The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-05-29

! rave II" money, shc added dcsp"utl
irgly.
And il y"u had, miss, where wor!.
Won go" he asked.
',T;j the Citv.' answered S"bilia. Mrs
Henderson. Il friend of my mot her would
| feel sure. receive me into her house unit
| could secure some employment. Idon't
think that everyone would b. so hard as
CouSnI cmiula, she said her ipguivcrin@
Touched by the plaintivc sweetness 81
her voice, and the tears shining in tl.C
dark eyes, Hiram shook his huge fist &C
hcmcntlv in the direction Miss IcmimH
had taken, and muttcring an anathcna
on the "ould maid" departed to perform
his own neglected duties.
The next evening as Syhiila was sitting
on the porch, Hiram approached, and
having silently slipped small package
int" her hand. FASTENED away rs silently
as lie had come. Surprised at his sing1l-
lar manner. Sybilla FASTENED to her own
room and having opened the parceliound
therein several bank.notes and the fol-
lowing lines:
Miss Svhilla:-Encloseip phase find sum
mummy which l hope will he cnutf to
take YOU to the Teddy you told me about.
Nobody kin blame You for LAWN this
cross Ould cratur, who trates yuu So
badly. Don't he too proud, miss. to nc
ccpt this triflc from the likes of NC. md
may every blessing fall upon YOU And
when You are rich and happy don't for
get ould Hiram"
| With heating heart and fearful ewes,
! Sybilla examined her treasure. and then
! proceeded to make arrangements for
| leaving her urcongcnial home. 1t would
| he best, she thought, to make no response
! to Hiram, as, il ignorar: of hcr plans, i:c
/ could not be blamed by Miss Jcmima
! But some day. she doubted not, it would
| he in her power to repay his kindrcss,
! ard he should then receive it back with
tour-fnld interest.
! At the dawn of day a slender figure
| might have been seen walking quietly
| and rapidly away from Miss Terminals
gate, and shortly afterward Sybilla was
| being whirled on the wings Of steam
toward the great city She had formerly
resided there with her parents. and al
! though some years had elapsed since
their death and her removal to Miss
terminals, the city sights and sounds
seemed delie httully familiar. She found
Mrs. llcndcrson's residence with, ut
difficulty, and had aSct nded the steps for
| the purpose of ringing tine bell, when the
door suddenly opened and a tail, haueh-
y looking girl appeared upon the Tires
hold
Dear me, she exclaimed. Glow YOU
startled me. 1t is not ut all polite to
stand So close to ones doG:. What do
YOU want"
Excuse me, said Sybilla, mccklv, II
did not intend to alarm you; | called to
see Mrs Henderson. This is her huu>c,
is il not"
No. answered the Young lady care
I@ssly. My mother, Mrs. Harper, lives
here"
But will you not please tell me where
can find Mrs. Henderson," said SvhilIa
@nXiously following the young lady who
had descended the steps anti was now
walking along the pavement. | am Il
stranger III the city, ard have no other
friend here"
Prom the country, are YOU" said Mss
Harper, superciliously regarding the
Young stranger 81 thought so. You
are as verdant as one of your own cab
ba9cs and it would be best for you to re-
turn and remain among those useful
vegetables, for YOU will not find Mrs.
Henderson here. She removed to the
West some months since"
Svbilla's heart sank. What should she
do? Alone i'll the great CITY with more
to help befriend her But she concealed
her anxiety from herCompanion and ONLY
inquired if the young lady would inform
her where a respectable boarding house
was to be found.
Indeed will not" answered Miss
Harper. 81 know nothing of you. Why
you may be an impostcr or dishonest
person of some sort. No, indeed will
not be detained anv longer" So saving. |
she walked hurriedly away.
Sybiila was young. but she possessed
brave spirit, and although she felt that
It was hard to receive such treatment !
she did not lose courage, but continued
to walk slowly along the street obscrv- |
ing the houses attcntivclv, and was at F!
tracted by large doorplate on one of !
them, which conveyed the information |
that Mrs. Thompson kept boarders."
Svbilla lost no time in applying with /
in, and was Immediately told that she |.
could be accommodated with a small |
third-story room, for which, board incluI- |
ed, she was to pay the sum of six dollars |
weekly always in advance. Thus settled, |
Sybilla earnestly cndeavorcd to secure .
employment; examining the daily papers !
and applying for numerous situations, /
but without success. !
Her little fund was almost exhausted, !
when one morning as she was lstIcSslv ,
scanning the columns of n paper she per- |
ceived this singular notice.
"WANTED-A young person who is a .
good walker, who is not q good talEcr. !
AID who is willing to accept Il moderate /
salary. for the faithful performance OF |
the duties required"
A moderate salary. Why, she would !
be glad to receive sufficient to supply her .
with the barcst necessities: and Svbila .
resolved to answer this a t once. She had .
failed SO often, however, that her hopes
of success were very faint; and when she .
arrived at 1921 Linden Avenucit proved |
to be such an imposing mansion that !
poor little Sybilla was tempted to re-
trace her steps. But she did not, and in
Il few moments found herselfin pleasant
rcception-room awaiting the master of !
the house.
He came in immediatcly-an elderly +
gentleman with a green shade over his !
eyes.
''Good-morning, my dear" he said,
kindly. The servant said YOU desired .
to see me. What can do for YOU"
II came i'll answer to your advertise
ment," said Sybilla, timidly.
The advertisement repeated tine old .
gentleman. with a mellow laugh. Coed |
idea, wasn't it? Did it on purpose to /
keep all the silly, giggln2 girls away, t
and would YOU believe it, YOU are the t,
very first to respond" !
Il only saw it this morning" said Sr- |
hilla. cor should have been here be-
fore"
No doubt-no doubt. You're willing |
to subscribe to the terms or you wouldn't !
have come at all. How old are You, my !
dear"
Sixteen" answered Sybilla, her hopes !
sinking as she saw the old gcntlcmans /.
expression.
That's young" he said, thoughtfully, /.
very young. am afraid"
"Oh, sir, interrupted Syhilia, implor- /.
ingly, ''do not refuse to try me. please. /
am young in years, but have had !
much trouble, and that ages one, vou !
know
at does indeed" answered Mr. Casscl- |,
bury, gravcly. But let me inform YOU
what will be required. My eycsight is, /.
as you perceive, extremely weak. and as
am very fond OF walking, | need an at