The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-10

cation. 1t may be so in this case,
also
well, let us hope so. But our doubts
will very soon be solved, for here, I'M
| less / am much mistaken, is the per-
| son in question"
AS he spoke The uocr opened and d
young lady entered the room. She WAS
plainly but neatly dressed, with {,
| bright, quick face. freckled like i
plover's egg, and with the brisk man
ner of woman who has had her own
way to make in the world.
You will excuse my troubling you,
VI am sure, said she, as my COM
panious rose to greet her; but | have
| had very strange experience, and as
| have no parents or relations of any
sort from whom l could ask advice |
thought that perhaps you would be
kind enough to tell me what l should
| do"
Pray, take a seat Miss Hunter. i
shall be happy to do anything that l
can to serve YOU
/ could see that Holmes was IA
vorably impressed by the manner and
! speech of his new client. He looked
| her over in his searching fashion. and
| then composed himself, with his lids
dropping and his finger tips together,
| to listen to her story.
| Il have been a govcrneSS for five
years. she said, lin the family Of
Colonel Spence Munro, but two months
ago the colonel received an appoint
ment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and
| took his children over to America with
| him, so that | found myself without q
situation. l advertised. and 1 answer :
! ed advertisements, but without sue
| cess. At last the little money Nhicn
! L had saved began to run short, and
| | was at my wits end as to what /
| should do.
There is wcll-known agency f,.r
governesses in the West End called
WestaWay's, and there / used to call
about once week in order to see
whether anything had turned Up which
might suit me. Westaway was the
name of the founder of the business
but it is really managed by Miss STOPPER.
| She sits in her own little Office, ana
the ladies who are seeking employ
ment wait in an ante-room, and are
then shown in one by one. when she
cOnsults her ledgers, and sees whethcr
she has anything which would SUIT
| them.
"Well, when I called last week I
was shown - the little office as
usual but l found that Miss STOPPER
was not alone. A prodigiously stout
man with a very smiling face, and a
great heavy chin which rolled down
at her elbow with pair of glasses or
his nose, looking very earnestly ut the
ladies who entered. AS | came in he
gave quite a jump in his chair, anG
turned quickly to Miss STOPPER:
That will do said he; 4 could
not ask for anything better. Capital.
capital. He seemed quite enthusiastic,
and rubbed his hands together in the
most genial fashion. He was such
| comfortable-looking man that it was
quite a pleasure to look at him.
"'You are looking for d situation,
miss?' he asked.
eyes, sir
AS governess?'
eyes. sir
"'And what salary do you ask?'
L had "a a month in my last place
with Colonel Spence Munro.
oh, tut, tut sweating-rank
sweating!' he cried, throwing his fat
hands out into the air like a man who
is in a boiling passion. How could
any one offer SO pitiful a sum to i
lady with such attractions and accom-
plishments?'
My accomplishments, sir. may be
less than you imagine said /. "A lit
tie French little German music, and
drawing
Tut, TUT he cried. This is all
quite beside the question. The point
is, nave NOu or nave you not The pear
ing and department of a lady? There
it is in nutshell If you have not.
you are not fitted for the rearing of
child who may some day play con-
sidera BILE part in the history of the
country. But if you have, why, then,
how could any gentleman ask you to
condescend to accept anything Under
the three figures? Your salary with
me, madam, would commence at f100
a year
You may imagine, Mr.. Holmes,
that to me. destitute as | was, such an
offer seemed almost too good to be
true. The gentleman, however see
ing PERHAPS the look of incredulity
upon my face opened 1ocket-book
and TOOK out note.
1T is also my CUSTOM, said he,
smiling in the most pleasant fashion
until his eyes were just two little shin
| ing Sits amid the white creases of
his face, to advance to my young
ladies half their salary beforehand, so
that they may meet any little expenses
of their journey and their wardrobe
ut seemed to me that / had never
met SO fascinating and so thoughtful Il
man. AS | was already in debt to
my ltradesmen, the advance was n
great convenience. and yet there was
something unnatural about the whole
transaction which made me wish to
know little more before / quite COM
mitted myself
May 1 ask where you live, sir?'
said l.
Hampshire. Charming rural
place. The Copper Beeches five miles