The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-26

Only my besmirched apparel, in
which | had slept ON the ground 1!
l felt ashamed to appear before
my benefactors SO. clad. | was
spared the humiliation.
On chair by the bedside were
all my own things, clean and dry.
My black silk frock hung against
the wall. After a weary process |
succeeded In dressing myself. l
found my way presently to the
kitchen.
Hannah was baking. What,
you have got up?" she said. You
may sit you down in my chair on
the hearthstone, If you WILL"
She pointed to the rocking
chair; | took 1t. She hustled about,
examining me every now and then
with the corner of her eye.
Did you ever go a-begging
afore you came here?" she asked
bluntly.
l was indignant for a moment;
but remembering l had indeed ap-
peared as a beggar to her, | an
IsWereu quietly:
You are mistaken in supposing
me beggar. | have kept myself
and. | trust, l shall keep myself
again. And now, never mind what
| have been, tell me the name of
the house where we are"
Some calls 1t Marsh End. and
some calls 1t Moor House."
And the gentleman who lives
here is called Mr.. st. john"
Nay: he doesn't live here; he
Is only staying while. When he
is at home, he is in his own parish
at Morton"
That village few miles off,"
| AYE"
And what is he?"
| He is a parson."
| | remembered the answer of the
old housekeeper at the parsonage,
when | had asked to see the
clergyman. This, then, was his
fathers residence?"
Aye! old Mr.. Rivers lived
here"
THE name. then, of that gen.
tleman is Mr.. st. John Rivers?"
yes"
Their father is dead?"
"Died three weeks sim of a
stroke"
Have you lived with the family
long,"
1--WE lived here thirty year. I
nursed them all three"
Hannah was evidently fond of
talking. While she made the paste
for pies. she proceeded to give me
sundry details about her deceased
master and mistress, and "the
childer," as she called the young
people.
Old Mr.. Rivers. she said, was a
plain man enough; but a gentle
man, stark mad o. shooting. and
farming, and sieh like" The mis-
tress was different. She was a
great reader, and the "bairns" had
taken after her. Mr.. st. John,
when he grew up, would go to col.
lege and be- parson; and the
girls, as soon as they left school,
would seek places as governesses.
They had lived very little at
home for long while. and we're
only come now to stay a few
weeks on account of their fathers
death.
asked where the two ladies and
their brother were now.
| Gone over to Morton for a
walk: but they will be back in
half an hour to tea"
They returned within the time
Hannah had allotted them; they
entered by the kitchen door. Mr..
st. John. when he saw me. merely
bowed and passed thru; the two
ladies stopped. and led me into
the parlOr with them.
After tea had been brought, Mr..
st. John saw fit to catechise me.
gave my name as Jane Elliot,
but said frankly that 1t was not
my own: that I had reasons for
concealing my identity. AS far as
possible I was frank-and where
It was necessary to skip a BIT of
past history / said as much.
This method seemed to appeal
to all three of my listeners. and
they assured me that they believed
me.
| took this opportunity to ask
aid in finding work, and Mr.. st.
John offered me the following
berth:
when l first came to Morton, -
he said, there was no school; the
children of the poor were excluded
from every hope of progress. es-
tablished a boys school-and |
mean now to open one for girls. I
have hired school building, with
cottage of two rooms attached
for the mistress house. Her sal
ary will be thirty pounds a year;
her house Is furnished, very sim
ply, but sufficiently, by the kind
ness OF lady, Miss Oliver, the
only daughter of the sole rich man
In my parish. Will you be this
mistress7"
81 will go to my house tomor-
row; and open the school, IL you
like, next week"
Very well; so be It." he
answered.