Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-08-31

teaT-stained; the heavy mourning
dress was neither elegant nor be-
coming; and to complete the wonder,
she stood before him, homeless,
/ frierdless, penniless, and asking for
his aid to gain a livelihood.
/ No wonder shat he stood for some
moments in sileEl wonder, too moved
10 speak, and then Selling the little
white hands, that he had once seen
sparkling with jewels, bathed them
| with honest, sympathizing tears.
/ lt seemed like a miracle, he said
| that he should know Of something
which might suit his honored young
! lady. BY a strange coincidence, a
/ lady, wose daughter he taught, asked
| him three days ago If he could find a
| travelling companion for herself and
her two daughters, who were going to
Italy The lady was Mrs. Caldwell
the widow of a rich city merchant
1t was agreed between them that
| Signor Bacchi should name Miss
/ Wyvern as lady In every way suited
/ for what Mrs, Caldwell required. Lady
Florence begged him to forget her
title, and not mention anything of her
4 rank or her former life.
There will be no need" she said
gently. mo one will write to memo
| one knows anything about me, or
F9arss whether am alive or dead. 'N.'..,
Mrs. Caldwell was much pleased with
the signors description of Miss Wy
yern
"The chief point is that she should
be refined and well bred" she said.
My daughters, moving as they do in
the best society, could not endure any
thing else"
The singing master smiled as he
contemplated the red faces of the
Misses Caldwell and remembered the
fair loyeliness of Lady Florence Mrs.
Caldwell begged that the young lady
would call on the following day; so,
in compliance with her wish, the young
girl went early in the afternoon to
Hyde Park Square.
Mrs. Caldwell was puzzled and sur
priscl at Miss Wyvern's behavior,
She manifested neither surprise nor
embarrassment when that ladyreceived
her in her grandest manner in
| draWng-room that seemed one blaze
Of gilt and mirrors. She passed her
| examination credtably, flushing the
while, poor child! at the strange ques-
tlons asked her She could speak
French and Italian tluently. She had
never filled a similar position; and she
was living at present with distant rel
alive. When she said something
about references, Mrs. Caldwell smiled,
and said that Signor Bacchi's word
was quite sufficient.
The interview ended satisfactorily;
Mrs Caldwell would start for Italy on
the thi'tieth, II Miss Wyvern could
join her two days previous to that
time, il would be quite sufficient.
You viii not object Miss Wyyern, "
said the lady, as Florence rose to take
her leave. TO giving my daughters a
little instruction In Italian. Unfor-
tuuately, they know nothing of it, and
SO | am Obliged to take a travelling
companion
Lady Florence declared herself will
ing to do anything that Mrs. Caldwell
desired.
II think ! have made a bargain
there said that astute lady, as the
door closed upon her visitor, she will
take all the trouble off our hands,
teach the girls. and be of great use to
me. The only thing is Maria and
Julia may think her too handsome;
but they must be reasonable One can
not have everything
At the appointed time Miss Wyvern
made her appearance She brought
with her to Hyde Park Square two
well-dlled boxes, for she had dresses
in abundance.
The first coutretemps that occurred.
was her ignorance of the exact posi-
4 tion of a companion. The young ladies'
were not visible when she arrived.
4 Mrs Caldwell received her kindly, and
informed her that the dinner bell
would ring in half-an-hour Al
/ though the house was partially upset.
4 aud the young ladies busily engaged
tn packing, Florence never dreamed
I tihl kHtN NHNlh blittt tue AftNhARlAA
Of dressing for dinner; accordingly she
quickly unfasteued one of her boxes,
and took out dinner dress of black
creme. eXquisitely made and trimmed.
4 iet brooch with a diamond in the
center was her only ornament The
rich masses of her golden hair We're
neatly arranged and Lady Florence
/ looked what she was one of Ma
/ Wre's own gentlewomen.
She noticed the start and surprise
that Mrs Caldwell tried TO conceal
when She entered the drawiug-room
She introduced uer daughters, Maria
and julia and then offered some kline
1T apology saving they were too busy
ara upset 70 dress for dinner.
Miss Julia looked al the companion
requisite toilette with something like
dsmaN The dinner was good, th
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