Wichita eagle., 1888-12-26
WANTED.

/ which he raised were sure to be those which
brought the lowest price in the market. Th'
canker worm stripped his apple trees, and {
| late frost blighted the corn and oats. HI
| had the misfortune to buy COW which In
! PRODUCED the cattle disease into his farm yard
and Creamer, SpoDtie and Whiteface-th'
| three cows that always filed their pals the
| fullest and made the most golden butter
sickened and died
This was the question which Martie puzzled
over from day to day, coming at last to the
conclusion that she must try her luck in the
big world which she had seen SO little Of out
side of her own small village. She would &C
to London, and, if possible, find there sit
uation as governess, in which she could al
least provide for her own support.
Her mother let fall few quiet tears over
the plan, and, smiling patiently through
them, said:
ASK your father'
Mr. Woodbridge said "No" at first; but
having lain awake ali night over his diff
culties, he called Martie to him, kissed her
solemnly, gave a weary sigh, and with it his
consent.
So it came to pass on cool, crisp October
morning, when the woods were at their
brightest autumn flush, and the frost had
stifRened the grass into little silvery blades
and spears, and made the few pale flowers
that fingered by the roadside hang their heads,
that Martie put on her bravest smile, inade
hopeful, comforting little speeches, kissed
them all good-by at home-the dear old home,
SO full Of joys and troubles-and started for
the city, to put into that great, hurrying,
driving, jostling market the wares she had TO
OFFER
Martie was eager and full of hope; but,
alasl how much eagerness and bopefulness go
down to death every day in the frantic rush
and scramble for the good things going.
Martie In the great city looking for work to
do seemed like quiet little wren trying to
PICK up worm or a crumb where hawks and
vultures were snatching and clawing for
plumber.
Martie was met the moment she stepped
from the train by an old friend OF the family
who had kindly promised to receive her at
her house and do what she could to assist
her. The next day, early in the morning, a
modest, unpretending little adverse ement
was sent to one of the daily newspapers.
W bat stupendous affair ii seemed to Mal-tie,
and how her unsophisticated little heart beat
at the thought of it'll Nothing could come of
it that day, however; and while she goes out
with Mrs. Allen to Go little shopping, and
stare at few Of the city lions, let US take
look at the quarters she has fallen into
Mrs. Allen kept a small, private lodging
house, very select and very genteel Its in
mates were learned Professor Bgwig and
family, from whose presence a certain liter
airy aroma was supposed to pervade the at
mOsphere; the brilliant Col Boreas, hero
according to his own accounted numberleSs
battles; rising young lawyer, with his
pretty. blushing girl wife, all fresh and lovely
in her new bridal toilet; rich widow and her
still richer daughter, vino, it was said, was
soon TO become the helpmate of the clerical
member Of the household, the Rev Paul
Appolos; and last, though not least, the
representative of the fine arts, Mr. Raymond,
an artist whose pictures had won golden
praises from critics and connoisseurs, and
golden dollars from purchasers.
Mr.; Raymond was Martie'S left hand neigh
Dor at the table. With the first glance at his
dark face, iron gray hair and mustache, and
deep set gray eyes, she felt rather inclined to
be afraid Of him. When he smiled she liked
him better and thought the gray eyes looked
kind, and she felt very shy and lonesome
among all those strange faces. She was glad
to have him talk a little to her, and take care
that she was provided with all she wanted.
On the second morning after her arrival in
the city Martie's advertisement appeared.
Mrs. Allen sent a paper up to her room be-
fore she was out of bed, SO that almost as
soon as her eyes were open she had begun to
hope, and to be afraid and to wonder if, out
Of SO many people whom she supposed would
come TO see ner, any one of them would think
well enough of her to want her services.
Martie was very painstaking with her
Joliet that morning. She wanted to look her
best. She spent twice the usual time over
1er wavy, golden brown hair; and when she
1ad put on her pretty gray dress--the gray
ireSs was for morning and the black silk for
fastened the dainty, spotless
collar and cuffs, she dallied fully five min
ties over her little stock Of ribbons, trying
his one and that, and went down at last to
looking to Mr.. Raymonds artists
eyes, which took her in at glance, like a
Wild rose sjust out of a thicket, with tho
levy morning brightness trimming in her
brown eyes, the pink Of rose petals in her
cheeks, and soft, warm, shimmering sun
beams woven into the ripple of her brown
lair. How his artist fingers longed for can
Tas and colors TO give his beloved st. Agnes
hat beautiful hairl
But the wild rose might as we'll have been
blooming in her native thicket. In vain
Nartie peeped from her front windows, and
leld her breath when the door bell rang.
No one came to see the gray dress that morn
ng.
The black dress Jared better. It was called
lpon, and Martie went down to the parlor
with her heart in her mouth, to meet the
grand lady whose carriage and dashing
lorses she had watched as they drew up in
pendid style before the house But. alasl
Martie was not experienced, and Martie was
90 young, and, though madam did not say
%, Martie was too pretty, and TO set youth
mi beauty before him in the shape of a
7oung governesS would be tempting Provi-
lence. Madam was very sorry, hoped this
md that, and swept gracefully out to her
'arrIage, while Martie mounted with rather
! slow step Co her little fourth story room. to !
watch and wait, and wonder If everybody /
would find her too yoUng. She was not TO !
'laIne for it, anyhow, she said TO herself, try
ng TO coax laugh.
No one else came that day, but the next |
morning there was an early call for ''the lady /
Who advertised" Martie was glad she had |
N the gray dress; perhaps she looked older in /
{, But gray or black was all the same; she |
vas again weighed in the balance and found |
in years this time, but in Ger
as one weary hour after another |
vent by, and no other applicants appeared, |
lartie grew heavy hearted. Her advertise !
nent was to appear for three days Two had |
lready passed, resulting in disappointment. |
lIs. Allen tried 10 encourage her, bat when 1
hight came, and the O'clock dinner, Martha !
cit sad and homesick