The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-01-12
LED ny A CHILD.

80 1ho, ~uoTc we were porn and
ed, is ours. Amt you glad, Hilda ?"
cried Rachel Dehart. as she came into her
sisters room and threw off her bonnet
and shawl.
Hilda, drawing pencil in her slim.
white fingers, lifted her cool, perfect face.
"As l can't dress myself in worm-eaten'
shingles, dine off of old doors, or warm
myself with creaking shutters, am not
particularly enthusiastic" she syllabled,
icily.
"Oh, WELL" responded Rachel, some
what absently.
She busted herself about the wide. low
room, spread up the bed, busted shelf,
watered q pot of geraniums, and at last
came and sat down on low seat at Hill
da's feet.
II don't suppose you will like it, Hill
d. clasping her hands across her sisters
knees; 8" but l know its so hard for you,
the poverty and deprivations-"
"But what ?" interrupted Hinda.
briefly
Eve have the house and have already
made arrangements for a boarding
school,"
"What }" in astonishment.
L have engaged to take FIVE little
girls to board and teach"
Hilda sank back in her chair. her iyory
brow contracted, her royal purple eyes
dark and angry.
Children to board and teach here ?"
81 will tell you, Hilda. met Mrs.
Oliver in the city, and she has lost her
governess-the one she has had 80 long
and she spoke of her wish to send the
children into the country for the summer,
and asked me where would be q good
place. They are too young to go the
round of the watering places with her
she is very gay and fashionable, you
know, and not the best of mothers, per-
haps-but she seemed to wish to provide
we'll for the girls, aud wanted them taken
care of and taught. To tell the truth,
had thought of this before, and IL Of
fered to take them. Mrs. Oliver was de-
lighted"
eff you really mean to keep a school,"
said she, "I will give you q note to Mrs.
Eastman. She is obliged to go to Eu-
rope, and does not know what to do With
Lilias Arnold. Her mother is dead and
her father is down South, you know"
cit almost made me dizzy, but l took
the note and went up into the palatial
place and Mrs. Eastman said if Mrs. o.
iver would trust me with her girls, l
might have her niece-at least, till her
father came home"
"Do you mean Lionel Arnold?" ex-
claimed Hilda.
Il don't know. believe 80. think
it very likely" stammered Kachel, de-
lighted to see the frown chased from
Hilda's brow by look of pleasure.
The latter smiled, blushed and bent
over her drawing.
"You know we must do something"
Rachel went on; "snd if you would
teach what music and drawing is needed,
would do all the rest"
"Perhaps l WILL" replied Hilda, evi-
dently absorbed in her own thoughts.
"You needn't be troubled any more
than that, dear, :and l dare say we will
get along beautifully. am very fond of
children, you know"
Hilda took no heed. She had gone to
the mirror, and stood arranging the dark
curls about her ivory forehead; then she
waltzed lightly from the room.
"She didn't take it very hard, and l
am so glad" sighed Rachel, still on the
low seat, her chin in her hands and her
elbows on her knees.
Why the matter had been 30 difficult
to explain to the younger sister was
conundrum, to be solved only by those
who had known these girls all their lives,
and knew that Hilda was q petted, beau
tiful tyrant, while plain, sweet Rachel
had ever been her slave.
During the last year they had become
orphans. Their father had died insolvent,
and only the efforts of the kindly lawyer
who had settled the estate secured to
them the old honse and beautiful garden
where they had always lived.
Rachel had thought her heart would
break if she lost that. But Hilda had Sc
cretly determined that, if secured, the Firs
should be sold, while she embraced a
gayer life.
But matters had turned out 30 differ
emily. Here was the daughter Of Lionel
Arnold coming under their roof!
did blonde face and elegant figure, though
she had only danced with him once at
Mrs. divers in PALMER days.
He was the most distinguished man
she had ever met, and the wealthiest.
How delightful he was. And now to
meet him as-as-well, as the pretty
young friend and teacher Of his only
daughter. (Hilda resolved TO become
popular at once with Lilias Arnold
why, it would simply be one chance in a
thousand.
So to Rachel's great relief and sur
prise, she entered somewhat into the lat
ter's plans and arrangements for making
the spacious old house pay for it's privi-
leges of wide, sun-lighted rooms and
broad-pathed garden-the loveliest of
play grounds.
But Hilda did not fatigue herself. 1t
was one Of that young lady's principles to
always keep herself fresh and comfortable:
But Rachel could not spare herself, and
the prospect looked fstiguing enough. To
establish . school room aud arrange the
chambers was q task, bat to dress, feed,
train and educate Eve children, from four
to twelve years old, was sn elaboration
of industries which, once undertaken, she
knew would admit of no rest.
She could afford but one girl, Mamie,
q simple-minded but honest and strong