The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14

g. she must be accomplished and con-
versant with the usages of good society.
Address Lady Alicia Sowerby. The Towers.
Nytou. near Tadcaster, Yorkshire
saw this advertisement the day after
che funeral Of the dear old aunt with whom
7 had lived since childhood. Her death had
thrown me homeless and penniless upon the
world. and for the last few days I had
scanned with anxious eyes the employment
columns of the newspapers. This was the
only sort of occupation for which 1 was in
the least bit fitted. 1 held no diplomas, and
had had no experience in teaching, so I
could not offer myself as a governess. But
was certainly a gentlewoman. 1 had just
reached thirty; could paint and sing and
sneak modern languages. and the society TO
which had been accustomed was undoubt-
eddy good"
90 1 wrote my application and occupied
the time in waiting in imagining what Lady
Alicia might be like. Stiff. old-world. evil
IDENTIFY, with her '1ady of quality and her
"eentlewoman," but 1 hoped she might
he one Of the dear old ladies one dreams of
dressing in gray silk and old lace. with a
faint perfume OF lavender about her per-
son and her house. l pictured her to my
self with a sweet, reposeful face, and ionged
Lady Alicia's reply dispelled some of
these illusions. She approved of me, my
references were satisfactory and she
offered me an ''honorarium" of ESQ year.
but the handwriting was that of a master
ful woman, and the phrasing of her letter
gave no indication of gentleness- However,
1 thankfully accepted the post, and before
a week had passed found myself one July
afternoon at Myton station.
The train went on. and L stood, solitary,
on the platform, waiting until the porter
came for my ticket that might ask him
how to get to the Towers. Before he had
time to stroll up TO me in the leisurely
manner of the country, dog-cart came
racing down the road, a groom sprang to
the horses head. and a bright little Scotch
terrier dashed into the station, ran up to
me, and began shifting at my skirts. 1t
was quickly followed by the driver of the
trap. tall boy of about fifteen. with frank,
blue eyes that opened wide with astonish-
ment as he caught sight of me.
Down Commas, DOWN. he shouted to the
dog. raising his hat apologetically. Then,
as his eyes took in the vacancy of the plat
form, they rested again inqUiringly on me,
and he cried: Il say. you're never-I mean
are you Miss Marshall?"
Yes. for the Towers
I've come to meet you. Awfully sorry
I'm so late. Will you come this way?
Goodr
This was admiration for the way in which
i mounted TO the high seat, and he showed
that l had won my way into his good
graces by talking to me in perfectly free
and-easy strain during the drive.
As we came to the top of hill about two
miles from the station he pointed with his
whip TO a large. red brick mansion embos-
omed in the trees of an extensive park and
said:
That's the Towers
1T seems to be a large place." 1 said.
YES. beastly ugly. Old Sowerby-that's
Aunt Alicias late husband-had a pile OF
rnoney-made 1t in trade-soap or starch
or something of that kind. Thought he'd
scored. / expect, when he got an earrs
daughter to marry him. Ha! ha! Soon
found out who was master!'
you are Lady Alcia's nephew, then?"
'Yes-Max Hetherington. My father is
the younger brother. My uncle is the Ear
Of Ullswater. / spend the summer vac
here. Beastly dull. too. except when she
lets me have a fellow down for few
weeks Fred Somers is coming the frs
week Of August
May 1 ask a question:"
'Certainly-any number"
''why did you look so astonished wher
you saw me?"
He turned crimson.
"Oh, L say he began, as he broke int
a laugh. well, said you might. and /
is rather a joke. The truth is, aunt is ex
pecting a sort of frump-some grizzled
scraggy old maid. dressed in a weather
beaten frOck. And when / saw you, s.
yOung-Iooking. and smart, and trim-well
you see. it was rather surpriseT'
Il see" And / laughed too.
I'm afraid she'll consider you fraud,
he said, cycling me critically.
But 1 am only what professed to be.
she said you were thirty"
quite true"
We'll, you look about twenty-four. An
she expected somebody-well, plain. Blu
I'm awfully glad you are what you are
/ see you won't be sneak like the las
one. And, look here. I promise to stan
your friend through thick and thin. Done .
He extended his big, sun-burnt hand, an
put mine into it to get it nearly squeeze
into a pulp
And Commas will be your friend, too.
he added. He's an awfully knowing littl
beast. and he made up to you at once"
We had reached the lodge gates now, an
few minutes later the dog-cart drew up l
front O. the house. Max threw the reins
the groom, helped me to alight, and wa
ushered at once into the presence.
Lady Alicia raised her long-handled eye
glass and stared at me through it. She wa
tall. big woman of forty, with hig
color, and a voice like a mans. In fe
short. clear sentences, she told me whs
my duties were to be, and intimated tina
i could enter upon them as soon as ha
removed my hat and cape.
found that my post would be bus
one. l was secretary, almOner and sort (
confidential upper servant all in one. Lad
Alicia's correspondence was immense. 81
would dictate letters to me by the doze
and never seem weary. She was far too II
dependent TO have a regular lady's mai
! do my own hair and put on my ON
Clothes she said: but / was required
superintend the sewing maid who mac
renovations In her ladyship's gowns, al
10 put finishing touches to the millinel
sent her from Tadcaster.
Two or three times week had to