Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-18
THE ATHELSTONS;
VICTOR AND vAN0U1sHED.
BY MARY CECIL HAY.

Oyes-to which the tears, think, can never come Egaln-must see him always %.
 Ever ersince-since I came to London-I have been trying to meet with an en- l gagement, for I must earn a home of my own now, and what am fit to do but | teachf Perhaps the unnecessary edu- cation which was given me by our rec tors wish will be of service to me now. 1 If not, what is there left for me to do3 Rachel wants me to stay with her; but how could let her work for me? True, | might help her, but my help would not be worth what she would give me. We | have talked over all our plans together, she and I, and have decided to spend the money Gerard gave me on that last dreadful night in seeking an engagement in which I may be able to earn enough to allow me to put something away to- ward-toward that sum which feel we owe to Mir. Esdaile. No matter where the money went. one thing I must al- ways feel, that Gerard and owe that sum to Clara'S brother. One thousand pounds How can such Q sum ever be repaid2 Yet that thought cannot pre- vent the duty still being ours to save it.
 Clara is married now, and has gone to live at Q distance. Poor ohild Was it Q blow to her to find that her father died insolventf But don't think she would grieve at that, in the greater loss of both her parents within e year of each other and I dare say her husband now loves her tenderly, and will make up for all. He is the brother of her brothers wife, and I remember how lovingly she used to speak of "Ado-
 We'll, our paths-which ran together for little time-are wide apart now, and may never cross again. Clara was always loving and kind to me, and, even through this miserable time, has tried to comfort and to cheer me. Can I re- member her all my life save with deep gratitude? She gave me e letter when she saw me last, which, she gently said, might be of service to me if I wished to teach again That is just Clara's deli cate way of speaking. know it will be of every use to me. At least know that without such letter might try in vain to win what want Tomorrow l hope to begin in earnest.
 wonder whether many govern esses have as hard work in seeking an engage ment as I have hnd? hope not, for the teaching is hard enough when it comes, without having these humilia- tions snd difficulties in obtaining it. I cannot tell them all, and, indeed, I would not like to do so if could but must tell about to-day, because 1t is to be the last day.
 It began with as dreary disappoint- ment as need be. When I first began to try for an engagement, I sent my name and @ fee of shillings to & gov l nfEnn onI k6axy 0asI | they had the names of many ladies "on their books" expected to receive quite Q choice of addresses. But waited in vain. Except one mistress of small school, who wished for an assistant teacher, at @ salary of G15 year, heard of none of the ladies whose names were "on the books." So gave that idea up in despair, and put an advertisement in the Times. I wonder whether any authors opening chapters cost him more thought than the wording of that adver- tisement cost me.
 For three or four days no answer came, but to-day I have had two. We would not open them until breakfast was over, Rachel and I, but put them in the middle of the table, and feasted our eyes upon them Then afterward, sitting close to Rachel, where she could read I took the first and opened it.
 No need to read it, either or Rachel. It was only printed circular from the very agency to which l had applied, offering the advertiser any engagement she might desire (having many of all kinds Ion their books'O in return for a fee of five shillings. crushed that up and burned it, trying to laugh into RachePs sympathizing eyes, and took up the other letter.
 This was just such @ one, to all ap- pearance, as had been longing for, and my hands shook as they opened it. Yes, it was lady's letter, but what @ different one from what I had expected when I began to read It was from a girl like myself, who had long been try ing to obtain teaching, and who had failed again and again, as l had failed. with pitiful candor, in advertising, and entering the agency offices, and going about from place to place to hold inter- views. And now she wrote to ask me whether if had any answers to my ad- vertisement of which did not care to make use, would kindly give them to her.
 Oh. how sad it was Yet Rachel laughed. She said she could not help it, thinking of the answers which had had; but certainly it was not a very merry laugh.
 Those were my two letters, and pre- pared to go out with heavy disappoint- ment at my heart. I had seen the ad- vertisement of lady in Holloway, and Iwent there with hope more dead with In me than it had ever been before. The house was the private residence of Jew jeweler, and everything about the place was shine and glitter, as if he liked to see his stock about him here, as well as in the city.
 A sleepy, indolent lady sat and ques- toned me, evidently going through a ready-prepared oatechism; but the brisk little master of the house had blurted out his one all-important question al- most before was seated. What salary did I expectP After had told him, he interrupted his wife's catochism again and again to ask me to ''lower my fig ure." He did not mean that my five