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


alone, and could do everything for my
self which was necessary"
My toilet was nearly completed when
heard In the hall the pattcr Of childish
feet. while a round. bright eve was np-
piled to the keyhole. 1t was the same
which had looked ut me IN the parlor; ana
anxious to sec Its owner. stepped out
o. the door just as Il fairy creature with
golden curls started to run away. l was
too quick for her. however. and catching
her in my arms. I pushed back the clus-
tcring ringlets from her brow. ana gazing
into her sunny face. asked her name.
Raising her white. wnxen hand, she
did for me the office had done for her,
VIZ, pushed back my curls. ana looking
In my face. answered: MA says it's
Jessica, but Lima. Hal and Uncle Dick
call me Jessie. and like that heap
the best. You are our new governess.
aint youT
She was singularly beautiful. "A light
shone in her lustrous blue eyes. which
gave her the expression of an angel. for
such she was--an angel In her Southern
home. which. without her. would have
been dark and checrless. Her brother.
whom she called Hal. was three years
older. and not nenrly so handsome. He
was very dark. and 1t seemed to me that
I had seen face like his before; but ere
] could remember where, a faint voice
from a piazza called out, "Halbert, Hal
BERT come here"
'Thnt's ma" said Jessie. getting down
from my arms. That's ma-come and
see her." and following her, soon stood
In the presence of Mrs. Lansing, who was
reclining rather indolcntly In large
willow chair. She was a chubby. rosy
checked woman. apparently thirty-Gve
years of age. Her eyes were very black,
md she had habit of frequently shut
ting them, so rs to show of the long,
fringed eyelnshes. On the whole, l
thought, she was quite prepossessiny In
her appearance. an opinion, however.
which I changed ere long; for by the
cloud on her brow, evidently OF displcas-
TIRE or Of disappointment. Still. she was
very polite. Offering me her Jewe'ea manu.
saying. Miss Lee. suppose. fou ere
welcome to Ieorgta: men, aite. an III,
slant, she added, You don't look az oil
like l thought you would.
was uglier than she expected, l pre-.
sumed. ana the tears started 10 my eyes
as replied. Il wrote 70 you that ! was
very plain, but atter htIe 1 SNAIL loox
better; l am tired now win rave"hs.
"A strange, pecuhar smIe hittea over
her face, while ene intehtiy Regarded me
as II to assure herself OF my sanity. !
was puzzled, ana I'D my perpiexity ! sara
something about returning home II my
looks were 30 disagreeable. rhey were
used to me there. ana didn't mind IT,
said. at the same time leaning my head
against the vihe-wreathed piliar. l SOD
bed aloud. Lithe as kitten. little Jes-
sica sprung up behind me, ana winding
her arms round my neck. asked why l
cried.
"Jessica. Jessica. get down TINS mo.
ment." said the lady. VI did not intend
to hurt Miss Lees feelings, and do rot
understand how l could have done 40.
She Is either acting part, or else she
strangely misunderstands me. do you
really think yourself ugly!"
Of course I did. I had never thought
otherwise. for hadn't been told so ever
since I was a child? Thus l answered
her. and she believed mo. for she re-
piled, "You are mistaken, Miss Lee. for.
however plain you might have been In
childhood. you are not so now. Neither
40 l understand now Win those eyes,
that hair and brow, you can think your
self ugly. do not believe you meant to
deceive me. but. to tell the truth. l nm
disappointed; but that cannot now he
helped, and we'll make the best Of It."
Perfectly astonished, ! listened to her
remarks. giving her the credit Of mean.
ing what she said, and for the first time
In my life felt Us I suppose folks must
feel who think they are handsome. After
this little storm was over, she evidently
exerted herself to be agreeable for a
few moments, and then rather abruptly
asked me how old l was.
"Not quite eighteen!" she repeated In
some surprise. "Why, supposed you
were twenty-five at least! Don't you
think she looks older than Adn?" turning
to Lima, who answered quickly, "Oh, TO,
mother. nothing like rs old"
| wondered who the Ada could be Of
whom she had spoken. Possibly 1t was
Ada Montrosc. though I ardently hoped
to the contrary. for well knew there
was no happiness for me where she was.
Thinking 1t would be on a par with tho
questions put to me, was on the point
OF asking who Ada was. when We were