The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-07-12
A DAYS JOURNEY.

ITS long distance over the hills, miss" |
said the wife of the landlord of the little |
one story tavern that was perched on the |
erful deep"
81 think winter landscape is the pref |
tiest thing in the world" said Lettuce !
cheerily, as she wound her fur boa around
and around her neck.
And old Stokes stage is awful uncom-
Portable" added the landlady
Il 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 rumbled up from
the next village, mile or so down the
hill.
One solitary passenger occupied the op-
posite 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, heavily trimmed with sa-
BILE furs. He nodded briefly in return to
Letty's smiling recognition. Our little
heroine would have talked with polar
bear, had n polar bear CHANGED to be her
travelling companion.
Lettice arranged her furs, and her basket,
and her bonnet strings and wondered Sc
! cretly how far the tall man was going.
"Can | be of any assistance to you"
courteously queried the gentleman, as Let
ty searched in the straw at her feet for
dropped glove.
"Thauks-- said Lefty, coming up
again with red cheeks and curls little
dsheveled. Are you going all the way
through"
LAS far as the stage goes-yes."
"Oh," said Miss Mainwaring, $50 am L."
The gentleman nodded interrogatively
and went back to his paper.
Gross thing" thought Lefty, involun-
tarily pouting her cherry lips. "Why can't
he talk and make himself agreeable? And
he knows very well that we are to be shut
here together for eight long hours"
But the wild, mountainous landscape, as
it fitted by while cleaning with snow
and darllly fringed with the waving of
} hemlock bOughs and solemn crested pines,
was. after all, nearly as good a study as
, the "human face divine" and Lefty soon
forgot her temporary annoyance and cha
grin in the white, sleletonlike walls of a
7 deserted old paper mill long since disused
and fallen to ruin.
81 wonder if it is haunted?" said she
aloud.
The stranger smiled and laid down his
> paper
5 "Do you believe in such things" h'
asked.
r Lettice Mainwaring laughed and col
ored.
l "Of course not; and yet-are you mucl
acquainted in this region of the country?'
r 81 have lived hereabout good deal"
Il "Oh! Obi Then perhaps you know East
) erham Halle"
G His face frightened.
d ooh, yes! You are going there"
Eyes | am to be governess to the littl
children" said Lefty, making haste to Ell
tighten him as to her true position in orde
h that he should fully comprehend that sh
7. was no elegant young lady coming to TIL
g hall to make VISIT but humble littl
e. working bee, who was obliged to toll steac
l. tasty for the daily bread she ate.
ID "Indeedw he said.
s. And Lefty was veXed at herself for n
ticing the polite indifference into whic
his tone subsidized.
IN 81 suppose it is very fine old place
she went on.
"Very-for those who fancy fine o
places To my taste they are apt to
I'd overrun with rats, full Of drafts and pi
turesquely inconvenient,"
at "And haunted perhaps" mischievous
nut in Lettice, the roguish sparkles col
wv ing back to her eyes,
y, so far as | know Easterham Hall
free from any supernatural occupants"
Il am sorry for that" said Lefty.
He archcd his eyebrows,
Po "You would like to share your roc
I'M with ghost or two"
"No: but do like little tinge of
de nance about the place-something to
it II little above and beyond the level
the commonplace"
TT He did not answer, and laxative Let
O. once more set the conversational ball rt
ing.
"The Easterhams are very rich, l 81
I'VE pose?"
MT Eyes"
ION 81 never heard of them until last wee
she said musingly; "and nOw-how stran
w things are ordered in this world!-l
going to cast in my lot among them"
rid "How does that happen?" said the &
ler- tleman. He could not very well say
Pa in ordinary polteness and yet Lefty
lie triumphantly that she had drawn
wv out"
Kite "They wrote to Nine Molgny, my
am teacher, to select a governess QUALIFIED
'po- teach two little boys, and madame kr
her that | wished for IL situation and so he
lter am. Iwonder how they will like me2"
ON 81 hope you will like Them" said
ara gentleman.
st. THAT isn't the question: Lefty
rected imperatively. MIR. Easterham
dreadful bear"
"fou are acquainted with himY
low "Oh, no: only what have heal
tell answered Lefty.
And what may that be-"
he "You are neighbour" said Lefty dol
q. a fully. Perhaps I've said too m
.ker already"
ian. He laughed with more animation
tbev she had vet seen in his manner.
,em "Depend upon it, | shall not betray
to Mr., Easterham. So he is bear? v
have thought so sometimes myself"
But he won't bite me if l am a {
.hor girl and do my duty to the little ones,
nnd they tell mo they are very nice boys"
tbe sisted Lettuce.
care -. liiey arc very INV 'A'''
ont lieve."
oN "Oh :" said Lettice laughing, 81 can
Young bears; it is only the fullgrown
linen with sharp teeth and long cla
am afraid of. Only think" and den
one apprehensive expression came over lie
you round, blooming countenance, "he goo
around the house all day long, and 1
anu saws word to any one"
icaso "He must be savage, indeed, " obse