Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-16
: I should be happy to make myself USE
y V M s " Y Is IS y Y XII ii

We are faddy people, you know-faddy but
ktnd-hearted. If you were asked to wear
any dress which we might give you. you
would not object to our little whim. HEIR
NO. said /, considerably astonished at
his words.
"'Or to sit here, or sit there-that would
| not be offensive to you?
"'Or to cut your hair quite short before
you come to u.s.?
II could hardly believe my ears AS you
may observe, Mr.. Holmes, my hair Is some
what luxuriant and of a rather peculiar
tint of chestnut 1t has been considered ar
tistic. ! could not dream of sacrificing 1t
in this off-hand fashion.
81 am afraid that that is quite impossi-
| ble,' said 1. He had been watching me
eagerly out of his small eyes, and l could
see a shadow pass over his face as spoke
81 am afraid that 1t is quite essential
said he. 1t is a little fancy of my wife's.
and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, la
dies fancies must be consulted. And SO
you won't cut your hair?'
" No, sir, really could not answered
firmly.
"'Ah, very well; then that quite settles
the matter. It is a pity, because in other
respects you would really have done very
nicely. In that case, Miss Stopper, l had
best inspect a few more of your young
ladies'
THE manageress. had sat all this while
busy with her papers without a word to
either of us, but she glanced at me now
with so much annoyance upon her face
that l could not help suspecting that she
had lost a handsome commission through
BY refusal.
DO you desire your name to be kept
upon the books?" she asked.
III you please, Miss STOPPER
well. really, It seems rather useless,
since you refuse the most excellent offers In
this fashion, said she, sharply. You can
hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find
another such opening for you. Good day to
you. Miss Hunter. She struck gong
upon the table and was shown out by the
page.
"Well, Mr.. Holmes. when I got back to
my lodgings and found little enough in the
cupboard and two or three bills upon the
ia BILE | began to ask myself whether ] had
not done a very foolish thing. After all. If
these people had strange fads and expected
obedience on the most extraordinary mat
tiers. they were at least ready to pay for
their eccentricity. Very few governesses in
England are getting f1GO year Besides,
what my hair to me? Many peo-
pie are improved by wearing it short. and
perhaps l should be among the number.
Next day l was inclined to think that l had
made mistake, and by the day after l was
sure of it. / had almost overcome my
pride far to go back to the agency
and inquire whether the place was still
open. when 1 received this letter from the
gentleman himself l have it here and l
will read ii to you:
1.-The Copper Beeches, near Winchester.
Dear Miss Hunter: Miss STOPPER has
very kindly given me your address, and 1
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 de-
scription of you. We are willing to give $50
a quarter, or G120 year. as to recon-
pense you for any little Inconvenience
which our fads may cause you. They are
not very exactiug after all. My wife is fond
of particular shade of electric blue, and
would like you to wear such dress indoors
in the morning. You need not, however, &c
to the expense of purchasing one, as we
have one belonging to my dear daughter
Alice (now in PHILADELPHIA, which would,
l should think, fit you very well. Then,
as to sitting here or there, or amusing
yourself in any manner indicated. that need
cause you no Inconvenience AS regards
your hair. 1t is no doubt a pity, especially
es l could not help remarking its beauty
during our short interview, but l am afraid
that l must remain firm upon this point,
and only hope that the increased salary
may recompense you for the loss Your
duties, as far as the child is concerned,
are very light Now, do try to come, and
l shall meet you with the dOg-cart at Win
chester. Let me know your train. Yours
faithfully, JEPHRO RTCASTLE.'
That is the letter which l have just re-
ceived Mr.. Holmes, and my mind Is made
up that 1 will accept it. l thought, how
ever. that before taking the final step l
should like to submit the whole matter to
your consideration"
We'll, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made
up. that settles the question: said Holmes,
smiling.
But you would not advise me to re-
fuse?"
7 confess that it Is not the situation
which l should like to see sister of mine
apply for"
What is the meaning of 1t all, Mr..
Holiness"
"Ah. l have no data. cannot tell. Per
haps you have yourself formed some
op!nion?'
well, there seems to me to be only one
possible solution. Mr.. Rucastle seemed to
be a very kind. good-natured man. Is 1t
not possible that his wife IS lunatic, that
he desires to keep the matter quiet for fear
she should be taken to an asylum, and that
he humors her fancies in every way in
order to prevent an outbreak"
THAT is a possible solutiOn-in fact, as
matters stand it is the most probable one.
But in any case, 1t does not seem to be
nice household for young lady"
But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!
well. yes, of course the pay is good
too good. That is what makes me I'M
easy. Why should they give you 912O
year, when they could have their pick for
$40? There must be some strong reason
behind"
Il thought that If told you the cir
cumstauces you would understand after
ward if l wanted your help. l should feel
so much stronger if l felt that you Were
at the back of me"
The lunch was served in a private room
looking out from high floor onto the OPP
posite side of one of those dusky canyons
running from Broadway to the East river.
The company numbered twelve. all but the
two men Dandy had checked off financiers
or lawyers of national reputation. Perhaps
none of them were aware of the means Mr..
Carroll had adopted to open Mr.. Pearley's
heart and mind. but a close observer might
have guessed the state of affairs, knowing
Mr. Carroll and his helpers from cluband.
The professor made a distinctly agreeable
impression. He was manly man. strong
man, mentally and physically. To be sure.
he said to be eccentric to the extent of
holding position which did not pay half
the salary offered by greater institutions
than the one he served. But he was known
to have inherited wealth. and that is an. ex-
cuse for independence to the verge of &C.
centrlCity. His manner was pleasing, his
stories excellent. He was eupeptic, and. like
all of his blessed tribe, made those In his
presence forget that the world is as bad as
ii is-or as 1t is said to be by those sad souls
who help only to make ii bad.
1t was an excellent lunch; one OF the kind
often served at that same place-as often as
men of the street entertain those from
whom they hope to get something, a fran
chise, property, a rebate, a privilege. for
less than its market value. An excellent
lunch, at which three kinds of wine were
served and of which the fnaDrierS drank