Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-04-14

Again a bright June moraing, and
at the Thornleigh Rectory there is con
siderable excitement. From innumer
able letters the rector has chosen three
only, and the applicants were Miss
Ruthers Miss Castleford. and Mrs
Rivers. From each Of these three
ladies DR. Hearne had received what
he had written, requesting their at
/ tendance at Thornleigh. But the
important matter OF choosing a COVER
ness was not left to the rector alone;
4 the opportunity was far too favorable
| to be neglected. Several ladies had
kindly volunteered their aid and had
offered to be present at the examina
1 ton; amongst them were Mrs.
/ Beauchamp Of Beauchamp Hall, Mrs.
Tatton Ct lonsdale and Lady Percy
Of The Hottie Lady Beatrice had at
first felt some inclination 20 attend;
then she remembered how very much
il might bore her; SO she told Lord
/ Vivian it would be better for him to
look in and see what was going on.
He promised TO do so, smiling at his
wife's fastidious taste.
The rectory at Thornleigh was long
lowly.buiIt house Of gray stone: scar
let creepers and the purple wistaria
almost covered it, the windows were
framed in woodbine and jasmine. In
front Of the house lay a large. old
fashioned garden at the back. an or
chard, where the fruit was ripening
uader the June sun
The library was an old-fashoned
room. with a large bay window that
looked into the flower garden The fur.
niture was of dark Cak, the hangings
Of dark green This June morning
the window was thrown wide open,
and the perfume from the rose.trecs
and the Glove carnations 1oated in ol
the set western wind. The song OF
the birds at times drowned all other
sounds.
In the library, in solemn state, are
seated Mrs. Beauchamp, Mrs Tatton,
Lady Percy and the rector. Lord
Scwyn had not yet appeared, and so
enters first tall, gaunt woman cold
and severe in face unlovely in manner,
harsh IN voice. She is Miss Ruthers,
and the general impression Is strong
" against her Mrs Tatton, who is
very tender hearted, looks at the thin,
bony fingers, and pictures them on
the soft rounded shoulders of a little
child Miss Ruthors answers all ques.
tions automatically, with a harsh, UNI
~.urical voice She eXtols her own
peculiar method of dealing with the
juvenile mind; II is by unmitigated
severity: and she Is asked to retire to
the drawing-room, until the dociS!ll Is
made known to her. There is a gen.
eral disapproVal when she rotires, and
so the first of the rector's candidates
falls to the ground.
Enter Miss Castleford; short plump,
and dressed so elegantly that Mrs.
Beauchamp raises her fine eyes to the
ceiling. and wonders to herself what
will become Of the lower orders, If
things &C on so.
Shc-Mis Castleford--is all smiles,
afrability, AID grace. She Is very fluent,
and talks much of her system, which
may be vulgarly called "lntel!ectual
Cramming, But the rector looking
at the narrow forehead, the ill-shaped,
half-closed lips, and eyes SO near to,
gether,, decided in his own opinion
that intellect was not Miss Castle
ford's forte.
Che hal nvcallCnt recommendations
but her short silk dress, and the purple
feather in her bonnet were against her
The very means she had relied upon
for making a coed impression were
turned az weapons against her
She was dismissed With courteous
Lady Percy said,
1--WE have but one remaining.
wonder what Mrs Rivers is like"
The fcotman was told to ask Mrs.
Rivers 10 enter and there came into
the room figure that attracted great
dressed in widows weeds, tall apd
graceful, her movements all full Of
soft harmony. her carriage dignifed,
her manner calm and gracious. She
bowed To the assembly aud each one
ilsttnctively felt that faslady was
there
The rector blandly Requested Mrs.
Rivers to take a seat. She complied,
and the ladies' took a keen survey of
her general appearance Her mourn
ing was deep, and though Of common
material, was worn with grace betit-
ting grander attire, She wore a
widows cap and thick Grape veil. To
all the questions asked, She replied
with a modest grace that charmed Dr..
Hcarne She had for some years
been accustomed to the tuition Of chill
dren, and loved them very much Mrs.
Tatton's heart warmed To her from
that moment She had been teaching
a school at Sheptoa the vicar the
Rev Mr.. Rawston. and Squire Hirtcn,
lord of the manor. had both written