The Red Cloud chief., 1901-01-04

home. That will be quite easy
Quite easyl The housokeeper's
kindly heart ached for her. She knew
too well how hard 1t is for a girl with
no special talents or qualifications to
find a niche, and they had only three
weeks. The time was all too short.
II don't want to encourage you to
rebellion, Miss Beryl. and yet can't
bear to think Of you at Miss Maun-
ders' mercy. II you've quite made up
your mind. my dear young lady. I'll
do my best to help you find some
thing"
Hard as posts generally are to find,
specially those worth having, 1t IL
often comparatively easy to get into
a situation at very low remuneration
at the beginning Of a school term. IL
happens now and then that principals
have failed to settle with any n in
the holidays, and have to take the
first person who offers rather than
begin school shorthanded.
Perhaps this explained Beryl's SEEM
ing success, for within a week of first
answering advertisements she was en-
gagged by Mrs. Tanner OF Easthill-on-
Sea. as English teacher in her small
but select school in that rising water
ing-place.
The remuneration was to be E5 q
term, at which Mrs. Markham shifted;
but the teacher was to have the option
OF remaining during the holidays, and
90 would be at 10 expense for board
and lodging.
II don't altogether like it," said
Mrs. Markham. re-reading Mrs. Tan
ner's letter critically; but, Miss
Beryl, IL only you stay a year, you'll
be able to demand better terms In
another situation, and ! think you'd
be happier anywhere than here under
Miss Maunders' tyranny"
In truth. that lady was now Mrs.
Lindon; but both the housekeeper and
Beryl continued to speak OF her by
her maiden name-Mrs. Markham be-
cause she grudged her erstwhile sub
ordinate her rise in life, and Beryl
because 1t was painful to her to give
her mothers title to a m she
hated.
Mrs. Markham came to see Beryl of.
and had her luggage labelled for last
hill; then, when she had put the girl
into an empty third-class carriage,
she fingered for a few last words.
Try and put up with things for the
year, Miss Beryl, even If all's not as
you would like. And IL you're in
trouble of any kind, my dear, Just
write to me. My sister will send on
your letters any time, and I'd be proud
to help you"
Thank you" The tears were dim
ming the girls sweet eyes as she put
her head out Of the carriage window
and kissed the housekeeper warmly.
Il shall be grateful to o as long as
| live. Mrs. Markham. Without you
could never have managed to escape
from Chichester square, and I think to
have stayed there after she came
would have killed mel"
The bell sounded. the engine gave a
shrill. unearthly sound. meant pre-
sumably for a whistle, and the train
was of.
Mrs. Markham did not turn away
till she could no longer see the white
handkerchief Beryl was waving; then
there was a suspicious moisture in
her eyes.
God help her, poor little thing, for
1t seems to me no one else can! It's
true enough, as she says, Mr.. Lindon
never loved her, and now he's mar
ried tina woman it's as like as not
he'd be worse than ever. They say
he has 10000 a year, and a beautiful
country seat, yet his daughter is con-
tent to work hard Tor G5 a term. II
doesn't seem right. somehow"
And 1t was not right: but Mrs.
Markham did not know one fact which
would have explained a good deal that
puzzled her. Eustace Lindon had an
ugly secret in his past, a dark blot
upon his character he would fain hide
from all the world. He did not ad-
mire Julia Maunders. and he had not
the least desire to marry her; but
men with a secret, who are leading a
double life, have often to pay dearly
for the guarding of that secret. 1t
happened that Julia Maunders knew
a good deal Of Lindon's past life. and
the price Of her silence was a wedding
ring.
ITO be continued.)