The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-05
XIV,

CHATTER XIV,
A NRY HOME.
On leaving HowstrOe Stella and her
father had set u for London, not
knowing where they should turn, and
selecting the capital as q place where
unknown aud innotieed they might
remain until employment offered else
where. Having taken lodgings in Brix-
ton, which seemed to the sChoolmaster
u cheap and quiet locality, without loss
OF time he began to seek an engage
ment Gs q schoolmasteF, tutor, or
teacher in any capacity,
Every morning he carefully read the
advertisements in the Morning Post and
Daily IeieJrdDh, marking such as he be-
lieyed would suit him, and subsequent
" answering them. The remainder oil
the day no spent in visiting scholastic
agencies and teaGheEs' institutes, where
no filed papers with statements OF his
qualifications and mention OF his ex'
periences. lie was appalled, to see the
legion OF clergymen, university, men,
and professors similarly situated as he
was. The number OF those anxious
and able to teach by far exceeded that
of those willing and wanting to DO
taught; education seemed n drug In
market, far less profitable than impu-
deuCe, far less useful than pretense:
He had not been In the capital for
over twenty years and 1t was now all
new and startlingly strange to him.
Tho distances he walked " drove
seemed interminable, the noise Of traffic
and street cries was uncomfortable, the
crowds filling every street and thor
oughfare became htiguing, The great
city was to him as a seething sea on
which as o useless waif he was tossed
about, no sheltering harbor in sight.
lie nov forcibly realized the differ
ence between this and the peaceful
country life he had hitherto led, whore
hustle and excitement are happily I'M
known; where strangers were few and
far between; whore the air was sweet
and wholesome, and its silence broken
by little else save tho bleating Of sheep
and tho singing Of birds. But no muir
muir OF complaint yer passed his lips,
when on returning from his long walk
and distressing search in the city he
sat down by the table ct which Stella
presided, aud alto with hungry hearth
ness the meal she had prepared.
Stella, like her father, would have
sought employment, but that a nervous
dread held her back. She seldom VEN
tured abroad, aud never without an
apprehension OF meeting those whom
she most wished to avoid-Crawford,
who was still uppermost in her memory,
Arthur Ferrars, whom she instinCtively
knew would search for her again, or
some OF the Howstree people up in town
for a day or a week on business or pleas
ure. Forget the past she could mott in
decd she chung to its memory as q mode
| OF sslf;punishment, che not having yet
forgive herself for the deception She
had practiced, not only on her father,
but on the man who trusted her, and
for the grief she had subsequently en-
tailed on both. /.
Days and weeks came and went and
brought no change to those who waltod
with never a murmer to mark their
weariness or betray their disappoint-
mont. But Jacob Selwyn has not with
out keenly feeling his new position,
whilst Stella's remorse sank deep into
her heart in silence. The schoolmaster
by no means relaxed his e%ndoayours to
gain employment, but the result was
ever the same. He began to feel the
weight OF his y ears to understand that
Younger men must outrun him in the
race and gain such few poor prizes as
were offered to those whose sole equip
mont WAS education.
Though filled with great crowds the
world was IN empty place to him he
was u stranger TO all men, aud all men
we're strangers to him. Every day the
vast city became more distastetul to one
who loved nature thoroughly the
search for engagements grew a greater
humiliation, tho noise and tumult IN
increasing horror. And yet he saw no
escape from his present position.
He woke one morning from dreams
Of the cottage ut Howstree to tho knowl.
edge that another days weary round
lay before him. On coming down Ia
breakfast he found some letters on the
table; such u sight had frequently
brought hopes only destined to be dis
appointed, and he now looked at the Gu
yeiopes with little interest.
Ono was in the handwriting OF his old
friond, tho rector Of Howstree, and he
opened it quickly. being glad to hear
some tidinVs OF the little world In which
he had so long and so ~contentedly lived,
and from such a source, without, how
ever, expecting to learn anything to his
advantage.
The first few lines brought q change
Of expression in his face; he road on
with increasing eagernoss and he finish
cd with u sense Of relief long unknown
to him; when he glanced over q note
that was enclosed his Joy was complete.
stella, Stella" he called out. turn
ing To the adjoining room. II have
great news-1 have good news, my
dearn !.
0What 10 it, father2" aho answered
az she hastily Joined him.
"My dear old friend Ferrars hasn''
forgotten me. He has been writing al
the nor he knew in my interests and
at last no has scurcd me the school
mastorBhip Of q village In Sussex, which
has Just become vacant"
Stella put hor arms around her faith
er's neck and kissed him lovingly.
~ am so glad aud grateful, dear
what q mercy
"Wo shall bo happy again, Stella
you and | living tho old lifo once moro
Tar removed from all tho crowd ant
noise, away In the peaceful country
how pleasant 1t will BIO, my girl"
"Yes," she answered mprrlly, "hoy
good Of Mr.. FerrarB, aud what a blessot
relief he has brought us; for l felt
dOar, how miserable aud depressed yol
we're becoming, though you thought L
hide it FROM mot but nov We arc 1t