Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1921-05-27


went home, guaranteed a pol
ished and refined young lady. Amelia
was a dear little creature, all rosy
and bright good humor, though the
silly thing would cry over a dead
canary bird or mouse the cat had
seized upon. She was accompanied
by her dear friend. Becky Sharp, who
was to make short visit at the Sed-
ley home before beginning her career
of self support as a governess.
Becky was small, pale and sandy
haired. with eyes habitually cast
down; when they looked up they were
large, odd and attractive. AS Miss
Sharp's father had been an artist and
a drunkard, and her French mother an
opera girl, 1t is not surprising that
Rebecca asserted she had never been
a glrl-she had been a woman since
she was eight years old.
At the Sedley home Becky met Anne
'lia's brother, Joseph, stout, puffy
man, who wore buckskin and Hes
sian boots, several immense neck
cloths, red striped waistcoat and an
apple-green coat. He was lazy, peev-
fish, a glutton and hard drinker, but
Rebecca decided instantly to set her
cap for him and began by whispering
to Amelia, rather loud: "He's very
handsomew Rebecca's plans how
ever, were foiled by George Osborne,
an admirer of Amelia, and Miss Sharp
took her departure from the Sedley
house.
She went to be governess in the
home of Sir Pitt Crawley, which place,
in her letters to Amelia, she dubbed
Humdrum Hall. There were many
Crawleys, the most important being
Sir Pitts spinster sister, and his Sec
ond son, Rawdon Crawley. The old
lady possessed 10000, and had al
most adopted Rawdon, who was her
favorite nephew, while several MEN,
bers of the family fought to supplant
him in her favor. Capt. Rawdon
Crawley was large young dandy, who
spoke with great voice. and swore a
good deal. He remarked of the demure
Rebecca: "By Jove, she's a neat little
fllyi" and both he and his aunt took
a decided fancy to the clever and fas-
cinating little governess. Though, In
deed, she made conquest Of pretty
much whomsoever she chose.
Now we must fit back to London
to see what became of Miss Amelia.
Far less interesting than Becky, and
with nothing but her wax doll face to
recommend her. yet all the young men
clustered round her chair and battled
for a dance with her. She was now
engaged to George Osborne, albeit his
sisters wondered, "What could George
find In that creature?" So much did
they wonder this, that 1t affected
George, and he concluded he was
throwing himself away on chit. But
poor little Amelia adored him, and
Captain Dobbin. who favored Amelia
himself, kept Osborne up to the mark
In his attentions. The infatuated girl
cared nothing about the Napoleonic
war that was raging, the fate of Eu-
rope was to her only Lieut.. George
Osborne; while he, often away with
his regiment the Horse Guards, read
her letters hastily, murmuring, poor
little Emmy-how fond she Is Of me |!
and CAD. what headache that mixed
punch has given me-"
About this time Miss Crawley re-
turned from visiting her brother and
brought back with her to her house
In Park Lane no less parsonage than
Miss Rebecca Sharp. who, so well had
she played her cards. was now Miss
Urawley's much cherished companion.
Whereupon Capt. Rawdon Crawley be-
came a frequent visitor at his aunt's
home. Incidentally, Lady Crawley
dted--so incidentally, that Miss Craw-
lev merely said, pettishly: II suppose
must put or my party for the third !"
Immediately upon the death OF bis