Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-25
I I I,
The two ladies were alon,

Inc TWO Id0IcS were dlOnS-
Widely as the lot in life of ono differed
from the lot in life of the other, they pre-
sented a contrast in personal appearance
which was more remarkable still. In the
prime of life, tall and fair-the beauty of her
delicate complexion and her brilliant blue
eyes, rivaled by the charm of figure which
had arrived at its mature perfection of de-
velopment-MrS.L inley sat side by side
with frau little dark-eyed creature, thin
and pale, whose wasted face bore patient
witness to the three crueleSt DrivationS under
which youth can suffer-want of fresh air,
want Of nOurishment, and want of kindness.
The gentle mistress of the house wondered
sadly if this lost child of misfortune was ca
pable OF seeing the brighter prospect before
her that promised enjoyment Of a happier
life to come.
Il was afraid to disturb you while you
were resting" Mrs. LinIey said. Let n.e
hope that my housekeeper had done what I
might have done myself if had seen you
when YOU arrived"
Tie hOusekeeper has been ali that is good
and kind to me- madam"
Don't call me madam; it sounds SO form
al-can me Mrs. LinIey.' You must not
think OF beginning to teach Kitty till you feel
stronger and better. l see but too plainly
that you have not been happy. Don't think
of your past life or speak Of your past life"
Forgive me, Mrs. Linley; my past life is
my one excuse for having ventured to come
into this house."
In what way, my dear?'
At the moment when that question was
put the closed curtains which separated the
breakfast-room from the library were softly
aTfo in, n
strongly marked by curiosity and distrust
peered through-eyed the governess with
stern scrutiny-and retirAd onain info hid
ing. The introduction of stranger with
out references) into the intimacy of the fA-li-
ly circle was, as Mrs. Presty viewed 1t, a
crisis in domestic history Conscience, with
its customary elasticity, adapted itself to the
emergency, and Linley's mother-in-law stole
information behind the curtain-in Linley's
best interests, it is quite needless to say.
The talk Of the two ladies went on, with
out a suspicion on either side that it was
overheard by third person.
Sydney explained herself.
IF had led a happier Iife," she said, ST
might have been able to resist Mr.. LinIey's
kindness. [ concealed nothing from him.
He knew that had no friends to speak for
me; he knew that I had been dismissed from
my employment at the school. Oh, Mrs.
Linley, everything l said which would have
made other people suspicious of me made
him feel for me! l began to wonder whether
he was an angel or man. If he had not
prevented it, / should have fallen on my
knees before him. Hard looks and hard
words could have endured patiently, but I
had not seen a kind look, I had not head q
kind word, for more years than I can reckon
up. That is all can say for myself leave
the rest to your mercy" 49,.
"Say my sympathy" Mrs. Linley answer,
ed, 'and you need say no more. But there
is one thing I should like to know. You
have not spoken to me of your mother. Have
you lost both your parents%'
NO"
''Then you were brought up by your moth
er?"
"Yes."
You surely had some experience Of kind
ness when you were a child|'
A third short answer would have been no
very grateful return for Mrs. Linley's kind
ness. Sydney had no choice but to say plain
ly what her experience of her mother had
BEEN
Are there such women in the world!'
Mrs. Linley exclaimed. "Where is your
mother now?"
I'm America-I think"
"You think?"
''My mother married again." Sydney an
swered. ''She went to America with her
husband and my little brother six years ago."
'.And left you behind?'
''Yes."
''And she has never written to youl"
''Never"
This time Mrs. Linley kept silence; not
without an effort Thinking of Sydney's
motner-and for one morbid moment seeing
her own little darling in Sydney's place-she
was afraid to trust herself to speak while the
first impression was wildly present to Der
mind.
II will only hope" she replied,
ing little, ''that some kind person pitieG
and helped you when you were deserted.
Any change must have been for the better
after that. Who took charge of you?'
MY mothers sister took charge of me; an
elder sister who kept school. The time
when | was most unhappy was the time
when my aunt began to teach me- IF you
don't want to be beaten and kept on bread
and water she said learn, you ugly little
wretch, and be quick about it"
'sDid she speak in that shameful way to
the other girls??"
''Oh, mol was taken into her school for
nothing, and young as I was, was expected
to earn my food and shelter by being fit to
teach the lower class. The girls hated me
1t was such wretched life that hardly like
to speak of it now. l ran away and was
caught and severely punished. When
grew older and wiser l tried to find some
other employment for myself. The elder