The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-17

 rubbed his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such comfort- able looking man that it was quite pleasure to look at him.
 You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked.
 " Yes, sir
 '" As governess?
 " Yes, sir.
 "'And what salary do you ask?'
 "I had e4 a month in my last place with Col. Spence Munro
 Oh, tut, tut! sweating-rank sweat ingr he cried throwing hit fat hands out itno the air like a man who Is in boiling passion. How could any one offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with such at fractions and accomplishments|
 My accomplishments sir, may be less than you imagine, said I. A little French a little German music and drawing
 Tut, tutr he cried. This is all quite beside the question The point is, Have you or have you not the bearing and de- pertinent of a lady? There it is in nut she'll If you have not, you are not fitted for the rearing of child who may some day play a considerable part in the hs- tory of the country. But if you have, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to accept anything un- der the three figures. Your salary with me, madam, would commence at 91OO year"
 You may imagine, MT. Holmes, that to me, destitute as l was, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman however. seeing perhaps the look of increduality upon my face, opened a pocketbook and took out note.
 It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant fashion, until his eyes were just two shining sits amid the white creases of his face, to advance to my young ladies half their salary before hand. so that they may meet any little expenses of their journey and their ward robe.
 Ut seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my trades men, the advance was great convenience and yet there was something unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know little more before 1 quite committed myself.
 May I ask where you live. sir?' said l.
 " Hampshire Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my dear young lady, and the dearest old country house.
 And my duties sir? I should be glad to know what they would be-
 One child-one dear little romper, just years old. Oh, if you could see him kill ing cockroaches with slipper Smack! smack! smack Three before you could winkp He leaned back in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again.
 q was a little startled at the na- ture of the child's amusement, but the fathers laughter made me think that perhaps he was joking.
 |" My sole duties, then.' l asked, are to take charge of a single child?
 No, mo- not the sole, not the sole, ny dear young lad2 he clied Your duty would be, as I am sure good sense would suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give provided always that they were such commands as lady might with propriety obey. You see no dit- ficulty, heh?'
 "I should be happy to make myself useful
 "'Quite so In dress now, for example We are faddy people, you known-faddy but kind hearted If you were asked to wear any dress which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. Heh?'
 No said I, considerably astonished at his words.
 " Or to sit here, or sit there-that would not be offensive to you? " Oh, mo-
 " Or cut your hair quite short before you come to us.'
 q could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, MT. Holmes, my hair Is somewhat luXuriant and of rather peculiar tint of chestnut It has been considered artistic. 1 could not dream of sacrificing it in this off-hand fashion.
 q" I am afraid that that is quite impos- 1 sible,' said 1. He had been watching me 1 eagerly out of his small eyes, and l l could see shadow pass over his face as l l spoke.
 "I am afraid that it is quite essen ] tal" said he. It Is a little fancy of my wifes, and ladies' fancies you know, madam, ladies' fancies must be consulted. l And so you won't cut your hair?'
 No, sir, really could not l an swered firmly.
 "'Ah very well; then that quite settles l the matter. It is a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very nicely In that case, Miss Stoper l had l best inspect few more of your young 1 ladies' '"rhe manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers without a word to 1 either of us. but she glanced at me now with so much annoyance upon her face 1 that I could not help suspecting that she 1 had lost handsome commission through my refusal.
 Do you desire your name to be kept i upon the books?" she asked
 If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'Welh really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the most excellent or l fers in this fashion, said she, sharply. 1 Y Ou can nafuiY expect us to SNVit oti | selves to find another such opening Tor l you. Good-day to you. Miss Hunter. She struck gong upon the table and was shown out by the page. Well, MT. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found little enough Tn the cupboard and two or three bills upon the table I began to ask myself whether l had not done d very foolish thing. After 1 all, if these people had strange fads and expected obedience on the most extra ordinary matters they were at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few governesses in England are getting l a1O0 a year. Besides, what use was my l hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing it short. and perhaps l should be among the number. Next day l was inclined to think that I had made mis- take. and by the day after l was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go back to the agency and in- quire whether the place was still open, when received this letter from the gen. tleman himself. I have it here, and l will read it to you:
 The Copper Beeches. near Winchester.
 "'Dear Miss Hunter: Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your address, and write from here to ask you whether you have reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you. We are willing to give e3o pounds a quarter, or 212O :, a year. so as to recompense you for any 1 little inconvenience which our fads may l cause you. They are not very exacting, after all My wife is fond of a particu- lar shade of electric blue and would like l you to wear such dress indoors in the morning. You need not, however. go to the expense of purchasing one, as we l 1,a.r ha1p tn Inv