The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-09-25
THE HALF.C
An OLD eovERHEss's TALE
FOUNDED ON FACT.
az MISS MULoCK.

.NOW, naQ not remembered that; but
OF course ne know. However, looked
9nd Lelt disappointed: At last as Mr..
lie Poer spoke with the greatest polite
ness, confessed the fact that wanted
the money for habiliments.
On, Is that all? Then pray nv ex-
cellent young lady, go with Caroline to
H at once. Order anything you
ike OF my tradespeople. Bid them put
all 20 my account; we can settle after
ward NO excuses; indeed you must. y
lie bowed me away with the air of a
oenelactor disdaining gratitude, and
set on Immediately on one of his fire.
quent tauntS. There was no help for
It; so accepted his plan and went to
HI with Caroline and Matilda.
IL seemed long time since l had
Deen In any town, and the girls might
never have been there in their lives. so
eagerly did they hnger at shop-win-
lows, adm1ring and longing after
nnefy. Ihe younger conSoled the elder
saying that they would have all these
sort OF grand things some time. Its
only four years" whispered she, just
four years, and then that stupid Zill
=" Here Caroline pushed her away with
an angry "hushl" and walked up to NV
side with prim smile. 1 thought It;
strange, but took no notice, always dis
Iklng TO play the governess out OF
school-hours.
Another odd thing happened the
same week. There came q letter to
MT. lie Poer from Mr.. Sutherland.
coulu not help noticing this, as it lay on
the mantei-shelf two days before the
former returned, and used to see it
Always when / sat at meals. His-Mr.
Sutheriands mean-was q fair. large
hand, which would have caught any
ones eye: besides, 1t was like old times
to see It again.
Tbanna1ed To I,a 1,,, xvha,, AS D-
opened the letter. He was so anxious
over 1t that he did not notice my pres
ence- Perhaps it was wrong of me to
glance toward him, but yet natural.
considering it was the letter OF friend
oI mine. saw little note inclosed.
the address of which was almost sure
bore my name. / waited, thinking he
would give it to me. 1 even made
some slight movement to attract his
attentlOn. He looked up-be actually
started-but the next moment smiled,
as only Mr.. Le Poer could smile.
News from our friend, you seel''
: said he, showing me the outside envef-
ope. "1e is quite well, and-iet me
consider, ,"-glancing over his own let
ter-"he sends his kindest remembran-
ces to you. a most worthy man is Mr..
Sutherland"
So saying he folded the epistle, and
placed it in his desk. The little note.
which he had turned seal uppermost he
quietly put unopened, into his pocket,
1t must have been my own delusion
then. Yet l was disappointed
At the expiration of my first year as
a goveTneSS, Just as [ was looking with
untold eagerness to my midsummer
holidays, when 1 was at length to 90
home TO my mother-for the journey to
London was too expensive to admit Of
that happiness more than once year
there happened great disaster to the
Ls Poer family; no less than that terri
bic scOurge, typhuS fever. Matilda
took it first, then Caroline, then the
mother. These three were scarcely con-
valescent when Zillah caught the fever
In her turn, and had it more dangerous
ly than any of the rest. Her life was
in danger for many days, during which
had the sole anxiety and responsible
ty; for Mr.. LIE Poer on the first tidinps
OF the fever, had taken fight, and been
visible at home no more. True, he
wrote every other day most touching
letters, and l in return kept him con-
stantly informed IS to the progress Of
his wife and children. When Zillah
was taken i'll, however, did not think
1t necessary to send him word concern
ing her, feeling that the poor orphans
life was precious to no one. / never
was more surprised than when on Mr..
lie Peers venturing back and finding
Zillah in the crisis of her disease, his
terror and anxiety appeared uncontroll-
able.
Good Godl" he cried, 'tZillah illP
Zillah going TO die? ImposSiblel Why
was not informed before? Confound
you, madaml''-and he turned furiously
to his still ailing wife-''did you not
think?-Are you mad-quite mad7''
/ declare thought he was. Mrs. Le-
Poer only sobbed in silence. Mean
while the outcries Of the delirious girl
were heard in the very parlor: l had
given her my room; 1 thought, poor
soul, she should not die in her damp
htchen-closet.
Mr.. lie Poer turned absolutely white
with terror-he who had expressed only
mild concern when his wife and daugh-
ters were in peril. Miss Pryor." said
he, hoarsely, something must be done. .
The girl must be saved; I'd snatch her
from the very hend himself! Send for
advice, physicians, nurses; send to
Leeds, Liverpool-to London even. /
Only, by -, she must not diel''
Poor Zillah did not die. She was
saved, for Heavens strange purposes; 4
though /, in my then blindness, often 4
and often, while sitting by her bedside, \
thought it would be better did she slip
quietly out of the bitter world in which 4
she seemed to be only an unsightly and /
trampled weed. Mr.. lie Peers wonted /
anxiety Olu not emu WlLn 0eT COnNaleS- &
cence, which was very slow. ''She may
die yeti" heard him muttering to him
self, the first day after he saw his niece.
''Miss Pryor, my wife is fool-I mean
a rather undecided person. Tell me
what you think ought to be done foRI
Zillah's recovery" 1 prescribed. but
with little hope that my advice would
be followed-immediate change to sea
air. 1T shall be donel" at once said
he. Mrs. LIE Poer and the girls can
take care of her; or stay-she likes you
best. Miss Pryor, are you willing to
gol''
This question perfectly confounded
me. Thad been so longingly anticipat-
ing nv going home-delayed. as in COM
mon charity could not but delay it, on
account of the fever. Now this troub-
le was over had quite counted on my
departure. That very week had been
preparing my small wardrobe, so as to
look as nice as possible in my mothers
eyes. She had given me hint to do so,
since she and were to spend the vaca-
ton together at Mr.. Sutherland's coun-
try-house, and old Mr.. Sutherland was
so very particular.
"Why do you hesitate?" said Mr.. Le-
Poer rather sharply. Are you thinking
of the money? You shall have any
additional salary-E50 more, il you
choose. Upon my soul, madam, you
SHALL only entreat you to 60"
would not have minded his entreat-
les, but / was touched by those of
Zillah, who seemed terrified at the idea
A. = = - 4