The Robesonian., 1897-11-24

promising to fulfill, as we'll as she
could, the duties which had de-
volved upon her.
Soon after her husbands death
she and her mother sailed for South
America, to visit Mrs. Barring
tons step-daughter; and 1 fear
that, in spite of her wise resolu-
tions, Elsie thought very little
about her new charge. However,
not long before the time whore l
begin my story, she received a let
ter from Lester Warne, her ward;
a very short letter, beginning,
Dear Madam" and ending with
a "Yours respectfully" in which
he informed her that he was COM
ing home.
Busy with her own affairs, Elsie
simply wrote to the lawyers in New
York, who had charge of the boys
future, that, after Master Lester
Warne' S arrival, she would go down
to confer with them-and there
the matter rested.
1t was past eight o'clock when
Mrs. Conyers reached the house.
The May evening had been so
sweet, she had been beguiled into
wandering father than she intend
ed. When she entered the hall,
Lucius met her with his usual
grand bow, and the information:
eff you please, madam, de trab-
lers has arrove; de young gem
man, being non compos with sick
headache, has retired, but do od-
der, l spose he's de tutor, waits
in de library"
Elsie ran up stairs to get rid of
her wraps and thick boots, and
slip into another black dress.
81 dare say he is an old pump
tutors always are" she thought,
as she took a glance at her pretty
self in the mirror; "still one likes
to be decent, even if one sits
alone.'
Down stairs she flew. She was
a little, 1.-the thing, with great,
soft blue eyes, and golded hair,
looking more like seventeen than
twenty-one; but in spite of her
gentle manners and caressing
ways, she was as decided woman
as one could find.
! "Now for the old prose-" she
thought, as she opened the library
door. "It is shame that mamma
should be out tonight of all 9th
ersl I hope the old thing won
talk either eonehology or geology
at least"
| She entered the room-a hand
some, luxurious chamber, which
was Elsie favorite retreat. A fir
was burning in the grate-Elsi
liked fire as long as she coul'
make any pretence for having one
Her reading table was drawn up
as usual, in her pet corner, her pc
armchair beside it, but, 10 an
behold, the stranger had estab
lished himself in that special hook
: He was half Lying back i'll the seat
so that she could only see the to
l of his head, and below, his les
stretched completely out upon til
+ hearth
: II know I shall hate him. ST
i thought. eff he had the brair
of an oyster, he would have know
8 by instinct that he had taken n
g favorite place. Well he must
" deaf into the bargain!' -
:, She was half way across tt
G room by this time, but the aud
cious tutor had not stirred.
r. passing table her loose slee
If swept a book off, which fell
l. the floor; still he did not move.
~ eff l had a percussion-cap
il crack it on the top of his O
W head !" thought Elsie.
er On she foated to the heart
d. As she reached it the gentlem
Ih rose with start, but, instead
it being elderly, he was an excet
m ingly handsome young fello
tie looking about twenty-six, tall e
IS. gantly formed, with beauti
lis black eyes, and heavy, curlil
er black mustache.
81 beg ten thousand pardons
he cried he, not a bit confused, thor
he he looked little bewildered
lst the golden-haired apparition VIII
re- had SO suddenly appeared bef
wo him. 81 believe l was t
ter asleep"
di- Elsie felt somewhat fluttered
mt the sight of such Prince Cha
I've ing in place of the elderly pu
ase she had looked to see; but,
di- course, it was not in keeping v
our her dignity as mistress OF the no
to show it. She said gravely: