Middletown transcript., 1909-06-12

line Gentles at her house N the
Broad Wynd of Broomferry.
What for has she run away
from Cairnie, Sammy: inquired
the old school l-mistress with an
anxious air. Her letters we're
important, but her attention was
diverted from them to the piece
Of disquieting news Sammy had
delivered at every house he had
stopped at on the way down.
He scratched his head, and
shot out his underlip, while his
one good eye cleaned under his
shaggy brows.
I should say, Miss Gentles,
that she ran away because she
had enough o'd. In general way
that's what gars folk rim away
frae onything in this world.
But Miss Gentles was not
reassured, nor indeed much en-
lighted.
Jenny's no a'body's money,
ye ken, Miss Gentles, but when
she's wi the RIGHT folk she's a
dell to work, and she has a wey
wi her; oh, yes, she has a wey.
But she needs guidin'.
Now these words smote Miss
Gentles in a vulnerable spot. It
was borne in upon her that she
might have done more in the
way of guiding the orphan girl
who had once been her most bril-
liant pupil. Had she but persist
ed in her desire to offer her a
place in her own quiet household
as companion under the supervi-
sion of her trusted maid, Susan
Bell, Jenny might have gone
forth to the battle of life better
equipped.
But the two elderly women
had shrunk with a very nat
ural shrinking from introduc-
ing such a disturbing element in
to their quiet lives, and Miss
Gentles had contented herself
with procuring various places for
Jenny, none of which had proved
to be the right niche.
When did it happen, Samuel,
and and Dc tao they they knew EERRe# where she has
gone?
It happened yesterday, and
they dinna ken whaur she
has gone, and as far as 1 could
see they dinna care. But the
cook drappit a hint. She said
that it was ON accountof the Cap.
tain's nephew that has been stop
pin at Hill O. Cairnie since
Christmas.
Thank you, Sammy, said Miss
Gentles. She re:entered the
house, read her letters, which
were satisfactory, then after a
brief colloquy with Susan Bell
she dressed herself in readiness
for q walk. 1t was bright
winter morning, with a slight
powdering of snow lying on the
frozen ground, blue sky over.
head, and a brilliant sun which
made the exercise of walking
ideal. Miss Gentles had two and
a half miles in front Of her, but
footed it briskly, and reached
her destination between eleven
and twelve, just when the sun
was at its brightest and the day
in full glory.
Miss Gentles was conscious of
a sharp sense of discomfort and
apprehension as she approached
the long bare house on the win
dy hill of Cairnie, and it was only
a strong conception of duty which
gave her courage to go on. Her
inquiry for Mrs. Hill Stoner was
met by a dubious shake of the
head on the part of the man-ser-
want.
She's not downstairs yet, mad
am, but if the Captain will do
The Captain will do, thank you.
Please to tell him that Miss Gen.
ties, from Broomferry, would
like to speak to him for a few
minutes.
The man ushered her into a
small study, where Miss Gentles
was left to recover herself. The
walk had heightened her color,
and her sweet cameo-like face
was wonderfully attractive, with
its becoming frame of soft,
white hair, and its kind illuminat-
ing eyes.
Miss Gentles, however, was
not at all concerned with her ap.
pearance, and when the Captain,
a somewhat bluff, ferce.Iooking
individual, entered the room, she
rose with a little nervous fiutter.
I must apologize, Captain sto-
nor, she said quickly. It is q
matter which perhaps concerns
Mrc Gfn,0r noo,.o ,,oa,,l,, 7