Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-12-09


young nieces sat by
the window, shrinking back as if
every word had been blow.
They had been with Mrs. Ubsdell
for month now-iust long enough
for the grass to become green on their
fathers grave, and the Grape trim
miDgs of their frocks to grow little
rusty and crumpled.
"And now," went on the portly
dame, sit is time for you to try to do
something for yourselves I'm not
rich, you know. You must go to
work. ;"
tBut we don't know what to do,
Aunt Matilda, said Kate.
''We are very willing to work"
murmured Ginevra, "if any one would
show us how"
General Livingston wants n COVER
ness for his little granddaughters, >"
said Mrs. Ubsdell. "They are six and
seven years old. Music, French and
Latin required. You shall take the
position, Ginevra."
The taller of the two girls changed
color"
81 don't know much music" said
she. "Para taught me Latin; but
am quite ignorant of French"
''Say you know it, said Mrs. Ubs-
dell, sharply; 'and do the best you
can. General Livingston is at home
very little. Twenty to one he'll never
find it out. At all events, I've told
Mrs. jerks, the housekeeper, that you
will be there tomorrow at 8 o'clock
to take the situation"
''But, Aunt Matilda" said Ginevra,
her voice faltering, wouldn't that be
acting a lie?"
ga lie, indeedl" almost screamed
Mrs. Ubsdell, her portly form
seeming to expand, her ewes blaz-
ing like fire. Glow dare you say
that word to me, Ginevrn Hill? After
all the pains I've taken to get you
respectable place! As for you, Kate,
you are to go as companion to Miss
Ramona Ray. She's as deaf as a post,
and you've got a good clear voice to
read aloud to her. She's bad tempered
and exactlng; but it's the business of
you young people to give way to your
elders. And anyhow, you've got your
living to earn"
Kate and Ginevra looked aghast at
oach other when Mrs. Ubsdell had
hustled out of the room.
''What are we to do?" said Kate.
'What can we do except to obey ?"
sighed Ginevra. SIT is very evident
that we are unwelcome here. Aunt
Ubsdell grudges every bite of bread
that we put into our mouths. Oh,
Kate, Kate, if we could only have died
and been buried with papa!"
"We must do the best we can, !"
said Kate, who was tall and dark,
with soft, velvety eyes, long -fringed
and languid, and skin as white and
tine-grained as the petal of lily.
'Perhaps this Miss Ray will not be
SO bad as it would seem. [ shall try
to be very patient and obedient.
"And II am to enter the family
under false pretences?" cried GineyrG.
''But will endeavor to earn my sal
ary at least.
Ginevra was as unlike as possible to
her brunette sister-a rosy, dimpled,
childish little thing, who scarcely
looked her seventeen years.
Kate looked at her with tender re-
gret.
"rhe idea of your being goyer-
ness !" said she.
'Or of your turning lady's com
panion!" retorted Ginevra. ''But l
do believe, Kate, we should go us
gypsy fortune tellers, or take situa-
tions as scullery maids, to get from
under Aunt Matilda's eye.
Miss Ramona Ray was rather deaf
their could be no doubt of that. But
Kate Hall had clear, distinct enun-
citation, and found little trouble in
making her hear.
And really, her temper was not go
very bad, after all.
1t was necessary to be very particu-
lar in the care of her parrot and the
daily bath of her poodle-dog, the
watering of her plants, and the prep
aration of the rose-creams and the
lily-lotions that she used for her ven.
cradle complexion.