The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-12-08
A startllng sensa ltion.
by AN Ex.pErkcrlvE.
CHAPTER Nv.

JsAt Ssie 0hN'S A'Sut oo uN uPPAuoNheN
Mr.. Lund, who was enjoying his mid
day meal.
"Well, what does he want, Ned?n
II dunno, sab. Here's keard he
81 me; an he is jes as perlite as er mig
ger at er barbaku. He parts his hair
in der middle, an his moustache sticks
cut like er horned owl. Gollyl but
he's fixt up fit ter kill. He got on a
King Albert coat an his hat is sho'
silk, His handsls as white as 'er--"
''Let me see the card,n demanded
MIR. Lund, cutting short Uncle Ned's
description Of the gentleman. "Asron
Humphrey, tutor, professor of Ian
guages, music and etiquette, Well,
pretty well posted, but we wanted a
lady teacher for our girls. Show the
gentleman into the parlOr and tell him
that | will see him presently. | would
not think OF placing the girls under
the care of gentleman continued
Mr.. Lund.
II can't quite agree with you,
Brother" sald Mrs. Young. "If he Is
a true gentleman the girls would soon
become acquainted and would feel as
easy in the presence of gentleman as
they would in the presence of lady,
and more, as rule. Ladies add great
ly to ones household duties, while
gentlemen are comparatively no
trouble; and again, you must remem-
Der that you did not specify a prefer
enee for ladies in your advertisement
and 1t would not be right to let the
gentleman go without considering his
application"
'You are right about that, my sister,
as you are in all things, and II he
proves to he competent and can furnish
satisfactory references, / can't see how
can get around employing him; and
l hope that the omission in my adver-
tisement will prove to be fortunate
blunder.n
As Mr.. Lund entered the parlor, a
mediunl-sized, handsome man, with
deep blue eyes and u complexion that
most any woman would envy, arose
and bowed respectfully.
"You nre Mr.. Humphrey?p inquired
Mr. Lund.
"At your service, sir" answered the
gentleman, in a deep, mellow voice,
and in manner which showed that
he was at perfect ease. Il came in an
swer to your advertisement"
"You have taught before?"
II have been q teacher for more than
eight years." answered Mr.. Hum
phrey, with smile, self-satisfied in its
nature.
"You are well posted, / presumed"
inquired Mr.. Lund, somewhat doubt
fully, as the stranger did not seem
more than twenty-five years old, and
Mr.. Lund had mentally subtracted s
from q, thus placing the applicant at
the tender age of IA, when he com
menced teaching.
Sin several branches, / am, sir.
In English literature, French, geom-
etry, astronomy, and vocal and inatru-
mental music.0
You seen, to be quite young, sir, to
have mastered all these studies and
have been teaching the same for the
past eight years. May / ask how old
you were when you commenced teach
ing?"
Il commenced teaching in just one
month after ! had gained my majority.
am now twenty-nine years old ]
see,n continued Mr.. Humphrey, 'that
You doubt my ability on account Of my
youthful appearance. l WILL" hesaid,
Estate for your information that from
childhood / have been confined in
doors. and greatly, too, against my
own inclinations; but fate so decreed
and / was compelled to submit.
While,n continued he, ''my calling is q
high and honorable one, it is neither q
lucrative nor pleasant one. / tell
you, sir, the truth, when say that l
have never seen the beauties Of nature
except from car window, My mother
| was born and reared on a farm, and
my great desire for a country life was
doubtless inherited, and It was this
desire that prompted me to answer
your advertisement in person. Ipray,
Mr.. Lund, that you consider my appli-
cation. / am able TO furnish the best
| ~ ,afaranoao ond T thtnk 7 oan rive