Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-05

SO~NA ShA1h-
There was great regret as well as
hrm conviction In my voice. MY dis
appointment was as intense as my as
surance or disqualification. l longed
TO be or service to this woman: all NV
romantic impulses were stirred by
sight or her beauty and tragic iso-
nton; and yet was convinced OF nv
own inadequacy as regarded her needs.
signed involuntarily and was about
TO turn away, but she stretched ont n
OBTAINING hand, while a little smile OF
amusement fiitteo across the gravity OF
her expression.
Nay, my child, be not so hasty In
your decisions" she returned. AFTER
all, IL is L who should be the Judge of
your capabilities-unless. indeed. Won
are already discouraged by the loneli-
ness OF this place, and use your modes
fight?'
The words were in the form of an In
terrogatory, and l FASTENED to DENY
their false accusation. / spoke with
considerable warmth, and the smile
deepened on Madam's face.
You are quite young" she remarked
Not more. than eighteen or twenty. I
should say. That is in itself n strong
recommendation TO me. I should like
something youthful about me in nv
old age. But my longing is a selfish
one. Youth needs youth, and gaiety
ana bright surroundings. My home is
no place for 1t to shelter in"
She gave a little sigh, as If her
thoughts were interpretive, and / took
advantage of the pause to tell her how
little priced the pleasures which were
SO dear TO most girls OF my age. and
now devoid OF terrors / held solitude.
think the eagerness in my voice
touched and won her, for a slight flush
crept INTO her face as she listened.
You have probably never dreamt of
a household so quiet and monotonous
as tkis," she said. eve are all old
people who inhabit it--Franklin. poor
Mayberry, and /. And IL am, in ad.
dition blind"
L cried aloud at this, so shocked and
startled was i. Blind! those beautifuk
eyes with their profound depths!
You are surprised" she exclaimed.
while could have bitten out NV
tongue in annoyance at nv own in
advertence. "Ahi my old ewes are saa
hypocrites, my dear, and assume q
virtue when they have it not Now
shall begin my catechism?
There is no need to go into the de.
tail of question and answer by means
or which Madam became convinced
that my endowments were sufficient
Tor the position / coveted. / had re-
ceived, at the expe- sc Of welI-to-do
uncle, an excellent education, am. be-
ing naturally of studious habit of
mind, had ranged even beyond the
lead of my preceptors into the fields
or general knowledge. could speak
with confidence Of my lingual familiar
ity with French, German and Italian.
besides being able to claim a tolerably
intimate acquaintance with the most
celebrated literary productions OF each
or these nations. Nor had my En-
| glish requirements suffered neglect
through absenteeism. Well stocked
mad l been by native harvesting be-
! fore being allowed to stray afieId In
search of foreign cleaning.
/ / had an excellent ear for music and
a fair contralto voice, which had been
! carefully cultivated, so that my singing
! really afforded pleasure to even criti-
cal listeners; l had a knowledge Of
I bookkeeping sufficient to make an ex-
I ceedingly accurate domestic account
I ant; could read aloud for hours with
! out fatigue of my well-trained vocal
muscles, and thoughts and ideas were
bred rapidly enough in my BRAIN even
! If these were at times too odd and
original for easy assimilation by those
to whom 1 might chance to utter them.
to ensure my being n fairly entertain
| ing and easy conversatiOnalist.
/ did not offer Madam this frank I'm.
! ventory Of my accomplishments as |
offer it to my readers She was sun
| piled with the opportunity of dis
/ t. r. |. IL
you. I am not egotistical in thus ac-
knowledging my gifts and attachments:
they were simply the stock in-trade by
means OF which / hoped to secure n
living, and ii seems necessary to the
telling OF my tale that should make
mention without mock modesty of the