Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-06-17
A DAYS JOURNEY.


II 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 creaking 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 op
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 sar
BILE 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.
Lettuce arranged her fuls, and her basket,
and her bonnet strings, and wondered Sc
cretly how far the tall man was going.
Can be OF any assistance to your
courteously queried the gentleman, as Let
ty searched in the straw at her feet for
dropped glove.
"Thanks-no," said Lefty, coming up
again with red cheeks and curls a little
disheveled. care you going all the way
through"
''As far as the stage goes-yes.
"Oh," said Miss Mainwaring, $50 am L. y
The gentleman nodded interrogatively
and went back to his paper.
"Cross thingP' 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 darkly fringed with the waving Of
hemlock boughs and solemn crested pines,
was, after all, nearly as good study as
the ''human face divine" and Lefty soon
forgot her temporary annoyance and cha
grin in the white, skeletonlike walls of a
deserted old paper mill long since disused
and fallen to ruin.
II wonder if it is haunted?" said she
aloud.
The stranger smiled, and laid down his
paper.
"Do you believe in such things?" he
asked.
Lettuce Mainwaring laughed and col
ored.
"Of course not; and yet-are you much
acquainted in this region of the countrys"
81 have lived hereabout good deal"
"Oh! Oh! Then perhaps you know East
erham Hall?"
His face frightened.
"Oh, yes You are going there?"
Eyes I am to be governess to the little
children" said Lefty, making haste to en-
Tighten him as to her true position in order
that he should fully comprehend that she
was no elegant young lady coming to the
hall to make visit, but humble little
working bee, who was obliged to toll stead
Easily for the daily bread she ate.
'IndeedP' he said.
And Lefty was yexed at herself for no.
ticing the polite indifference into which
his tone subsidized.
81 suppose it is 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 Lettuce, the roguish sparkles com.
ing back to her eyes.
$50 far as / know Easterham Hall is
free from any supernatural occupants"
IT am sorry for that" said Lefty.
He arched his eyebrows.
"You would like to share your room
Va
mo; but I do like little tinge of 70
nance about the place-something to set
it a little above and beyond the level OF
the commonplace"
He did not answer, and talkative Lefty
once more set the conversational ball roll
ing,
'sThe Easterhams are very rich, sup
poseY"
eyes"
SCI never heard of them until last week"
she said musingly; "and now-how strange
ly things are ordered in this world!-I am
going to cast in my lot among them"
"How does that happen?" said the gen.
tlemau. He could not very well say less
in ordinary politeness, and yet Lefty felt
triumphantly that she had drawn him
out"
.sThey wrote to Nine. Moligny, my old
teacher, to select a governess qualified to
teach two little boys, and madame knew
that wished LOT sltuatlon ana SO mere
am. wonder now tney VIII IKE lhe1
Il hope you Will hke gnem' satq t4e
gentleman.
THAT isn't the questlon, LeCey cof'
rected imperatlvely. Mr. Easternam Is
dreadful bear"
you are acquainted with hlmr
"Oh, no, only what l have heardF'
answered Lefty.
"And what may that be?
"You are nelghbor," SAID Lefty oouoG-
fully. Perhaps i've SAID 700 Muc4
already"
He laughed with more anmatlon tha"
she had yet seen in his manner.
depend upon it, l shall not petray you
to Mr.. Easterham. So he is bear? Weli'
! have thought SO sometimes myseH.
"But he won't bite me II lam a goou
girl and do my duty to the nttle ones, anu
they tell me they are very NICE boys per
sisted Lettuce.
"They are very ike tnelr lather' oe'