Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1900-07-18

high road, and three miles from thel
village. was never allowed beyond
the grounds without the housekeeper
Every day the old schoolmaster
from the village came togive me les-
sons. 1t was, as you may imagine, e
very old-fashioDed education which
received; but I'liked IT. My uncle had
library-neither large nor valuable,
but read all the books on those
shelves. Robinson Crusoe, Rasselas,
CULVER, the Pilgrims ProgressT-that
was my only idea of fiction. So the
days and months crept slowly by. My
uncle was often away, and I used TO
notice, at those times, greater anxi-
ETY. on the part of the housekeeDer to
have an eye on me, and that l should
not go out Of bounds. was no doubt
closely watched; but by degrees they
grew to trust me more, for l was very
tractable Constant isolation made
me dull, quiet, unlike other girls.
had absolutely no link with the outer
world; l had been distinctly forbidden
to write to the nuns1 knew no one
in England. My uncle used to have
sisitors-always men-butN 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" al seiaa.
Pardon my Interruption, said Mr.
Martineau, in low tone. did you
say you never saw your uncles
guests?"
wait a minute; am going to tell
you" she replied when Ihwas be-
tween sixteen and seventeen a change
came about in my world. The old
schoolmaster died There was a 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
uninteresting, but some werewolf, l
do not think you can have any idea
of what 1t was to me to become ac-
luainted with Sir Walter Scott, ThacK-
cray and Lord Lytton. My brain al
most reeled with an accumulation of
new ideas. wondered how in the
world l could have remained where l
was so long in helpless. stupid ignor-
ance Of life. l soon resolved that l
would bear it no longer would
brave my uncle; | would demand my
freedom; l would ask why l was
mewed up thus In corner, away from
all companlonship.
II remember that night wildly. 1t
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 facing light
compelled me to close the book, The
pastures, as I walked lingeringly back
to the house, we're heavy with dew,
and discofdIeu tlfe hem OF my white
cotton dress. must have been a
strange looking girl; my hair fioated
i all over my shoulders and down my
back below my waist; nobody had
i ever told me that l was growing up
and that my locks should be arranged
more neatly. 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 l turned
the corner Of the clump OF thick bushes
4 which stood at each side of the en-
| trance, and advanced toward the heavy
white columns Of the porch.
YThen 1 started back and paused
irresolutely, for there was stranger
standing by the door young mar
1 with bare head and. folded arms. Fl
\ beg your pardon Mr.. Martineaus die
startle you?"
"Not in the least, thanks. You--yoi
can't think how you interest me
Please don't pause"
\ 'sIt seems strange thing that up II
3. that night l had never encountered
4 any OF my uncle's guests, but 1t /
nevertheless quite true. AS he turned
and caught sight of me, he uttered al
exclamation of surprise 49,
You startled me; he said. n
II "You startled me, too 1 answere
vaguely as looked at him, there cam
floating into my mind "Reminiscences
of the romances with which had late
ly filled my head. thought of the frs
meeting between IVanhoe and Rebecc
as l looked up At him. He tack m
hand drew me to his side. and patte
i, my hair kindly
Il Whose dear little girl are you
he said Il +E w 4tAfE
!. FL felt cruelty wounded and hurt
], There was every excuse for him-yo
: see how small I am. no taller than
child, my hair was all down my bacI
and the light was fadingi But 4 nev,
thought of that. Picture TO yourse
. 4 girl, with mind just awakened
: a consciousness of womanhood and /