Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-04-18
CHA PIER III.

breeze"
/ Again a bright June morning, 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 or choosing a COVER
ness was not left to the rector alone;
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-
ton: amongst them were Mrs
Beauchamp of Beauehamp Hall, Mrs.
Tatton Of Lonsdale, and Lady Percy
of The Holte. Lady Beatrice had at
first felt some inclination TO attend;
then she remembered how very much
/ it might bore her; so she told Lord
Vivian il 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-built house of gray stone; scar
let creepers and the purple wistaria
almost covered IL; the windows were
framed in woodbine and jasmine. In
front of the house lay a large, old
fashioned garden; at the back, an or
ehard, where the fruit was ripening
under the June sun.
The library was an old-fashioned
room, with a large bay window that
looked into the flower garden. The fur
niture was of dark oak, the hangings
OF dark green. This June morning
the window was thrown wide open,
and the perfume from the rose-trees
and the Glove carnations floated in on
the soft western wind. The song of
the birds az times drowned all other
sounds.
In the library, in solemn state, are
seated Mrs Beauchamp, Mrs Tatton,
Lady Percy. and the rector. Lord
Selwyn had not yet appeared, and so
enters first tall, gaunt woman cold
and severe in face unlovely i'm manner.
harsh in voice. She is Miss Ruthers.
and the general impression is strong
ly against her. Mrs. Tatton, who is
very tender-hearted, looks at the thin,
bony fingers, and pictures them on
the sof, rounded shoulders of a little
child. Miss Ruthers answers all ques-
tions Mechanically, with a harsh, UNI /.
musical voice. She extols her own !
peculiar method of dealing with the :
juvenile mind it is by unmitigated
severity: and she Is asked to retire to
the drawing-room, until the decision is
made known to her There is a gen
eral disapproval when she retires, 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 go on so.
She-Miss Castleford-is all smiles,
affability, and grace. She is very fluent, /
and talks much of her system, which
may be vulgarly called intellectual
Cramming. But the rector, looking
at the narrow forehead. the ill-shaped, I
half-closed lips, and eyes so near to-
gether.. decided in his own opinion
that intellect was not Miss Castle
ford's forte.
She had excellent recommendations;
L IL. Vfafa
feather in her bonnet were against her.
The very means she had relied upon
for making a good impression were
turned as weapons against her.
She was dismissed, with courteous
words, to the drawing-room, and then
Lady Percy said:
I'VE have but one remaining.
wonder what Mrs. Rivers is like
The fcotman was told to ask Mrs.
Rivers to enter, and there came into
the room a figure that attracted great
attention. tall, slender woman.
dressed in widows weeds, tall and
graceful. her movements all full of
soft harmony her carriage dignified,
her manner calm and gracious. She
bowed TO the assembly, ana each one
instinctively felt that a lady was
there.
The rector blandly requested Mrs.
Rivers to take a seat. She complied,
and the ladies took keen survey of
her general appearance. Her mourn
ing was deep, and though Of common
material, was worn with grace befit-
ting grander attire. She wore
widows cap and a thick Grape veil. To
all the questions asked, she replied
with modest grace that charmed DR..
Hearne. 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 Sheptol; the vicar. the
Rev. Mr.. Rawston, and Squire Hirtcn.
lord of the manor. had both written
g.. Il.