The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-26
JAMES, MISTAKE.


when children are absolutely noisy. / be-
lieve that her age is Il. -
Miss Jane Langdon, as she spoke, bent
down before The FIRE by which the stood.
She was tall, and had to bend some dis
tance. Ter height was somewhat accentu-
ated by the long, white dimity morning
Gown, trimmed with tambOur-work Of her
own execution, in which she was dressed.
"She has the appearance Of a younger
child. She is, very properly, dressed IN
accordance with her size.
Miss Langdon's younger sister, Miss
Iueia, also wore a morning gown trimmed
with tembOur- work; but as Miss Lucia was
delicate and the October airs were chill,
hers was Of warm brown stuff.
Il am. after making acquaintance With
her, not so much opposed TO the project OF
her living here as was When AeodOfe
first informed me of lis intention.
sNor I. Jane Indeed, l think 1t possible
that Measure as well IS profit may accrue TO
ourselves from the hours we spend In the
education Of
Miss Lucia Langdon broke of suddenly.
The door Of the breakfast paT0T, Is they
termed it, in which the two Misses Lang
dom were standing, opened suddenly, and
little fcure came 10. Tie girl who pos
sessed ii was small, slight and very shy ana
friEhteued-iO looking. She wore short Oiaek
4TCph. CAt low il lux ANAhs HN0 WA oAAStN
sleeves Her face was small, but sll its
features were regular. She had a delicate
color, very pretty brown hair and pair OF
aGood-morning, she said, approaching
shyIy. y,-, NJ.
Jane and Miss Lucia LangdoD, smuitane-
Then Miss Jane turned to the girl.
"This morning. Marion" she said, i'm
DressiYely, las Il Is the nTst, we viii not
sneak Of rules or regulations. Tomorrow,
/ should wish you to make cuTtsey to my
sister aud one TO myself when you Wish US
goOd-mOrning."
YES, SAID the girl. in a shy tone; Eyes,
Miss Jane
rentleWOmen." continued Miss Jane Lang
con. And my sister and l are anxious,
Marion, to impaTt TO you the manners and
breeding we ourselves received IN our
youth.
THANK you," said the girl, still more
shyly. seeing that an answer was expected.
I'VE hope to make you happy, Marion
Also" added Miss Lucia, more gently. catch
ing sight Of rather frightened look In the
Thank you" said the girl, for the sec
ond time.
hut she was. as her sister had been Just be-
fore, suddenly interrupted. and again the
interruption came from the opening OF the
door.
This time the figure which entered was a
mans, and the man was, like Miss Jane,
tall. He was also dark, with d thin. clean
shayen face, and an distracted look in his
eyes.
"Good-morning, be said to the two Misses
They each responded in turn slightly dii-
ferenuy.
lucia.
"Good-morning, Theodore" said Miss
Jane.
Then he glanced up in an embarrassed
manner al the girl. Who stood shyly n front
Of the hearth rug, her hands nervOusly
clasped in front Of her irock, and Instantly
glanced away again.
Good morning, Marion" he said.
"GOod-G0rning." She answered, even
more shyly than she had answered the two
ladies'.
Without looking at her again, Nj Theo-
dore Langdon, who was In theory master of
the house. took his place at the waiting
Breakfast table in the place betting such
position, while Miss Jane, who was 10 prac-
tIce he mistress Of the house and its master,
took her seat behind a massive copper urn
with silver fittings. Miss Lucia seated her
self on one side and mOiionsd for the blue
eyed girl to follow her example on the other.
Three of the four people now seated round
Il had assembled at that breakfast table for
the last twenty years. Mr.. LangGOn the
elder, the father Of Jane, LUCIA and The0-
dOTe. had died when his son Theodore was
about % He had been a man Of means, fol-
lowing no profession, and had left to his son
the means, the gray stone house n which
they had all been born, and the-DOminal-
care Of his two elder sisters.
The house was situated on the outskirts Of
Aaybury, a quiet DeVonshiTe village, but
Theodore LRngdOn had taken up the charge
without the least demur.
4 hundred years ago it was a natural cir
CUmStance enough that man should settle
down for life in an Isolated country place.
and the isolation was particularly we'll
suited 10 a man Of Theodore Lsngdon's re-
served habits and retiring tastes. These
habits and tastes were summed up by his
sisters In the words, Theodore was ALWAYS
b0Okish." What line this "b0okishness"
took they would have been puzzled 10 state
Indeed, it was known to no one, unless to
the Vicar Of Maybury, a cynical old bach
e,0T, aud Mr. Jsngd0n's most intimate
friend. All that was known was that Mr..
L2ngd0n spent his days chiefly in his study,
only issuing therefrOm for meals his daily
Ilde, constitutional walk In the garden or
an evening call at the vicarage.
The 20 years which had led them from 30
and 80 TO 30 and IS bad passed equally sim
ply for Miss Lucia and Miss Jane. The
latter ruled with a strong hand all the
domestic affairs in the gray stOnehouse; the
former knew 10 greater pleasure than TO
obey.
Into this placid. unhindered current OF
three lives had fallen "a fortnight before a
disturbing element, which acted Oh its
even flow Ike stone suddenly thrown into
a slORly-mOYing stream might 60. From
the only relative Of the trio, q ne'er-do-Well
cousin, who was landed proprietor in
Ireland with more land than income, had
come letter, written at his request from
his dying bed. In which he commended 10
the care of her only relation his Young
daughter, Marion Mr. Tenant ended by
entreating Theodore TO give the child the
care OF father. Theodore read the letter
10 his sisters, and Miss James prompt COM
ment on it was made almost before it was
ended.
You will send the child to school at
once" she said, with that masterful deci-
sion. But TO her utter amaZement-she
could not we'll have been more amazed had
Theodore thrown the letter in her face-he
said firmly:
81 have written to Gerald Tenants ex-
eeutOIs that his daughter will find her home
here. She VIII arrive on Tuesday week"
Miss Lueia's tTemdlOus "Here, I heo-
dore" was swallowed up by Miss James
emphatic What are you thinking of, TheO-
d0Te? How could you be tried by the pres
ence Of a child in the house2"
Il, personally. shall not find much differ
ence from the Circumstance, ] imagine" he
had responded. calmly; but / have to re-
quest that you, Jane, will give the child
attention. Poor Tenant as you hear, says
that her education has been perforee muc h
neglected. A little OF your influence and
your tuition, If you will have the great good
ness TO impart il, will, doubtless, work won
ders. As 10 preparations for her physical
comfort, Of such ! should not presume to
speak TO you"
Miss Jane, triie Modified by the I'M
piled compliment to herself, but still In a
state Of agitation which nearly caused the
velvet band which she wore clasped round
her throat, ''in case Of chill. TO break with
the conyulslye gasp she gave, could only sit
still and watch her brother rise, reIold the
letter slowly and leave the ROOM
Tuesday week, the 29.h," he said,
quietly. as he closed the door.
With his departure Miss Jane cast herself