The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-11-27
A LOST CHANGE.

A LOST CHANCE.
1t was midsummer and Lillian
Ferguson had never seen faircr scene
than the pillows of blue hills that Law
stretched out below her, with here and
there the flash of half-hiddcn lake, or
ID tho ribbon-like glitter of tiny river
She stood leaning against the rustic
post that formed the support of the
booking Office of the small rural sta
tion, while her modest little trunk and
travelling bags wero piled up at the
rSsr.
'"Don't fret, miss" said the station
master, porter, and booking clerk COM
binod, who was bustling in and out
"The omnibus will be here SOON"
e"Oh, am in no hurry for tho bus!'
. said Lillian, pleasantly. II could stand
and look at this beautiful landscape all
day., ...
'Ain't that strange nowP" reflect
lively uttered the official. eve never
think about it at ALL.
'Is tho omnibus often as late as
thisP" said Lillian, glancing at her neat
little silver watch.
mot generally" said the station
master; "but to-day they're waiting at
tho Rectory for the doaf-and-dumb
gentleman.
"For whomP" said Lillian, in amazo-
mcnt.
''For the deaf-and-dumb gentleman,
5 miss" explained tho station-master.
"a cousin of our minister S. He's been
down here for treatment; but dear me,
there amt no treatment can ever do
him any good. AS deaf as stone,
miss, and never spoke an Intelligent
word since hc was born. But they do
say he's very learned man, in spite
of all his drawbacks"
"1'm afraid he won't bo very lively
travelling companion, said Lillian,
. smiling.
mo, 1 suppose not" said the sta
tion-master, in q matter of-fact sort of
way.
Just at that moment wagonetto
drove up; tho driver handed out u va
hsc, and assisted q young lady to
alight. ~
"Has the omnibus gomez" she CRIED
hinging aside her veil, and revealing q
very pretty brunette face, shaded by
jetty fringcs of hair and flushed with
excitement.
"You'ro just in time MISS" said Mr..
Jones, peering down the winding road,
when no ono clso's was of any avail.
'1t's a-cOmin' nown'
But Lillian Ferguson, who had been
gazing at the new comor earnestly,
now came forward with an eager smile
and an outstrctched hand
Surely am not mistaken,n said
she, land this is Ellen MortonP"
Lillian Fergusonr' Oh, you darl-
ing, [ am so glad to see your5 cried the
stranger. But where on earth did
you como from?"
And thus met tho two lovely girls
who had parted just n year AGO at
Madame dA, Tournaire's fashionable
boarding-sehool in Scarborough, and
who had not seen each other since.
just ut this moment, however, there
was no time for explanations. The
ponderous omnibus rolled up, with
creak of lcathcrn curtains, tramp of
horses, and general confusion of
arrival, to the broad wooden steps of
tho station.
Inc sun was already down. In the
twilight, Ellen and Lillian could only
discover that the vehicle contained but
one other occupant, q man. who leaned
pack IN tho far corner, with the top of
his face partially hidden by q large.
,wide-brimmod hat and its lower part
wrapped in the folds of Persian silk
pockct-handkerchicf
lie inclined his head courteously as
they entered, and moved handsome
!traVeling case which lay on the middle
seat, as if to make room for them.
rs there another passcnger?" said
Miss Morton, with little, nervous
start.
~ "It's only doaf-and-dumb gentle
man, Lillian explained, her eyes full
OF soft pity. "Thc station-masicr told
me about him."
"What nuisance" cried Ellen. 81
had hoped we should havo the drfyo to
ourselves. But now, dear" as sho
sottled herself in the most comfortoblo
corner, tell mo what this unexpected
encounter mean"
p 1T means" said Lillian. with q s1,,,
smile, "that l am going to be 1,r,rsery
goVerness at Chessington Hall, that ia
II kiVo satisfaction. l was engaged
by u etter w".k ago."
"W hat vcrYsingular coincidence. -
said n iss Morton, shaking her cherry
colored bonnet-strings. "And 1 am
going to be companion to old Mrs,
Grove, OF Grove Rookery, tho very next
place to Chessington Hall. How I do
envy you, Lillian"
ENVY me, Ellenp"
Eyes. Haven't you heard about itp"
said tho brunette. The Chcssin0ton
children, your future charge, are moth
erless, don't you knowP They arc
under the caro- of an aunt, SO Mrs,
Grove told me; and there is hand
some widower and nm interesting
young bachelor at Chessington Hall. q
Lillian colored hotly. .. -.
Neither of whom expect to meet"
said she.
"ltwill be your own fault ii you