Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-01-21
an 0rigiual Stprg.
Written for the YOrkville Enquirer
AN UNQUlET LIFE.
By STANLEY STCLAIR.
CHAPTER ".

success.
"Magdalen," said the gentle lady to her
on the day week of her arrival, lit is time
for US both now to make our decision. You
will tell me your wishes first. Are you
c0ntented here?"
"Perfectly contented-more than con-
tented, Mrs. Fairfax" replied the young
girl with throbbing heart. 81 have been
truly happy here-happier than have ever
been since my parents died."
s'You are willing then to stay with me ?'
2 'For ever!" was Magdalen's ELUSIVE re-
ply, as with a sudden impulse she took
Mrs. Fairfax's slender hand and kissed it.
"Then you may stay. But Magdalen,
remember, if give you the position OF one
of my family-for l intend that you shall
always be treated in every respect as my
equai-I expect from you an unquestioning
compliance with my wishes. Your con.
duct must be under my guidance; you must
reward my care and my confidence with i'm
plicit obedience and perfect respect. 1t is
on these conditions alone that / keep you {;
and on these conditions you will find me
a true and firm friend"
"They are easy conditions" replied Mag
dalen, to whom everything looked easy at
that moment. And what tyranny could
she fear from one so kindly disposed as her
new friend?
settled. This afternoon we will drive to
the Asylum, and you shall get the remain
der of your things"
"I don't think, Mrs. Fairfax, that there
is any need of your taking the trouble to
90 out there again, I have nothing of any
yalue-nothing worth bringing away"
"Your clothing?"
81 put most of that in my bag when L
came off," said Magdalen, who was secretly
b a. III. "a
of all her former possessions.
!:'But you would like, at least, to bid
farewell to your former protectors and
friends?
There was mingled surprise and reproach
in Mrs. FairfaX's tone, and Magdalen felt
the implied rebuke.
20 certainly, she rejoined, casting down
her eyes. 1t was only that 1 feared it might
inconvenience you to 60"
''Not in the least. I have little to occu-
py me in the afternoon, and drive is al
ways beneficial to me-"
Magdaen hated to re-enter the Asylum
in her old clothes. She would have enjoy
ed showing herself to her former asso-
ciates under a new aspect, but would
have preferred staying away under present
circumstances, and the prospect of a general
leave-taking was particularly disagreeable
to her. However, there was no help for it.
So, when lunch was over, she got her.
self ready, and at two o'clock the carriage
one, but she felt perceptible sinking of
her spirits as the gates of the Asylum came
in view
'Heres Magdalen"' "Magdalen's come
back!''@ cried two or three childish voices
as they drove through the grounds. Mrs.
Ellery, knitting in hand, was sitting in an
arm chair near the front steps. She rose and
welcomed them pleasantly, and invited
them in.
II have brought Magdaen back" said
Mrs. Fairfax, as they entered the parlor,
lect whatever of her possessions she de-
sires to bring away"
"You mean to keep her, then ?"
eyes, we have agreed to suit each other"
'That's WE'LL" said Mrs. Elery, with gen.
uine satisfaction. "Magdalen, my dear,
you had better run upstairs at once. You
know where to find everybody, and your
things are all in their old places"
Magdaen walked leisurely off, and Mrs.
Ellery, turning to her visitor, said with a
smile, 81 think there is a new air Of digni
ty about her already. do hope, Mrs. Fair
fax, that she willsuit you in every respect"
ut would be difficult, perhaps, to find a
girl who would suit me in erery respect"
was the reply; "but situated as I am,
must be satisfied with any one who will
suit me in most respects, as | think she
promises to do. She is certainly very in
telligent and well informed, much more so
cellently well, which is great accomplish
ment, and rare one nowadays"
"Yes she is clever and ambitious, and has
spent great deal Of time over her studies.
She is almost too ambitious-and it is of this
/ would warn you. She aspires constantly
to that which is beyond her reach. You
will have to watch her, Mrs. Fairfax, and
not give her too much license, or she may
get beyond your control. [ don't want to
her-far from t-but if you know her weak
point from the beginning, you can the more
easily guard against it,"
81 think l have already found out her
weak point. But after all, is it we'll to
check ambtion?" asked Mrs. Fairfax,
thoughtfully. "It may lead to great and
good results"
'Indeed it may, when well directed.
Magdalen has fine capabilities in her. but
the truth is, she has only shown me her
worst side. She has never been happy here,
and 1 have never been able to win her con-
fidence. Perhaps it is my own fault. l
may not have tried the right method with
her. She is a reticent girl, and very proud"
"Probably she felt out of place here" said
Mrs. Fairfax "She gave me a sketch Of
her, former circumstances on the first day of
our acquaintance, and I can imagine that
she felt the change more keenly than if she
had been younger when it occurred"
Eyes, it's true that her parents were once
we'll off; but she has lacked no comfort here,
and has no cause to complain" said Mrs.
Ellery, little warmly. II assure you that
she has always been treated with entire
kindness and consideration; and as to the
companionship of the others, l must say
they are, on the whole, very nice set of
girls-very nice, particularly those with
whom she came most in contact But she
looked down upon all of them, and as nat
ural result there was no sympathy between
. them and her."
"Of course, 1 can understand that. A
girl of her disposition would, | see, not be
likely to make friends under such circum-
stances. And you mustn't think that she
led me to suppose she had been otherwise
than kindly treated, for that is, by no means,
the case. | am sure she was fortunate IN
finding such a comfortable home, and such
kind protectors. But she is getting too.od,
is she not, for your institution: Would she
not soon have been obliged, under any cir
cumstances, to leave"
eve never turn them off without find
ing them good places; and though eigh-
teen is really the age mentioned in the rules
as the limit of their stay, yet they can find
a home here for much longer period if
they are willing to take some useful posi-
tion, as sewing-teacher, assistant matron,
sck-nurse, or child'S nurse, as many OF
them do. But Magdalen would not have
accepted any ofthese positions. Herstrong-
pSt wish fO rat "