The Bolivar County Democrat., 1907-08-03

her family were precious to her, mas
much as no other family, In her opin-
ion, quite equaled it in Importance.
Left now with a very small income,
and very inferior house to that in
which her childhood and youth were
passed, Miss Rebecca received as in
mates cousin of the same type as
herself, and Saddle Porter whose %
years of life found very little con.
geniality in these somber surround.
ings. Cousin Rebecca frequently
complained to her that "it was almost
impossible to get along with Philes
peculiarities; while Cousin Phile was
mysterious and confidential over poor
Rebecca's strange ways" Thus these
two elderly maidens were constant
thorns in each others sides, and like
wise in Sadie Porters.
There was delightful house few
miles out of town, IAN Italian villa it
was called and to this villa went Miss
Saddle daily, in the morning train, and
spent four hours teaching the English
branches to two lovely little girls
favored frequently with the company
of their very charming mamma. 1t
was just enough employment, and 1t
was generously paid; while the young
teacher was treated in all respects as
became her birth and breeding.
This was just the kind Of life that
Saddle enjoyed. A visit from Mrs.
Osbrooks brother did not lessen the
pleasure of it. He was very elegant,
and had such grand ways and had
travelled everywhere, and his name
was Otho; and she overheard him tell
ing his sitter that the young governess
reminded him of wild rose (Saidie
thought this quite originaD, and many
more such things were tumbled to-
gether in her memory, and caused a
blush of pleasure at the very thought
of them.
1t was just after this that DR.. Emp
ton had so coolly said: ut will be
safer, perhaps, not to go into any
house, nor to admit any one here
for a few weeks"
"A few weeks!" when life had just
begun to be so beautiful to her
what might not happen in a few
weeks? She had never been particu-
larly fond of Cousin Phile," but she
felt that she loved her less than ever
that morning. Fpr cousin Phile" had
not been at all well, and unmistakable
symptoms of varioloid were now de-
veloped. 1t was the slightest possible
type of the disease, the doctor said,
and scarcely worth calling by any
name at all; but, nevertheless, he rec
commended prudence; and meanwhile,
as a necessary precaution, every men,
Der of the family were vaccinatetd.
Not long before this untoward i'll
ness of Cousin Phile's, there had ar
rived at the house a distant cousin of
the family single, gentleman
cousin, whom Saddle pronounced dis
agreeable before she had seen much OF
him. Herman Dilkes was bachelor
of 35, very quiet, selfcontained man,
who seemed to understand every sub
ject in the world, and who gave the
young lady the unpleasant impression
that he was continually reading her
thoughts. He certainly did not find
them very complimentary to himself.
The next day she sat down and
wrote Mrs. Osbrook letter instead
of an orthodox note, as she intended.
setting forth in detail her trouble and
loneliness. and 'pining after little
Laura and Annie"
Perhaps that lady's sharp eyes de-
tected another sort Of "pining;' but,
be that as it may, no answer was eyer
received to this epistle. Not even an
inquiry was made at the door; and
it would have been so easy to send
that lazy Thomas when going his city
rounds. Once only did Sadie get
gliiNpse of the familiar faces during
that tedious period of quarantine. Mrs.
Osbrook and the children were in the
carriage, Mr.. Lathrop was on horse.
back beside them; and the party were
drawn up in front of one of the shops,
while an obsequious clerk brought out
bales of goods for the lady's inspec-
ton.
A very graceful bow and smile from
Mrs. Osbrook; sudden demonstration
from the children, that was evidently
repressed at the outset; while Otho
I.athrop lifted his hat with CLEAN
of white teeth under his dark mus
tache; and somehow poor little Sadie
felt empty-handed and empty-hearted
as she pursued her way on the aimless
walk she was taking.
So strange, she thought, that Mrs.
Osbrook did not beckon her to the
carriage door, and ask when there
wcs a chance of having her with them
again-there could surely be no
danger of contamination in the open
air. The children, too, were strange;
and there was an unexplicable some
thing about the whole party that was
far from satisfactory. 1t was very
disagreeable to be Stunned as a dan
and weeks to the society of Cousin
Rebecca. There was Mr.. Dilkes, to
be sure Che had never asked her to
call him cousin, but he was rather
settled and steady.
The invalid had been mingling with
other people for some time before an
intimation was received from Mrs. Os-
brook that the young governess' ex-
istence was remembered. 1t came at
last, in the shape of very polished
note, inclosing a handsome check,
Miss Porter for "her most
services" and "unvarying
kindness to the children" and begging
loauo in tho pioact manner ina OH h1Q