The Holly chieftain., 1899-09-22

s%%eeD<s wAS ncNGf NAAVHSu uSy SA0
the grounds without the housskssper.
Every day the old schoolmaster
from the village came to give me les
sons. It WAS as you may imagine.
very old-fnshioned education which
received; but / liked 1t. Ny uncle had
a library neither large nor valuable.
but read all the books ON those
shelves. Robinson Crusoe, Rasselas.
Guliiver. the Pilgrims Prosress-that
was my only Idea Of fiction. So ths
days and months crept slowly BY. Ny
uncle was often away. and used to
notice. at those times. q greater anxi-
ETY. on the part OF the housekeeper TO
have An eye on me. and that should
not % out OF bounds. I was NO doubt
closely watched: but by degrees they
grew to trust me more, for was very
tractable. Constant isolation made
me dull. quiet, unlike other girls. /
had absolutely NO link with the outer
world; ! had been distinctly forbidden
to write to the nuns-I knew no one
In England. My uncle used to hsvs
visitors-always men-but these ]
never saw. lived quite apart from
him; his rooms were at the other end
of the house. always had my meals
with the housekeeper"
Pardon my interruption" said Mr..
Martineau, In low tone. Did you
say you never saw your uncle's
guests!"
wait a minute: am going to tell
you." she replied. When / was be-
tween sixteen and seventeen change
came about in my world. The old
schoolmaster died. There was pause
in the regular routine of my days. Left
entirely to my own devices, used to
wander all over the upper parts Of the
house. In one of the attics found
box full Of books. Some were dull and
uninterestins. but some were-well,
do not think you can have any idea
of what 1t was to me to become ac-
Quainted with Sir Walter Scott. Thack-
cray and Lord Lytton. Ny brain al
most reeled with an accumulation of
new ideas. l wondered how In the
world could have remained where I
was SO long In helpless. stupid ignor-
ance of life. l soon resolved that I
would bear it no longer. would
brave my uncle: l would demand my
freedom; would ask why l was
mewed up thus in corner, away from
all companionship.
Il remember that night wildly. It
was August, sultry and still, and both
atmosphere and sky were beautifully
clear. had spent the afternoon un-
der the willows by the brook, gloat-
ing over my novel till the fading light
compelled me to close the book. The
pastures. as walked lingeringly back
to the house. were heavy With dew.
and discolored the hem OF my white
cotton dress. must have been .
strange looking girl; my hair floated
all over my shoulders and down my
back below my waist; nobody had
ever told me that was growing up.
and that my locks should be arranged
more neatly l came with slow steps
round the corner of the house. brushing
my hand softly along the thick dark
box trees; my lightly-shod feet made
no noise on the gravel as I turned
the corner Of the clump of thick bushes
which stood at each side of the en-
trance, and advanced toward the heavy
white columns of the porch.
Then I started back and paused
irresolutely, for there was stranger
standing by the door young man
with bare head and folded arms. 1
beg your pardon, Mr.. Martineau, did
l startle you?"
Not in the least. thanks. You-you
can't think how you interest me.
Please don't pause"
1T seems a strange thing that up to
that night l had never encountered
any Of my uncle's guests. but 1t is
nevertheless quite true. AS he turned
and caught sight of me, he uttered an
exclamation of surprise.
".You startled me. he said.
"'You startled me, too | answered
vaguely, as looked at him. there came
floating into my mind "reminiscences
of the romances with which had late
ly filled my head. thought of the first
meeting between Ivanhoe and Rebecca
as looked up at him. He took my
hand, drew me to his side, and patted
my hair kindly.
Whose dear little girl are you?'
he said.
81 felt cruelty wounded and hurt!
There. was every excuse for him-you
see how small | am, no taller than a
child, my hair was all down my back.
and the light was fading! But never
thought OF that. Picture to yourself
a girl. with mind just awakened to
a consciousness of womanhood and it's
possibilities, brought face to face with