Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-03-10

u
mapping out course of action she
repaired to the pa sopage and asked
boldly TO see Mr. Brown privately.
Miss Piper. meek and humble as
usual, exhibited no surprise at the re-
quest. but made haste to show the visitor
at once into the minister's study, where
he sat reading at his desk.
The intention of "having a talk on
some important subject was written
plainly on her hard. lean face, and Mr..
Brown laid down his book at once and
prepared to listen to whatever she had
come to say.
al hope I'm not disturbing you, Mr..
Brown, began Miss Anastasia. with a
little nervous cough. as she took q seat:
She felt quite agitated. and an unwon ed
color frightened her sallow cneek. Her
mission was so important. so mucn hung
upon its success, that 1t was not stran o
she was not quite as ca m as usual.
'"No, oh no." answered Mr.. brown.
with fla mt sigh, as he glanced'at his
beloved book. al am always glad To
have you come. hope there is nothing
wrongp" anxiously.
Tine truth is, Mr.. Brown, I've como
TO see you about the girls. They are
not managed as we'll as could wish.
Miss Piper is good woman, but she
can't have the authority a-a-mother
would have, you know, and she lets
them do about as they plea-e, and they
are growing up rude and wild.
Mr.. Brown looked startled. 1t did
not occur to him TO question NJ SIS Anas-
tasia's statements. He took them in
good faith always, being simple enough
to believe her TO have his interests at
heart.
"Why, you were the ono who recon-
mended Miss Piper to me-" he said at
length, land | have been well satisfied
with her,
"Shc does the best she knows how"
said Miss Anastasia, "but she hasn't
sufficient authority to govern them
properly. All, poor lite creatures,
they need the care of q mother"
This was bold stroke. A flush rose
to the minister's high, pale brow, but
he gave no other sign of emotion. Any
reference to his dead wife panied him,
even now that she had Ian in her grave
two years. but of course he did not
say so.
"You are very kind to take such an
interest, he murmured, little indis-
tinctly. what would you adviser"
Il would advise their being sent to a
boarding-school, Mr.. Brown. l have n
friend who keeps very lect seminary
at Woodstock. She would be delighted
to take charge of Flora and Annie, l
am sure"
i" should not like to part with them, !"
said Mr. Brown med tatl ely. "And -
and-what would become of Miss Piper?
l wouldn't like to hurt her feelings, and
she loves the girls dearly"
4" There'd be no cause for her to feel
hurt. Tell her. simply that force of cir.
cumstances compels you to dismiss er
A months notice will be sufficient.
" Ii will be very unpleasant" said
the minister in trepid ition. "And
where will she go? She has no homo
but this, and not relative in the
world"
" She must find another situation. I"
said Miss Anastasia. rs can beg at
once to look for one. You can tc her
of the contemplated chang tn $ even
ing" and, after promising to write at
once to the principal of the seminary
at Woodstock, Miss Anastasia lett
walking home in state of bliss bor-
dering on ecstacy. She felt sure that
she had put in the first wedge that
would lift her toward n home in the
parsonage, and already began to plan
the changes she would make in its ar
rangement.
But a shadow had been thrown over
Mr.. Browns pea .eful life. IL 5 soul
was filled with despair unutter bic at
the thought of that COVE sation he
! must have with Miss Pioer. The m 10
possibility of her she lding tears made
a shudder run through his frame. de
could not make up his mind to speak
to her, and day after day passed, I'm il
! 1t lacked only two weeks of the time
when the seminary was to open Then
at last he spoke.
He came into the sitting room, where
she sat darning his socks by { e light
of stud Mt lamp, the girls having
gone to bed. She looked up in sur
prise rs he entered. for he seldom left
his study until midnight; but not the
faintest intuition had she of the blow
which was to fall upon her.
Miss Piper" began the poor man,
feeling profoundly wretched, IL
have decided to make change"
"A changed" The sock NJ IS Piper
was darning fell from her hand She
began to tremble, and her face turned
deadly pale.
"Ycs. Miss Anastasia thinks and
of course L - il is all for tho best you
know-Flora and Annie ought 10 go to
school," faltered the minister.
And you wish to give me notice,
suppose, SIR" said the little govcrness,
in tremulous, aggrieved tone, that
stabbed Mr.. Brown to the heart.
when do you wish me to leave, sire''
looking at him with quivering smile.
"Oh, any time; suit yourself-youl
own convenience" stammcred Mr..
Brown.
DO you want me to get the girls
ready, sir?" she asked, trying to speak
cheerfully.
IF you will be so good" no an
swered. Her quiet resignation made
him utterly wretched. He would rath-
er have seen her hysterical or indignant
thousand times over.
Il will see to it, SIR"
And he then left the room, feeling
like a criminal. But as he reached the
s."uy, he h"PPenco W tuinh tnao rioIu
and Annie were yet to be told of the
impending change. He would go back
and ask the little governess to tell tn IN
for him, for he was sure OF open re-
bcllion.
He pushed open the door OF tho sit.
ting-room again, but star cd back co l.
science stricken. for Miss Piper, with
her face buried in her arms. was kncel-
ing by the sofa, while melancho Y
sound Of sobbing and crying pitiful Ia
hear. filled the room.
My dear Miss Piper" he said, for
lornly, / am so sorry ="
She started up, and tried to wipe
away her tears with the sock which she
still held.
Excuse me, SIR she faltcrcd. II :
couldn't help It, am so fond of the