The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-11-24

( 4Act " lSdCH Two Illtlc DONS. anu ma
/ dame knew that l wished for a situa-
ton, and so here | am. Iwonder how
/ they will like me?"
Il hope you will like them" said tia
gentleman.
{ That isn't the question" Lefty cor
/ rected, i1pperatively. Mr. Easterham
is dreadful bear"
/ you are acquainted with him?"
ooh, no; only what | have heard, "
answered Lefty.
! "And what may that be?
You are a neigh bOr?" said Lettv,
doubtfully. perhaps I've said too
much already"
| He laughed with more animation
than she had yet seen in his manner.
Depend upon it, | shall not betray
you TO Mr.. Easterham. SO he is a
bear? Well, | have thought so some
times myself"
But he won't bite me if I am a good
girl and do my duty; and they tell me
they are very nice boys" persisted
Lettice.
They are much like their father, l
believe"
oh" said Lettice, laughing, q can
tame youn. bears; il is only the full
grown specimen, with sharp teeth and
long claws, | am afraid Of Only
think" and dcmure, apprehensive
expression came over Letty's round,
blooming couu;enance. "hc goes all
around the house all day long and
never says a word to any one"
"He must be a savage indeed" OBJ
served the gentleman.
"And Miss Electa Easterham, the old
maid aunt who keeps house for him,
has qUarreled successfully with every
goyerness they have had" went on
Lefty, patting her little foot on the
Irustling straw on the stage floor, "but
she shall not quarrel with me. won't
let her. am too good-natured and
too accustomed to humoring people,
especially old ones Nine. Moligny
wrote me word that she disliked young
and pretty gOvernesses particularly.
Now, I'm not young-not very young,
YOU see"
"No?'
"Iwas twenty last week." said Lefty,
solemnIr, land | am not pretty enough
10 disturb her mind. am only toler-
ably deucnt-looking. Now, if madame
had selected Olive Dayton. who used
TO be in the same class with me-she
was a regular beauty, with great shady
eyes and Il complexion all pearls and
roses-thcre would have been danger
then"
The stranger began to look inte-
rested.
Tell me more about your school" -"
said he. 81 have a sister whom think
Of placing in some desirable institu-
lion, and should like to Judge whether
your Nine Moligny's would be a good
home for her"
Letty's eyes frightened. her cheeks
reddened and her little tongue was
unl0osed at once. Her travelling COM
panion was social and chatty and the
time t1eeted swiftly away.
You are going" she cried. as at q
lonely inn, oyershadowed with silver
stemmed birches and funereal spruce
woods, u light Sleigh drawn by two
mllk-White horses, WAS waiting.
81 have reached the end Of nv jour
ney," he said. courteously touching his
AtI vi L. Ile''t IilItilNitNi ~ htG u f-h ~
the end of the route, but 1 see they
have sent to meet me here. ] wish
you every success and happiness in
your bear-taming."
And as the slei@h-bells jingled away
Lefty found herself flushing deeply.
I'm afraid Eve been talking too
much," thought Lefty, but what is a
body to do, shut up all day in 4 stage
coach with a converse ole gentleman?"
And the rest of Miss Mainwaring 3
Journey was just a little tedious.
1t was dusk when they arrived at
EaStcrham hail-a snowy, chill dusk
which made the glow Of lights through
scarlet mOreen curtains and the coral
slime OF a great wood fire IN stone
paved hall, as seen through the half
open door, most delightful aud well
come.
Aunt Electa, tail, prim old lady in
snowy cap-ritbO and 4 orown-satin
dress. stood ready to welcome her, and
just behind her Lefty saw Il tail gen
tLcman with TWO little boys clinging
about him.
This is my nephew Philip" the cid
lady said. and Lefty feit IS ii the blood
in her veins We're turning to lire as she
recognized her travelling companion of
the day.
DO | look very much like a bear,
Miss Mainwarinr2" he asked, laughing
as she stood treu bling and toneuc-tied
before him. NO, don't color. prom
ise you to allow myself 10 become
very tameable. And you must not
cry, either" as the tears came into
Letty's eyes. There's nothing for you
to cry for"
why didn't you tell me who you
were?" she asked piteously.
because YOU didn't ask me-
Lefty resolved that she would leave
Eas,crham nall the very next day. But
she didn't keep the resolution.
At the next years end she had
neither Guarreicd with Aunt Electa
nor Nix. Easlerham. and sthe little
boys thought Miss Lefty" WAS perfec-
tion. So'did their father.
Lefty" said lie, the year for which
| engaged Ven is over"
Yes, she responded, softly.
"WilI You say another year? VIII
you stay with me always, Lotty?'
And so. within the yellow shine of
wedding ring, Lefty found herself
prisoner forever 1t Eastcrham hall.
Much Better as 1t Was.