Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-04-04

was not so young as she had been once,
and neither could do much toward their
own maintenance. 1t had ever been a
pet project Of mine to 20 South as n
teacher, and when one day in looking
over Il Boston paper l accidentally came
across the advertisement of Georgin
lady, Mrs. A. ID. Lansing, who wished
for n private governess, I resolved at
once to apply for the situation, greatly
fearing lest I might be too late.
l was not. however; for after waiting
impatiently for few weeks. I received
a letter from the lady herself. who. after
enumerating the duties was expected
to perform and the branches I was to
teach. added In n =. s.: Before making
any definite arrangements with Miss Lee,
Mrs. Lansing wishes to be informed II,
either by her friends or herself, she Is
considered pretty, us a person of decid-
eddy ordinary looks will be preferred.
answered her letter forthwith. assuring
her that neither my friends nor myself
had ever been guilty Of calling me pretty
in short. I was decidedly homcly, und
trusted that on that point at least I
should please her.
l had nearly given up all hopes Of ever
hearing from the Indy again, when ono
day l received letter containing check
on q Boston bank for money sufficient
to defray my expenses. There were also
a few hastily written lines, saying that
Mrs. Lansing considered our engage
ment as settled. but she should not ex-
pect me until the latter part Of APPEL,
AZ she could not Immediately get rid Of
her present governess--a painted, insipM
creature from New York, and the veriest
humbug In the world"
1t was cold, dark, snowy morning In
the Inter part Of April when I started
OH my Journey. The surface Ut the
ground was frozen hard, the trees we're
leafless and bare. 1t Ii not strange, then.
that I almost fancied myself In another
world when, after a prosperous sea voy-
age, one morning went ON shore at
Charleston. and first breathed tho soft,
balmy air of the South. Dense and green
was the foliage Of the trees, while thou
sands Of roses and Towering shrubs filed
the mir with perfume almost sickening
to the senses. From Charleston to Au-
gusta was wearisome ride. for the cars
were crowded, and there was to me moth
Ing remarkably pleasing In the long
stretches Of cypress swamps and pine
barrens through which we passed.
1t was late In the evening when we
1t was a most beautiful night; and for
hours I watched the soft moonlight as It
glimmered among the trees which lined
either side of the narrow road, and whose
branches often swept against the win
dOws Of our numbering vehicle. II was
long after sunrise when we arrived, but
AL T.. a.
that I obtained not single glimpse of
the town until l suddenly found myself
"thar," as the driver said, dismounting
and opening the door Of our prison house.
The hotel into which was ushercd
would perhaps compare favorably with
our country tnverns Mt the North; but at
each step took. felt more and more
painful consciousness that home, my
home, was fur AWAY.
After shaking the dust from my trav.
cling dress. and shaking my thirst from
the big gourd shell which hung by the
stood on a little stand In the parlor, I
inquired for some one who would take
to Mrs. Lansing my card. and thus ap-
prise her Of my arrival. The landlord
Immediately summoned bright, hand
some mulntto boy, who, after receiving
my orders, started on bnreheaded for
Cedar Grove. which the landlord pointed
out to me In the distance, and which,
with it's dense surroundings Of trees, look
ed to me delightfully."- cool and pleasant.
After waiting rather impatiently for TN
hour or more, a large, old.fashioned car.
ringe, drawn by two rather poor looking
horses. stopped before the door. 1t be.
longed to Mrs. Lansing: and the foot.
man, Jumping down from the rack be.
hind. handed me note, In which the
lady begged me to come directly to her
house. saying she was herself indispos.
ed or she would have come down &c
meet me.
At the extremity Of Main street. we
turned In at pOnderOus gate. and after
passing through two or three fields or
lawns, stopped at last In front Of Cedar
Grove, which stood upon a slight emf.
hence overlooking the town. In perfect
delight l gazed around me. for 1t seemed
the embodiment Of my childish dreams.
and involuntarily exclaimed. '"rhis IL
indeed the sunny, sunny South" 1t was
very beautiful. that spacious yard ind
garden, with their winding walks, on
which no ray Of sunlight fell. 10 secure
~ were they shaded by the cedar aud the
fir. the catalpa, the magnolia aud the fly
tired. most Of them seen now by me for
the fvst time In all their natural beauty,
reminded one so forcibly Of Eden. The
house itself was a large. square build
Ing, surrounded on three sides by piax'
"a. The floors within were bare, but
scrupulOusly clean; while the rooms lack
ed the costly furniture ! had confidently
expected to see.
Scarcely was ! seated In the parlor
when heard sweet, childish voice cx,
claim, "She's In thar--she is" while at
the same time pair of soft blue eyes
looked through the crevice of the door
and then were rs quickly withdrawn
their owner laughing aloud us II she had
accomplished some daring feat, ami call
ing out, II seen her, Hall did. And
she don't look cross neither. You dassn't
peek in thar, dast youW
They were my future pupils, was
sure; and already my heart warmed to-
ward them, particularly her with the sill.
very voice, and | was just thinking of
going out to find them, when heard a
light footstep on the stairs, and the next
moment a tall, dark'eyed girl, apparent
ly fourteen or fifteen years OF age, enter
ed the room, introducing herself as Miss
Lima Lansing, and welcoming me so cor
daily that felt myself at once at home
Mother" said she, "is indisposed,
and has sent me to receive you, and ask
what you would like"
had scarcely slept moment the night
a