Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-24

advertisement
Your advertisement?' Miss Wigger re-
peated. Miss Wes:eriield how dare you
beg for employment in a newspaper without
asking my leave"
Il only waited Ia tell You what had done
TIL knew whether my advertisement would
be answered or not
She spoke Is calmly a. before, still submit
ting TO the insolent authority of the school-
mistress with a steady forttude very remark
able In any girl and especially in a girl
whose face revealed a sensitive nature. Lin
ley approached her and said his few kind
words before Miss Wiggcr could assert her
self for the third time.
II am afraid have taken a liberty in an
swering you personally. when | ought to
have answered you by letter. My only ex-
cuse is that have no time 10 arrange for an
interview, in London, by correspondence.
| live In Scotland, and am obliged to return
by the mail tonight"
| He paused. She was looking at him. Did
she understand him?
She understood him only too we'll For the
| first time, poor soul, in the miserable years
| of her school life she saw eyes that rested
on her with the sympathy that is too truly
| felt to he uttered in words The admirable
! resignation which had learnt its first hard
lesson under her mothers neglect-which
had endured, in after years, the daily perse-
cution that hearteSS cOmpaniOnship so well
knows how TO inf1ct-failed to sustain her,
when one kind look from stranger poured
its balm into the girls sore heart. Her head
sank; her wasted figure trembled; a few
tears dropped slowly Oh the bosom of her
shabby dress. She tried, desperately tried,
to control herself. II beg your pardon, SIR"
was ali she could say: Il am not very we'll"
Miss Wigger tapped her ON the shoulder
and pointed to the door, Are you well
enough to see your way out?" she asked.
Linley turned Oh the wretch with a mind
| divided between wonder and disgust Good
God, what has she done to deserve being
treated in that way?' he asked.
Miss Wigger's mouth widened; Miss wig
| gers forehead developed new wrinkles. To
own it plainly, the school-mistress smiled.
| When it is of serious importance to mar
to become acquainted with a woman's true
| nature-say, when he cOntemp!ates marriage
| his one poor chance of arriving at right
conclusion is to find himself provoked by ex-
asperating circumstances and to fly into a
passion. If the lady flies into passion on
her side, he may rely on it that her faults are
more than balanced by her good qualities.
If, on the other hand, she exhibits the most
admirable self-control, and sets him an ex-
ample which ought to make him ashamed Of
himself, he has seen a bad sign, and he will
do well to remember it
Miss Wigger's self-control put Herbert
Linley in the wrong before she took the
trouble of noticing what he had said.
"If you were not out of temper" she re-
piled, II might have told you that don't al
low my house to be made an Office for the
engagement of gOverneSses. AS it is, mere
ly remind you that your carriage is at the
door,"
He took the only course that was open to
him; he took his hat.
Sydney turned away to leave the room.
Linley opened the door for her. Don't be
discouraged" he whispered as she passed
him; "yOu shall hear from me-" Having
said this, he made his parting bow to the
school-mistress. Miss Wigger held up a per.
emptOry fOrefinger and stopped him on his
way out He waited, wondering what she
would do next She rang the bell
"YOu are in the house of gentlewoman,'
Miss Wigger explained. my servant at
tends visitors, when they leave me-" A
faint smell of soap made itself felt in the
room; the maid appeared, wiping her smok
Ing arms on her apron. Door. l wish you
goOd-mOrning'-were the last words of Miss
Wigger.
Leaving the house, Linlcy slipped bride
into the servants hand. II am going to write
20 Miss Westerfeld," he said. Twill yor
see that she gets my letter."
THAT willp'
He was surprised by the fervOr with which
the girl answered him. Absolutely without
vanity, he had no suspicion of the value
which his winning manner, his bright blue
eyes, and his sunny smile had conferred or
his little gift of money. A handsome mar
was an eighth wonder of the world at Miss
Wigger's school.
At the first stationer's shop that he passed
he stopped the carriage and wrote his letter
II shall be glad, indeed. if can offer you
. happier life than the life you are leading
Win you send me the address Of your parents
II they are In London, or the name Of any
friend with whom can arrange to give you
. trial as gOverness to my little girl? / am
waiting your answer in the neighb0rhOOd. Ii
plying at once, add the name Of the hotel
graph to me before leave London tonight"
The stationcr's boy, inspired by . private
view of half-a-crOwn, set of at run-and
returned at run with a reply.
Il have neither parents nor friends, and I
haye just been dismissed from my employ
nicnt at the school. Without references to
speak for me i must not take advantage Of
your generous offer. Will you help me to
bear my disappointment by permitting me
to see you for q few minutes only at your
full Of what owe to my respect for you, and
my respect for myself. only ask leave to
satisfy you that am not quite unworthy of
the interest which you have boon pleased to
feel in $. W."
In those sad words Sydney Westerfeld an