The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-02-08
A WINTER DAYS JOURNEY.

III UlN Iii DiiI " UOOIIIE IL
A bitter February day. Not pleas
ant day to travel in by any means, but
then Lettice Mainwaring was one of
the sort that makes the best of every
thing.
"It's long journey 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 powerful deep"
81 think a winter landscape is the
prettiest thing in the world" said Let
tice, cheerily, as she wound her fur
boa round and round her neck.
"And old Stokes stage is awfully un-
comfortable, added the Iandlady.
Il like stage-riding," asserted Lefty.
you'll not get there till dark"
"Oh, that is sooner than l expected. "
And Lefty climbed up into the stage
coach, which stood creaking and
groaning at the door, having just rum
bled up from the next village, a mile
or so down the hill.
One solitary passenger occupied the
opposite corner-a tall, dark man with
Spanish sort of complexion and
clear. dark eyes, who wore an odd sort
of olive-green cloak or mantle, heav-
lily trimmed with sable fur He nodded
briefly in return to Letty's smiling re-
cognition. Our little heroine would
have talked with polar bear had a
polar bear chanced to be her travelin o
companion.
Lettice arranged her furs and her
basket and her bonnet strings, and
wondered secretly how far the tall
man was going.
"Can l be of any assistance to you?"
courteously queried the gentleman, as
Lefty searched in the straw at her feet
for dropped glove.
"Thanks-no," said Lefty, coming
up again with very red cheeks and
curls little disheveled. "Are you
going all the way through"
"As far as the stage goes-yes.
"Oh," said Miss Mainwaring, $50
am L"
The gentleman nodded interrogat-
lively, and went back to his paper.
"Cross thing!" thought Lefty, invol-
UNFAIRLY, pouting her pretty lips.
"Why can't he talk and make himself
agreeable? And he knows that we are
to be shut up here together for eight
long hours"
Il wonder if it is haunted?" she said
aloud.
The stranger smiled and laid down
his paper.
"Do you believe in such things" he
Lettice Mainwaring laughed and
colored.
"Of course not; and yet Are
you much acquainted in this region of
the countryP"
"I have lived hereabouts a good
deal"
"Oh! Then perhaps you know East
erham hall?"
His face frightened.
"Oh, yes. You are going there?"
Eyes. I am going to be governess
to the little children" said Lefty, max
ing haste to enlighten him as to her
true position, in order that he should
fully comprehend that she was no ele-
giant young lady coming to the hall to
make visit, but humble little work
ing-bee, who was obliged to toll stead
fastly for the daily bread she ate.
"Indeed!" he said.
And Lefty was vexed at herself for
noticing 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
draughts and picturesquely inconven-
lent"
'.And haunted, pehapsP" mischiev-
ousiy put in Lettice, the roguish
sparkles coming back to her eye.
$50 far as l know, Easterham hall
is free from any supernatural occu-
pants"
81 am sorry for that" said Lefty.
He arched his brows.
"You would like to share your room
with ghost or two?"
''No, but do like little tinge Of
romance about the place-something
to set it little above and beyond the
level of the commonplace"
He did not answer, and talkative
Lettice once more set the conversation
ball rolling.
''The Easterhams are very rich,
supposeP"
"Yes."
II never heard of them until las
week." she said, musingly, ''and now
how strangely things are ordered in
this world-1 am going to cast my lot
among them"
"How does that happen?" said the
gentleman. He could not very wei
say less in ordinary politeness, and ye
Lefty felt triumphantly that she hac
drawn him out"
"They wrote to Nine. Moligny, my
old teacher, to select a governess quail
flied to teach two little boys, and ma
dame knew that 1 wished for situa
ton, and so here am. wonder how
they will like meP"
81 hope you will like them," said thu
gentleman.
"Taat isn't the question" Lefty cor
rected, imperatively. "Mr. Easterhan
is dreadful bear"
"You are acquainted with him?"
"Oh, no; only what l have heard,
answered Lefty.
"And what may that be?
"You are a neighbour" said Lefty
doubtfully. perhaps I've said to-
much already"
He laughed with more animation
than she had yet seen in his manner
depend upon it, shall not betra.
you to Mr.. Easterham. So he is