The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-09-18
4 PAIR OF NIECES.


You can't expect me to support yeu
i'm idleness any longer said Mrs.
Ubsdell, a tall, stout woman with level
black brows, very red lips, and a loud
voice.
The woman's two young nieces SAT
by the window, shrinking back as il
every word had been blow. They
had been with their aunt a month
just long enough for the grass to be.
come green on their fathers grave,
and the Grape trimmings on theiI
frocks to grow little crumpled and
rusty.
And now,' went on the portly dame,
lit is time for You to do something fol-
yourselves. Pm not rich, you know.
But we don't know what to do,
Aunt Matilda said Kate.
we are willing to work if any one
would show us how murmured Gin
evra.
General Livingston wants a gov
erness for his granddaughter, six and
seven years old. Music, French and
Latin required. You shall take that
position, Ginevra,' said her aunt.
The taller of the girls changed col
or.
Il don't know much about music,
said she. Papa taught me Latin but
Pm 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
il out. At all events, I've told Miss
jerks, the housekeeper, that you will
be there tomorrow at 8 o'clock 10 take
the situation
But, Aunt Matilda, wouldn't that be
acting lie?" faltered the girl.
a lie, indeed, almost screamed Mrs.
Ubsdell, her eyes ablaze with anger.
How dare you use that word TO me,
Ginevra Hall? AS for you, Kate, you
are to go as companion to Miss Ramo-
ma Ray. She's as deaf as post, and
you've got good, clear voice to read
aloud to her. She's bad tempered and
exacting, but it's the business of you
young people to give way TO your eld-
ers-and any way you have your living
to earn
The girls looked aghast at each other
when Mrs. Ubsdell left the room.
What shall we do :? asked Kate.
Obey, / suppose sighed Ginevra.
1T is all very evident that we are un-
welcome here. Aunt Ubsdell grudges
every bit of bread we eat. Oh, Kate,
if we could only have died and been
buried with papa
We must do the best we can, said
Kate, who was dark, with soft velvety
eyes, and skin as fair and fine-grained
as Bermuda lilly. Perhaps this Miss
Ray is not 80 bad as we think. / shall
try to be patient
And | am to enter the family of an
aristocrats under false pretense,' cried
Ginevra. Il hope | shall earn my
salary
Ginevra was as unlike as possible to
her dark haired sister-a rosy, dimpled,
childish girl, who scarcely looked her
seventeen years.
t,zl-.l - har xr-:tl. fnn1ar 70
gret. The idea of your being gov
erness,' she exclaimed.
Or of your turning lady's compan-
ion,' retorted Ginevra. But | do be
lieve, Kate, we would go as gypsy for
tune tellers, or take situations as scul.
lery maids, to get out from under Aunt
Matilda's eye
Miss Ramona Ray was rather deaf,
there could be no doubt about that.
But Kate Hall had n clear, distinct
enunciation. and found little trouble in
making her hear.
And really her temper was not sc
very bad after all.
1t was necessary to be very particu-
lar In her care of her parrot, and the
daily bath of her poodle dog, and wat
ering of her plants, and the prepara.
ton of the rose creams and the lilly
lotions that she used for her venerable
complexion.
But she conceived decided fancy fol
her new companion; took her out in
the carriage for daily drive, and told
her the whole story of the Mexican
officer who had once been engaged tC
her, and who went away to Chapulte
pee or some of those four syllabeled
places and married Spanish sonora
even while Miss Ramona's wedding
cake was being baked.
When Miss Ramona told this story
to any one it was sign OF a very higf
favor indeed.
Miss Ramona had only one relative
i'm the world, nephew, and he was
naval officer. And, as it happened
ne CAME ubiflt ti u Nlsit Nhth fNdt'
had been a week with his aunt, burst
ing into the room at twilight, like ,
cheerful tornado.
We'll, Aunt Mona said he, here
am. Got your letter at Norfolk. Wha
sort ola companion have you got now
Regular old maid, eh? or widow il
dyed bombazine and eyeglasses
Hush, Godfrey said Miss Ray
Kate, my dear, bring candles. Thii
young lady is my companion at pres
ent. Miss Hall, allow me to presen
my nephew, Lieut.. Mossmoro."
sYou see,' said Kate, laughing, .
am neither an old maid nor widow.
I'm sure / beg ten thousand par
dons,' said the lieutenant, blushinl
mahogany color.
Meanwhile Ginevra had gone to he
situation at Livingsfon Larches, wher