Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17
Copyright by Harper & Brosa

uay pay q COnSlQeTaDle part N the HE
tory of the country. But If you have, why,
then, how could any gentlemen ask you to
col descend to accept anything under the
three figures. Your salary with me, mad
am, would commence at -Efe0 a year
You may imagine, Mr.. Holmes, that to
me- destitute as i was, such an onS
seemed almost too good to be true The
gentleman. however seeing perhaps the
look of incredulity upon my face. opened
pocketbook and took out a note.
1T is also my custom sad he. smiling
IN the most pleasant fashion, until his eyes
were just two shining Sits amid the white
young ladies half their salary beforehand,
SO that they may meet any little expenses
of their journey and their wardrobe
1T seemed to me that / la>. never met so
fascinating and thoughtful man. AS
was already in debt to my tradesmen the
advance was a great convenience, and yet
there was something unnatural about the
whole transaction which made me wish to
know little more before j quite committed
myself.
May i ask where You live, SIR? sad /.
Hampshire. Charming rural place. The
Copper Beeches. five miles on the far side
of Winchester. 1t is the most lovely ceun-
try, my dear young lady. and ,.ne dearest
old country house.
And my duties, sir? j should be glad
to know what they would be.
One chfld-one dear little romper just
six years old. Oh, if you could see him
killing cockroaches with slipper! Smack!
smack. smack Three gone before you
could wink! He leaned back in his chair
and laughed his eyes into his head again.
Il was little startled at the nature OF
the child's amusement, but the fathers
laughter made me think that perhaps he
was Joking.
My sole duties, them / asked, are to
take charge of single child?
90 No. no. not the sole, not the sole, my
dear young lady, he cried. Your duty
would be, as / am sure your good sense
xt,cyv &c
my wife might give, provided always that
they were such commands as a lady might
heh?
4 should be happy to make myself use
full
"'Qute So In dress now, for example.
We are faddy people. you knowsfaddy, hat
kind-hearted. If You were asked TO wear
any dress which we might give you, you
would not object to our little whim. Heb?
ono said 1, considerably astonished at
his words.
.''Or to sit here, or sit there-that would
not be offensive to you?
ooh, no.
"'Or to cut your hair quite short before
you come to u.s.?
IT could hardly believe my ears. AS you
may observe, Mr. Holmes, my hair is some
what luxuriant and of rather peculiar
tint of chestnut. 1t has been considered ar
tistic l could not dream of sacrificing IT
In this off-hand fashion.
BILE said l. He had been watching me
eagerly out Of his small eyes. and l could
see shadow pass over his face as spoke
~ am afraid that 1t is quite essential
and ladies' fancies, you know, madam Ia
dies fancies must be consulted And 80
you won't cut your hair
".No, sir, / really could not answered
firmly.
"'Ah, very we'll; then that quite settles
the matter. 1t is a pity. because IN other
respects you would really have done very
nicely. In that case, Miss Stopper, ! had
best inspect a few more of your young
ladies'
The manageress had sat all this while
busy with her papers without word to
either of us. but she glanced at me now
with SO much annoyance upon her face
that I could not help suspecting that she
my refusal.
"Do you desire your name to be kept
upon the books?" she asked.
If you please, Miss STOPPER
We'll 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 a gong
upon the table and l was shown out by the
page.
my lodgings and found little enough In the
cupboard and two or three bills upon the
table I began to ask myself whether had
not done 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 E1O0 year. Besides,
what use was my hair to me? Many peo-
pie are improved by wearing 1t short, and
perhaps / should be among the number.
Next day was inclined to think that had
made mistake. and by the day after l was
sure of 1t. 1 had almost overcome my pride
so far as to go back to the agency and in
quire whether the place was still open.
when 1 received this letter from the gem
tleman himself. i have 1t here, and I will
read it to buy
The Copper Beeches near Winchester.
Dear Miss Hunter: Miss Stopper has
very kindly given me your address, and I
write from here to ask you whether you
have reconsidered your decision. My wife
is very anxious that you should come, for
script!on of you. We are willing to give
ESQ a quarter, or f120 a year, SO as to
recompense you for any little inconvenience
which our fads may cause you. They are
not very exacting after all. My wife Is fond
OF a particular shade of electric blue, and
would like you to wear such a dress indoors
In the morning. You need not, however, go
to the expense of purchasing one. rs We
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 Inconvenience. As regards
your hair. ii is no doubt pity, especially
as / could not help remarking its beauty
during our short interview, but 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 RUCASTLE"
THAT is the letter which have just re-
ceived, Mr.. Holmes, and my mind is made
up that / will accept 1t. I thought, how
ever. that before taking the final step !
should like to submit the whole matter to
your consideration"
We'll. Miss Hunter. II your mind Is made
up, that settles the question" said Holmes,
smiling.
But you would not advise me to refused"
II confess that 1t is not the situation
which should like to see a 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 opin-
ion?'
well, there seems to me to be only one
possible solution. Mr.. Rucastle seemed to
T. m ,,ar,, lind oood man e II