Year: 1875

/
reader, aud come well recommended. Apply mme
diateiy at No. lose, Grand Avenue


This headed the long column of
wants in the morning paper, and
though Ethel Vaughan read the entire
list, her mind and eyes would wander
back to the first, and wishes and plans
would till her imagination for the place.
She had been sick for many weeks, and
now, upon her cOnvalescence, found
herself almost without money, and a
wardrobe SO meagre as TO be alarming.
She had been a music teacher, but the
strain upon her had been too great, and
had resulted in prOstration fearfully
low, but with the aid of good, strong
constitution and the care of an excel
lent physician, she had fought the
struggle through, and was again ready
for work. She was alone, there had
never been any brothers or sisters, and
so when her parents had died, she was
thrown completely upon herself. As
long as she was well she did not mind
the work, but weak and nervous, she
knew full well it would only be death
to try again the arduous laboIs of a
music teacher, and then her pupils
were all gone. She had been sick a
long while and inpatient of delay they
had obtained other teachers. She could
not be seamstress or clerk, she was
not strong enough. What then could
she dot


Now if she were only elderly, there
would he no trouble. She knew herself
well enough to be certain that she was
intelligent and refined enough for such
a position, and she had always been
commended for her reading. DIR. Scott
| WnnlI u1aHlu raanntannH hnr lac
had known her for years. and his posi-
ton was such in the city that the
influence of his name would be pOten-
tial in securing anything she might
covet.


But the age. She was not elderly.
There was snostretching the imagination
into believing her over twenty-five,
though she was in reality but twenty,
and for once in her life Ethel Vaughan
wished herself as old and wrinkled as
her nurse. There was another reason
why she wished to he again at work.
Though she had saved money to pay
all the expenses of her illness, yet she
found herself indebted to DIR. Scott for
many delicacies and dainties that she
had craved, and she knew that he was
beginning to love her. and the thought
was intolerable that she should have
10 give him pain by refusing his prof
fered care and affection.


She leaned back among the cushions,
weary with projects. Her way seemed
hedged about, and try as she would,
there seemed no escape. When just as
she was beginning to despair, plan,
venturesome and doubtful, dawned
upon her. She would assume the attire
of an elderly widow and make an appli-
cation for the place. She grew strong
with the thought, and when the doctor
came for his evening visit he found her
more animated than for a long time.
To him she cOnfided her plan, never
allowing him time to interpOse an
objection or remark as to his own
feelings. After they had talked the
matter over, and arranged the disguise.
or rather the garb of concealment, the
doctor asked where the place was, and
the moment his eye rested on the street
and number, he exclaimed, "Why,
Ethel, it is old Mrs. Whitney: know
her well. She has been patient of
mine for years. 1t will be just the
place for you, for your duties will be
only nominal, and your salary ample
and secure. The old lady has weak
eyes, and she is compelled to keep them
constantly shaded. This, added to
her bad health, makes her indeed an
invalid


"How large is her family, Doctor7'
enquired Ethel. Herself and one son,
who is now and has been, for about a
year, away from home. He is travelling,
and 1 understand from his mother, is
not to return for about three years.
They live elegantly, though very
retired, have host of servants, a fine
II, .lrl,
You will see very little company that
you will probably like, as you need
not fear detection. 1t would never do
for you to 90 as you are, for the old
lady imagines every girl has designs
upon her son, and cannot tolerate one
IN her presence"


Ethel Vaughan or Mrs. Madeline
Webb, looked every inch a widow lady
of about thirty-fiye or forty, with her
false black hair sprinkled with gray in
lieu of her own golden curls. The
widow'scap was becoming, and matched
well the plain old fashioned dress. She
played her part TO perfection, and had
no difficulty; armed with a note from
the Doctor, in winning Mrs. Whitney S
favor, and before the end of the week
she was installed reader and COM
panion. The invalid was gentle and
kind, and her duties light. She read
for an hour or two, was stheamanuensis,
talked entertainingly, and then after
taking tea with the old lady, was at
liberty to do what she chose, but
generally she passed the evening with
her sewing or converslng, finding the
grand old house dull enough with only
the servants for company. outside the
sick room. Thus for weeks and months
| 81 90, .,g ha,r = rtyy.laA m
uneventful, unexcited, undisturbed,
only broken by the letters from the
absent son. These she read to the
mother, gradually becoming so inter-
ested in them that she watched and
waited their coming with impatience.
After a few messages Mrs. Whitney
would intrust the answer entirely to
her, and the young girl wrote out heI
pent up feelings 10 this stranger, secure
in the mothers name affixed, aud she
read in his letters the replies that only
she understood and appreciated. AT
last one day letter came that he was
coming home, and that they might
expect him Immediately. Mrs Whitney
was overjoyed. and talked necessarily
of her boy. content that her companion
silently listened. His room was ele-
gantly arranged, all the care devolving
4 upon the widow" who was careful
that every detail should be Just what
she imagined he would like.


When he came, she met him in his
mothers room, with an odd thrObbing
of her heart, but returned his bow, as
"My friend and companion, Mrs Webb.
Edgar, my son. introduced them, and
though he scrutinized her closely, she
was outwardly calm, and after few
remarks, left mother and son together.
But her duties brought her constantly
into direct communication with Mr.
Whitney, and as he rarely left his
mother, there were but few hours that
the widow and the heir were apart;
He Joined in the reading, and the dull
pages grew interesting and entertaining
as he weuld read hour by hour, letting
her rest, and then he would talk of his
travels, and she would half forget her
position. and in question or listening,
prove herself to be well informed, and
l. 4 ,.-,tal. g., ba ,rfnw nj lntprp 81