Year: 1879

Who am /? | am Rosalind Ethering-
ton, only child of father who idolized
me, lavished upon me every luxury that
wealth could procure until l was nineteen
years old, and then died, broken hearted,
because unfortunate speculations swept
away his entire fortune reducing me TO
poverty.


For that was the light in which he
regarded it, Not that he was poor
himself, but that l must endure priva
tions.


Before he died, indeed before he lost
lis fortune, Williston Moore had asked
me to be his wife, when he should return
from trip to Europe, his father insisted
upon his taking before he married and
went to home of his own.


Papa only gave half consent. We were
very young Williston Just of age, l but
eighteen, and he thought it best we should
both remain free until the European trip
was over, and | was introduced to So
ciety


So my handsome young lover bade me
farewell, and went over the ocean, carry
ing my heart with him. Six months later
my father died.


| was crushed under the weight of
grief. for we had been companions and
friends as well as father and child; read
ing together; holding such intercourse as
only love can prompt, sharing each other 8
thoughts and pleasures.


The whole world darkened to me
when my father was carried to his grave
| wrote to my uncle in Florence, the
only near relative we had who was abroad,
seeking health for his consumptive daugh-
ter.


He was rich man, and INDUCED in
faint hope that he would send for me to
join him in Florence Or point out to me
some refuge at home.


To Williston Moore l sent simply no.
tice of my fathers death. cut from daily
newspaper.


In it the writer spoke of the recent loss
of fortune that had brought on the mental
depression that preceded the ia tai seizure,
and wrote nothing.


He, my lover, had courted me when |
was an heiress, petted child of fortune,
and he must be free to follow his own will,
if he desired to break faith with the penny
less girl, left orphaned.


For | was proud to my hearts core,
and would not plead for forced love,
wrung from a sense of honor If Will
hston loved me, he would hasten to my
side; if his heart had gone from me,
| could live out my sorrow laden life
alone.


While my mourning was yet new, my
home was sold, the dear surroundings.
familiar from infancy, scattered under an
auctioneer's S hammer, and / found myself
the inmate of a small room in boarding
house, kept by a lady who had known me
for years.


She was very kind to me, cheering me
as far as possible giving me motherly ad-
vice about the very small sum of money
possessed, and trying to find me some
light employment.


This was the most difficult task of all
Though | had had every advantage of
education, | was not trained for teacher
of any accomplishment, and knew abso-
lutely nothing of the care or control of
children.


| had no love for sewing, and as nv
inclinations had governed all my pur-
suits, | had neglected needlework, ex-
cepting some trif1ing tasks Of embroidery
or fancy work-never excelling even in
these.


"What am l to dor


The question rose IN my heart many
times a day, assuming more force as time
sped by, and my stock of money rapidly
melted away.


There came no word from my uncle,
no message from Williston. | seemed
deserted by all upon whom l had any
claim.


1t was six months after my father
death, and May was half spent, when
Mrs. Green, my landlady, came to my
room one morning to tell me:


Miss Rosamond, l have heard Of a
situation that thought might suit you. y


"Tell me- | said eagerly, a vision OF
my last unbroken bank note rising before
me.


My cousin has been here to call. and
has told me that an intimate friend OF
hers, great invalid, is going to Italy.
and is looking for companion"


To Italy My uncle was in Italy Will
liston might be there