Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-05-22

L
came to Ullamere.
My mother, Mabel Averil. came of a
good old English family. When not
more than seventeen she ran away
with her drawing-master, Alic Forster.
a young artist who had dreams of
making a name and winning fame.
Her family never forgave her, and nv
father took her to Paris. There he
struggled long and arduously. The
best engagement he had was as draw
ing-master TO the pupils of Nine Dude
want who had a large and fashionable
school in the Champs Elysees. He
died suddenly of fever when was
four years old; and Nine. Dudevant,
who was kind-hearted woman, offered
my mother situation as English
teacher in her school. My education
was to be her recomDense-and. truly.
[ received a first-class education. Had
been the daughter of a peerless in
stead of poor English teacher, she
could not have taken greater pains
with me. On my life at the Partisan
pension | need not dwell. My mother
died when I was nearly eighteen; and
after that I could never endure the
place, it was so full of painful mem
cries for me. Madame was very good;
when | told her how unhappy felt,
| she said the best would be for me to
take situation in England. She
answered an advertisement for young
lady who spoke French, German and
Italian, and was well acquainted with
the literature of the three countries.
1t was essential that she should also
be an excellent musician and a good
singer. The salary proposed was most
liberal, and comfortable though ex-
ceedingly quiet home was offered.
"You will be very Fortunate" said
Madame Dudevant to me, If you Sc
cure this"
Very fortunate indeed in a great
many respects! The salary was one
hundred per annum; the situation was
that Of companion to Lady GILMORE,
the wife of Sir Rudolph GILMORE of
Brooke, residing now at Ul1amere, in
. Lancashire. Madame thought she had
| some reason for congratulating me-
and I was only too delighted to have
an opportunity of seeing England, the
land I loved.
1t was on the twenty third of Deem
Der that l left Madame Dudevant, the
school, and the gay sunny land of
France. 1 was eighteen that same
month. My experience of life was linn
tied to that of boarding-school I
had vague idea that all married
people were very happy, never having
lived with any. The only men I had
seen were the masters who attended
the schools and the fathers and broth
ers of the boarders.
So, young and inexperienced. was
plunged into what | felt must be the
very heart of a tragedy.
Mrs. Harper came in to say that
Lady Culmore was not very well, and
would not be downstairs yet for some
time, but that, if I liked, could have
the carriage and drive to UlIadale
Church.
"Will no one else go to church Mrs.
Harper?" asked.
NO one ever goes to church from
here" she said sadly "You will find
this like very few other houses in the
world, Miss Forster" and | felt that
her words were true.
I told her how glad l should be to
attend church. It was pleasant to
think OF going out into the sunshine
amidst the holly and the snow.
Tears came to my eyes when I heard
the chime Of Christmas bells at last.
There were no lack of evergreens in
the church; the whole place seemed to
be filled with them. Again | prayed
heaven for my Christmas gift-some
one to love me- I thought much, as Il
knelt there, Of the darkened household
whence no one went to church, and
where they had forgotten Christmas
Eve.
| drove home again when service was
over, better and brighter for that my
first visit to an English church; but, |
as | drew near Ullamere, the shadow
fell over me again.
When [ reentered the house, | found !
that Sir Rudolph was out, and the
butler told me that Lady Cu1more
wished to see me in her boudoir. The |
boudoir was pretty little room lead |
ing from the drawing-room and looking |!
right over the mere. I went to her at !
once, feeling more curiosity than [
cared to express. 7 found her very
quiet, very sad and pale Evidently
the terrible emotion of the proceeding
evening had exhausted her. She wore
a dress of purple velvet that showed
her tall graceful figure to the greatest
advantage. There was the same
deathly pallor on her face, the same
curious expression of restraint, fear,
and longing in her eyes as there had
been on the previous night. She held
out her hand to me, half clinging to
me, as l noticed afterward she chung
to any one who was kind to her.
you have been to church." she said,
with smile. "You found something
ike Christmas there?"
ga beautiful Christmas" l replied,
Just as had dreamed of it--all holly
and laurel and mistletoe. And | love
% hear the old Christmas carols"
81 have not been to church for so
ong, l almost forget what the services
are like she said.
do you not think it rather a pity
lot to go to church," I ventured to
ask. 'It does not matter whether our
rouble be of body or of mind, there
c. ALWAYS comfort there - ly