Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-08

What have I done to deserve It? oh,
pray, pray, pray have some pity on me!'
Her mother was as selfish and as cruel
a woman as ever lived. hut even her
hard heart felt family the influence Of the
most intimate and most sacred of all HUI
man relationships. Her Horid cheeks
turned pale. She hesitatcd.
Miss Wigger marked that moment of
maternal indecision--and saw that 1t was
time to assert her experience rs an In.
structress of youth.
"Leave 1t to me-" she said to her sister.
"You never did know, and you never will
know, how to manage children"
CHAPTER VI.
Times march moves slowly where
weary lives longuish In dull places. Dat.
ing from one unkept and unacknowledged
birthday to another, Sydney Westerfcld
had attained the sixth year Of her mar.
tyrdOm ut school. In that long interval
no news Of her mother, her brother, or her
stepfather had reached England. R0der.
lex Westerfeld's daughter was. In the sud.
dest sense Of the word, alone In the world.
The hands Of the ugly old clock In the
school room were approaching the time
come to an end. YEARLY waiting for their
release, the scholars saw an event happen
which was novelty In their domestic OK.
perience. The maid.Of.all.wor put her
head In at the door, and interrupted Miss
Wigger conducting the education Of the
first class.
III you please. miss. there's a gentle
man In the drawing room." she said. And
here's his card"
Being mortal creature. the school mis-.
trcss was accessible tn the prOmptings
Of curiosity. She snatchcd the card out
Of the girls hand.
Mr.. Herbert Linley, Mount Morven,
Perthshirc. II don't know this person."
Miss Wigger declared. "You wretch. have
you let thief into the house?'
"A gentleman, II ever see one yet"
the servant rct0rted.
Miss Wigger referred to the card again,
and discovered (faintly traced In pcnciD
these words: ITO see Miss =. W."
The school mistress instantly looked at
Miss Westcrfeld. Miss Westcrield rose
from her place at the head Of her class.
At a loss to understand the audacity Of
her teacher In rising before the class was
dismissed, Miss Wigger began by assert.
ing her authority. She did In two words:
"Sit down."
II wish to explain. ma'am."
"Sydney Westerfeld. you are setting
the worst possible example to your class.
] shall see this man myself. Will you sit
DOWN.
Pale already, Sydney turned paler still.
She Obeyed the word Of cOmmand-to the
high delight of the girls Of her class.
Miss Wiggcr entered her drawing room.
With the slightest possible inclination Of
her head. she eyed the stranger through
her green spectacles. The servants esti.
mate Of him was beyond dispute. Mr..
Herbert Linley's good breeding was even
capable Of suppressing all outward expires.
sion Of the dsmay that he felt on finding
himself face to face with the formidable
person who had received him.
"What Is your business. II you please?"
Miss Wigger began.
II have taken the liberty Of calling" he
said. lin answer to an advertisement"
He paused and took newspaper from
the pocket Of his ovcrcoat. He opened II
and pointed to the advertisement.
"a young lady wishes to he employed
In the education OF little girl. Possess.
Ing but few mplishments, and having
been only junior teacher at school, she
offers her services on trial. leaving II to
her employer to pay whatever salary she
may he considered to deserve"
Most Impairment" said Miss Wigger.
Mr.. Linlcy looked astOnishcd.
II say. most impairment" Miss Wigger
repeated. Zone Of my teachers has issued
an advertisement. and has referred to my
address, without first consulting me.
Have ! made myself understood. STRIP
She looked at the carriage when she call.
ed him sir"
But just here the door was opened; q
young lady entered the room.
Was this the writer Of the advertise
mentY He felt sure Of 1t, for no better
reason than this: The moment he looked
ut her she interested him.
"What do you mean by coming here?"
Miss Wigger inquired.
II wish to know" she said. III this gem
tleman desires to see me, ON the subject OF
my advertisement 2"
"Your advertisement" Miss Wigger re.
peatcd. "Aliss Westertield. how dare you
beg for employment In u newspaper. with
out asking my leave!
II only waited to tell you what had
done, till l knew whether my advertise
ment would he answered or not"
She spoke as calmly as before, still sub
hitting to the insOlent authority of the
school mistress with steady fortitude,
very remarkable In any girl-and espe-
cially In a girl whose face revealed a
sensitive nature. Linley approached her,
and said his few kind words before Miss
Wigger could assert herself for the third
time.
II am afraid ! have taken q liberty In
answering you personally, when l ought
to have answered by letter. My only ex-
cuse il that have no time to arrange for
an interview, In London, by correspon-
dence. ! live In Scotland. and am oblig.
ed to return by the mail tonight"
He paused. She was looking ut him.
Did she understand him?
She understood him only too well. For
the first time, poor soul, In the miserable
years of her school life, she saw eyes
that rested on her with the sympathy that
IL too truly felt to be uttered In words.
Her head sank; her wasted figure trem.
bled; few tears dropped slowly on the
bosom of her shabby dress. She tried,
desperately tried, to control herself. II
beg your pardon, sir" was all she could