Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-05

The young lady bowed with the utmos
self possession and took the seat which wa
offered her. She was decidedly pretty
There WAS no doubt of that in spite of he
palenees and her thin lips. Her fair hai
was brought down smoothly over brow al
white as any woman could desire; hol
features were all delicately formed, hel
eyes being especially attractive. Her age
it might have been difficult to guess; {
man would have admitted that she nigh
be over twenty; woman would have sale
she did not look thirty.
your name is-MIss-ab? Miss Gray
line?" asked the rector, referring to the
card which Thomas had handed to him.
The young lady bowed. As she lifted
her head she saw that the rector was still
scrutinizinp the card, and she compre
hended the other members Of the board ir
one swift glance, finishing with the curate
Mr. Cope dropped his eyes. Miss Grayling
smiled inwardly.
"And you have come abous the vacancy
| in the parish school, understand" in
quired the rector.
Again Miss Grayling bowed without
speaking.
-"I particularly requested that NO per,
sonal applications were to be made" said
the rector in an injured tone.
Miss Grayling gave a little sigh.
81 was afraid I had done wrong" she
said with her eyes on the carpet; ''but
was SO anxious that my application should
not be overlooked If you would kindly
excuse my coming, think you would find
my testimonials satisfactory"
As she spoke, she lifted her eyes to those
of the reverend gentleman. dropping them
Immediately 10 very modest and becom.
ing manner.
Mr.. Dowthwaite was Modified.
"Where have you been teaching9" he
asked.
She mentioned the name of village in
Yorkshire, and Mr.. Cope busted himself in
bunting up her letter of application and
her testimonial from large bundle OF
similar documents. Having found them,
he laid them before the rector in silence.
ssNot very much experience; not SO much
as we could have wished-only six
MONTHS" said the rector. "Now, we par
ticularly wanted certifcated teacher"
81 have little doubt that could pass the
examinations if you think it desirable. "
said Miss GrayliDg quietly; "but l think
I may say I am capable of teaching the
village children everything necessary"
SIT was, indeed, absurd to imagine that
this elegant young lady was not capable OF
acting as preceptor to Betsy Jane Pugh and
her companions; and the rector, feeling
this, tossed the rather scaDty testimonial
aside.
ST osght to tell you," he said, ''that this
is q very modest appointment. You know
the salary is rot large, ard depends partly
on the government grant earned by the
school. The position is pot-ah!-Dot an
exalted one. By the way" he exclaimed
suddenly, ''can you play the harmonidm?"
''Oh, yes, SIR" said Miss Grayling, with
a bright and pleasant smile.
"Ah-well-we will consider your appli-
cation" said Mr.. Dowthwaite, shufaing
the papers before him rather nervously.
II beg your pardon, sir" said Mics
Grayliug, in a low, earnest tone, as she
slowly raised her graceful form from ber
seat: sbut would you allow me to wait in
the ball, or the kitchen, or anywhere, till
my case is decided on? l have long
Journey before me and if you could-?"
She did not finish her sentence; but she
glanced at the other members of the board
as she spoke. Mr.. Sowerbutts and his
friends had not, meantime, spoken word;
but now they uttered half articulate
murmur, and the rector bowed in stiff
but courteous fashion. The modest request
was granted, md Miss GrayliDg withdrew.
Somehow, the young lady had made the
board feel that she was, in sense, await
ing their verdict-that her fate hung in
their hands
"Well, gentlemen" said Mr.. Dowth-
waite. 81 don't know that we could do
better. This yuung-ah! person is rec
by the "-lifting his double
eye glasses to his nose-''tbe vicar of Little
Shenstope. There can be little doubt as to
her capability to undertake the Duties
And really, if We began hunting through
all these papers. we might go further and
fare worse"
"'Ear, 'ear," murmured Mr.. Sower-
butts, in hollow, bass voice, tapping the
point of his stick gertly on the floor, and
it was settled that Miss Laura
Hill Grayling should be appointed to the
vacant Office.