Celandine," cried Mrs. Hartfield
"what on earth do you suppose he
thinks of you2"
"I am sure don't know" said the
cream-skinned blonde, in an accent
which distinctly implied, "and don't
care, either"
"Don't you think you ought to
write ?" hesitatingly questioned Mrs.
Hatfield.
"Writep What on earth should I
write for ?" scornfully cried Celandine.
1.-THE affair is over with, and it is a
good thing that it is. Do let it rest in
its grave. shall write its epitaph in
my diary, Filtration No. 1901 came
to natural end July 8, 49, And
do not suppose that 1 shall ever think
of it again."
So Miss Bellairs and her sister went
TO New York, renewed their toilets,
took trip to the wave washed rocks
of old Witch Hill, listened to the roar
Of the surf and the merry clash of the
band at Newport, and then came home,
sated with summer raptures, to Phila-
delphia.
Came home to discover, to their in
finite chagrin and dismay, that the
silver-haired old gentleman who had
been Celandine's guardian and adviser
since her fathers death, had practiced
on her the same extremely skillful de-
vice which she had SO enjoyed at the
Blue Sulphur Springs, and had disap-
peared, leaving no trace behind, except
ruined credit, an empty exchequer,
and whole ream of penitential con-
fessions, in letter shape.
"What am to do?" said Celandine,
turning with pale, frightened face
to Mrs. Hatfield
And that lady, never very prompt
at an emergency, answered only with
a fit of inopportune Mysteries.
There are fortunately a number of
ways, now that the world is growing
wiser and more tolerant, in which a
woman can earn her bread, and to
these, in hapless succession, Celandine
Bellairs turned her attention.
Mrs. Moneyland, one Of her rich
friends, wanted a companion.
"To be like my own daughter said
that lady, all fat, self-satisfed smiles
And Celandine rashly believed that
all toll and trial were at an end now.
But at a months end poor Celandine
resigned her position.
~ am sure 1 don't know how you
could easily secure an easier position"
said Mrs. Moneyland, bridling up.
"An ample salary and really nothing
to do but to solace my loneliness"
Eyes, 1 know" said Celandine.
"But nobody could endure being
called up at 8 o'clock in the morning
to read aloud to you, to mend lace all
the afternoon and superintend SER
wants all the morning; to sit stead
fastly in the house, for fear that
might be wanted, and to lose night
after night of rest taking care of in
valid skye terriers and sick parrots.
Washing or scrubbing would probably
be harder work, but it would always
come to an end r
"You are an ungrateful young viperl''
sobbed Mrs. Moneyland. "When you
know, too, how well your voice suited
me, and how dear Gypsy, the dog, liked
your waysp
Celandine tried position as tele-
graph operator next and failed. Tele-
graphing required practice and nerve,
and poor Celandine had neither.
She took in bead-work and fine en-
broidery and broke hopeless down at
the end of week.
Mrs. Hatfield, who had accepted a
situation as housekeeper in gentle
mans family, viewed her poor little
sisters successive failures with dis
may.
"I'm sure. Celandine," said she, II
don't know what is to become of you'll
Couldn't you get in somewhere.as shop
girl or lady attendant in some furnish
ing emporium, Or"
al do not think l could endure the
fatigue" said Celandine, family.
Poor folks can't afford to be too
particular" said Mrs. Hatfield, pursuing
her lips.
But just about this time Mrs.
Bridgeby, the fat and comfortable pre-
ceptress in whose Institute" Celan-
dine Bellairs and her sister had been
educated, lost her English governess,
and graciously consented to allow Miss
Bellairs to fill the vacancy at q merely
nominal salary.
"Just until something else should
turn up, you know, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Bridgeby, smilingly.
| And here, for two mortal years,
Celandine drudged on, wearing out
soul and body alike in the wretched