Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-24

A bitter February day. Not pleasant
day to travel in by any means; but then
Lettice Mainwaring was one of the sort
that makes the best of everything
Its long distance over the hills, miss, +"
said the wife Of the landlord of the little
one story tavern that was perched on the
crest of the highway, "and the SHOWS pow
erfal deep"
81 think winter landscape is the pref
test thing in the world" said Lettice
cbeerily, as she wound her fur boa around
and around her neck
"And old Stokes stage is awful uncom
Portable" added the landlady
81 like stage riding" asserted Lefty.
you'll not get there till dark"
"Oh, that is sooner than expected"
And Lefty climbed up into the stage
coach, which stood cracking and groaning
at the door, having just rumbled up from
the next village, a mile or so down the
hill
One solitary passenger occupied the OPP
posite corner-a tall, dark man, with a
Spanish sort of complexion and clear, dark
eyes who wore an odd sort of olive green
cloak or mantle, heavily trimmed with sa-
bic furs. He nodded briefly in return TO
Letty's smiling recognition Our little
heroine would have talked with polar
bear, had a polar bear CHANGED to be her
travelling companion.
Lettice arranged her furs, and her basket,
and her bonnet strings, and wondered Sc
cretly how far the tall man was going.
Can | be of any assistance to yony"
courteoAsly queried the gentleman, as Let
ty searched in the straw at her feet for a
dropped glove
he graTI
again with red cheeks and curls a little
disheveled. Are you going all the way
throughyn
"As far as the stage gOes-yes."
'Oh," said Miss Mainwarng, $50 am l."
The gentleman nodded interrogatively
and went back to his paper
Gross thing" thought Lefty, involun-
tarily pouting her cherry lips. "Why can't
he talk and make himself agreeable? And
he knows very well that we are to be shut
here together for eight long hours"
But the wild, mountainous landscape, as
it fitted by, while cleaning with snow
and darkiy fringed with the waving of
hemlock boughs and solemn crested pines,
was, after ALL nearly as good "A study as
the human face divine and Lefty soon
forgot her temporary annoyance and cha
grin in the white, sileietoniike walls of a
deserted old paper mill long since disused
and fallen 20 ruin.
Il wonder if it is hauntedS" said she
aloud.
The stranger smiled, and laid down his
paper.
'Do you believe in such things'" he
asked
Lettice Mainwaring laughed and col
ored
'Of course not; and yet-are you much
acquainted in this region of the country"
81 have lived hereabout good deal"
"Ohl Obi Then perhaps you know East
erham HALF"
His face frightened
ooh, yesi You are going therei"
"Yes. | am to be governess to the little
children" said Lefty, making haste to en-
tighten him as 10 her true position in order
that he should fully comprehend that she
was no elegant young lady coming to the |
hall to make a visit, but a humble little
working bee, who was obliged to toll stead |
lastly for the daily bread she ate
'Indeedw he said
And Lefty was vexed at herself for no I
ticing the polite Indifference into which
his tone su bsided.
81 suppose it is IA very fine old place" /
she went on.
''Very-for those who fancy fine old /
places To my taste they are apt to be |
overrun with rats, full of drafts and pic |
turesquely announcement"
And haunted perhaps?" mischievously |
put in Lettice, the roguish sparkies com /
ing back to her eyes
$50 far as I know Easterham Hall is [
free from any supernatural occupants"
II am sorry for that" said Lefty.
He arched his eyebrows.
"You would like to share your room
with ghost or twog"
mo; but | do like little tinge of ro-
nance about the place-something to set
it little above and beyond the level of
the commonplace"
He did not answer, and taikative Lefty
once more set the conversational ball roll
ing
"The Easterhams are very rich. sup
posey'
yes"
81 never heard Of them until last week."
she said musin Is; ian now-how strunge
ly things are o'd-rod in this yorld!-I am
going to cast in my lot among hem"
How does that happenf" said the gen
tleman. He could not very well say less
in ordinary poiitencss, and yet Lefty felt
triumphantly that she had drawn him
out"
They wrote to Nine Moligny, my old
teacher to select governess qualified to
teach two little boys, and madame knew
that / wished for situation and so here
am. l wonder how they will like me?"
81 hope you viii like them," said the
gentleman.
"That isn't the question:" Lefty cor
rected imperatiyely. "AIr. Easterham is
dreadful bear"
you are acquainted with himt"
"Oh, no; only what I have heardI"
answered Lefty.
"And what may that beg"
"You are "A neighbor," said Lefty doubt
fully perhaps Pve said too much
already"
He laughed with more animation than
she had vet seen in his manner