People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-12-20

self lonely, and when she was lonely
she was not well. There was a grave
consultation between my parents.
My mother said how useful I
was to her, and how much she
SHOULD miss my help among the
children and in the house. Nv
father said that he had never anticipa-
ted any Of his daughters leaving home.
but the stipend offered, hundred and
fifty pounds per annum, was a large
one, and would be a great help with
the number CT children and the small
income. Ny dear mother argued that
| should be able to spare az least one
hundred for the use of those at home.
AT last it was decided. Nv father
held out the longest; his pride was
touched at the thought that enc Of his
daughters should have to leave home.
But even that yielded before the
thought Of the comfort that that addi-
tional hundred per annum would give
him.
There was dismay and dread among
the boys; there was, in fact, a reyolu-
ton. Why should Audrey; their own
sister and special friend, 90 away
from them to live with Lady Latimer?
1t was not fair, and they decided in
their own especial parlance mot to
stand it." Their sister belonged to
them, and not to Lady Latimer. They
wished now that she had never come
to LOTIONS Cray. They wanted Aud
rey for themselves. The dear, gentle
mother listened in patience. Then
she explained to them the great ad-
vantages that must be derived from
another hundred per annum, and what
a nice thing it would be for me to be
always well dressed, and meeting peo-
pie who moved in high society.
"We are high society. mother" said
Bob, reproachfully. There is no one
better than you and my father
My mother kissed him in her quiet,
gentle fashion.
ut will be best, my dear, she said.
And then the boys knew that their
plan Of action had failed.
There was only one comfort for
them: living at LOTIONS Cray, forming
one OF that most august household. |
should be able to obtain some in
dulgences for them, such as an oc-
casional ride or drive; and afterward
both Lord and Lady Latimer proved
very kind in this respect. They were
kind altogether; great hampers of
game and fruit went from the hall to
the vicarage; great parcels of toys
came for the boys, but the privilege of
riding was the one they valued most.
So 1t came about that | was in
stalled at LOTIONS Cray as a COM
panion to its mistress, with salary Of
one hundred and fifty per annum, and
a nice room of my own. thought
myself the most fortunate Of girls.
And now ! come to the heart of nv
story. l had left the simple, ha.oy
home of my youth. | was in a new
world and a new sphere of life. |
must add this one remark while speak
ing of myself: was just eighteen, but
like many eldest daughters of large
families, | was much older than nv
years. / had, it seemed to me, passed
through the experience of lifetime.
and l believe most eldest daughters
have the same feeling.
From the moment l entered the
house until the strange events hap
pened which close my story, Lady
Latimer chung TO me with wonderful
love. She seemed to rely on me. to
trust me. She never liked to have me
out OF her sight. No sister ever cared
lOr another as she did for me.
l remember one bright June morn
ing she was standing on the lawn feed
ing some tame doves. The sunlight
lay on her golden hair, her white dress.
and the cluster of roses at her throat;
a picture fair as the day itself. There
was a dreamy sadness in her exquisite
face. She left the pretty birds, and
stood looking over the square of foun-
tains' The beautiful silvery spray
rose high in the air.
went up to her Her eyes wore a
dreamy, far-off look that have never
seen in any other face.
TO BE CONTINUED.