The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-01-20
A WINTER DAYS JOURNEY.

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 everv-
thing.
ITS 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,
land the SHOWS powerful deep"
II think 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 landlady.
81 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 rum
bled up from the next village, 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-g 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
| polar bear chanced to be her travelling
companion.
Lettice arranged her furs and her
basket and her bonnet strings. and
| wondered secretly how far the tall
man was going.
Can | be of any assistance to youp"
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.
Gross thing" thought Lefty, invol-
| UNFAIRLY, poutino her pretty lips.
| why can't he talk and make himself
agreeable? And he knows that we are
70 be shut up here together for eight
| long hours"
But the wild. mountainous land
scape, as it fitted by, while cleaning
with SHOWS 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 chagrin in
the white, skeleton-like walls of de-
serted old paper-mill, long since dis
used and fallen to ruin.
Il wonder if it is haunted?" she said
aloud
The stranger smiled and laid down
| his paper.
DO you believe in such things" he
asked.
Lettice Mainwaring laughed and
colored.
"Of course not; and yet Are
you much acquainted in this region of
the country?"
Il have lived hereabouts a good
deal,,'
"Oh! Then perhaps you know East
erham hall?"
His face Frightened
"Oh, yes. You are going there?"
Yes. | 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
Il 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, pehapse" mischiev-
ousiy put in Lettice, the roguish
! sparkles coming back to her eye.
$50 far as | know, Easterham hall
| is free from any supernatural occu-
pants"
Il am sorry for that" said Lefty.
He arched his brows.
You would like to share your room
| with ghost or two?"
mo, but do like little tinge of
| romance about the place
to set it little above and beyond the
level of the commonplace"
He did not answer, and talkatiye
Lettice once more set the conversation
Eball rolling.
The Easterhams are very rich, !
SUPPOSED"
Yes"
Il never heard of them until last
week." she said, musingly, land now
how strangely things are ordered in
this world am going to cast my lot
| among them"
"How does that happen?" said the
gentleman. He could not very well
say less in ordinary politeness, and yet
Lefty felt triumphantly that she had
drawn him out"
"They wrote to Nine. Moligny, my
old teacher, to select a governess quail
itied to teach two little boys, and ma
dame knew that | wished for situa-
ton. and SO here | am. wonder how
they will like mapD