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12
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
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Q-inqinq to the Husks.
A STORT IN TWO PARTS.
BY GEORGE PERCY DEAN.
PART FIRST—CHAPTER I.
INSTALLED.
O YOU think I will suity ou,
Mrs. Landauer?”
“Really, Miss Heath, I am
almost sure that you w.ill not. A
governess’ position is full of
grave responsibilities, which you
are quite young to assume. But I will give
you a month’s trial. Should I discharge you
at its expiration, you need not be surprised.’’
“May not an earnest endeavor to fill the
demands of the position, secure a different
result, Mrs. Landauer?’’
“Ah, indeed! You will find that it is your
ability which I propose* to test, and I shall
require your best efforts under any condi
tions. ”
The girl’s eyes almost closed, lest the
spark under her downcast lashes should blaze
out as she heard the reply to her appeal.
“Am I mistaken in thinking you knew
Mr. Hastings, madam?” she asked just a
little stiffly, in spite of her determination to
suppress any evidence of resentment.
“I knew him very slightly,” was the con
descending admission.
“I beg of you again to write to him for
any information you may desire in regard to
me. He has known me all my life, and until
quite recently his house has been my home
for four years. ”
“Why did you not remain with him, Miss
Heath?”
“For the simple reason that I had no right
to abuse his generosity. He is a poor minis
ter with a large family of his own to support.
“He superintended my education with the
understanding that I was to be self -reliant
as soon as it was completed. Therefore,
when he removed to a distant field of labors
not long since, I thought best to remain in
this city, and seek employment.”
“Where have you resided meantime?”
asked Mrs. Landauer, with a keen look at the
lovely young face before her.
“I have been staying temporarily in a re
ligious institution, The Orphans’ Home,
where I was educated,” was the ready answer.
“Well, all that sounds quite plausible,”
said Mrs. Landaner, in a tone superciliously
contradictory. “Nevertheless, I will write to
Mr. Hastings. Should he indorse your ac
count of yourself there is a possibility for us
to make a satisfactory contract later on.”
• “Then you will not wish me to come until
you hear from him ?”
“Yes, you may come to-morrow if you
choose, and enter upon your duties at once.”
Mrs. Landauer arose as she said this, with
the air of one who grants an immense favor
and the rather unbusiness-like interview was
over.
When Miss Heath had taken leave this
seemingly scrupulous employer indulged in
a few minutes reflection ; consequently there
came to her a feeling of self-congratulation.
She saw that this young girl was very
eager to enter her service. Of course, as she
could offer neither credentials nor experience,
she would not expect much in the way of
salary. So there was an opportunity to save
money.
And there was more exultation than un
easiness in her mind as she thought over the
irregular manner of the engagement. For
it was plain that Linda Heath was just what
she claimed to be; a friendless orphan girl,
who had been well raised, and who was no
doubt fully competent to teach the two young
children for whom she was in quest of a
governess. Then, outwardly, the experiment
could be turned under the light of charity.
She even persuaded herself that she was do
ing a very laudable deed to risk being im
posed upon for the sake of giving the young
girl a chance—a shelter and a pittance for
services worth fair equivalent.
But of course Mrs. Landauer ended her re
flections at the word chance. It was no use
to allow conscience a hearing; it might
strike for a balance.
Linda Heath availed herself of the per
mission to reappear at the Landauer mansion
the following morning.
It was a mansion, indeed. Among the ave
nue of city residences, famous for their un
usual elegance, it stood prominent.
However, a servant conducted the young
lady up several flights of steps to a room that
was barely comfortable. Certainly it proved
small and inconvenient when she attempted
to'arrange her few possessions about it.
4 Before the task~was finished she received
a summons to the school-room, which she
promptly obeyed.
“Good-morning, Miss Heath.”
“Good-morning, Mrs. Landauer.”
Was it fancy that, despite the unequal rank
of the two strongest factors in this “o’er true
tale,” that a queer kind of challange rung in
the two voices, as they uttered these com
monplace words ?
One was so frigidly intense in its aim to
dominate; the other coolly unimpressed, and
full of that rightful self-respect, against
which all forms of aggression must, in time,
meet with a rebound.
“If you are ready for the ordeal, I will
install you into office, at once,” said the
madam.
Her slight smile and sarcastic tone were
not lost upon her subordinate, who answered
briefly.
-j. “I am at your service, Mrs. Landauer.”
Then two little girls were brought forward
and duly presented to the new governess.
They were meek, shy little creatures,
whose subdued appearance bore pathetic evi
dence that the mother’s stern discipline of
her household included them without any
abatement; and that its rigorous demands
had crushed much of childhood’s legitimate
brightness from their decorous little faces.
They were twins of nine years of age,
answering respectively to the names, Ada
and Ida Landauer.
Mrs. Landauer proceeded to give Miss
Heath a list of minute instructions concern
ing their study hours, requirements in regard
to behavior, music lessons, time for practice,
recreation and so on. Finally she wound up
by saying :
“You will take charge of them remember,
every morning as you leave the breakfast
table. That meal they, in company with you,
will take in the dining room under my direct
authority. The remaining meals each day
will be served to you and your pupils in the
school-room. At nine o’clock every evening,
the nurse will promptly relieve you of re
sponsibility until morning again. Should
you not find the children tractable, report to
me; they will expect nothing from you be
yond your duty, understand?”
r J Miss Heath bowed assentingly. She had
received all these orders with a demeanor that
was unimpeachable, and still she felt as if a
probe was withdrawn from a keenly smarting
wound when Mrs. Landauer left her to begin
the routine of administration.
She soon found that the tasks in themselves
were nothing to be dreaded. There were
difficulties before her, but they were not to
be presented by the gentle twin children
committed to her care.
The next morning upon entering the break
fast room Miss Heath heard herself addressed
with pointed ceremony, and then :
“My husband, Mr. Landauer,” made his
first obeisance to his wife’s new employee.
He was a pleasant looking old German
merchant. What position he held in his own
family was not so strongly apparent. That
suggestion of greater importance—the de
cided air of Wall street, and business preoc
cupation in his manners—may have fully
made up for the utter lack of authority in the
realm of his home. Ten years previous tc^
the recording of these events Mr. Landauer
had taken the majestic woman sitting oppo
site him now from under a pressure of
severest poverty, and placed her at the head
of his table. Not because he esteemed her
above all others, but simply because the post
was vacant and she had managed to make the
impression that she would fill it fairly well.
And, she had been the poor widow Mc-
Chesney long enough to calculate accurately
the advantages which she would gain as Mrs.
Landauer, the second.
Once secure in her coveted position, she
deliberately faced the man who gave it to her
in her true character. With indelicate clear
ness she let him see that it was his vast
wealth and not himself which she valued.
His was the better nature; hers the stronger
will by great odds ; consequently her suprema
cy was inevitable.
Even the birth of the twin babies had
failed to arouse the least semblance of real
affection in her heart for him and yet,
strange to say, this same woman had made a
good stepmother to Mr. Landauer’s only
child, who was a fully grown young lady be
fore he married the second time. When
breakfast was almost over this young lady en
tered the family circle.
In appearance she was blase in the extreme.
Her person was short, thin and angular; her
movements depressingly languid, while a
rich morning toilet contrasted unbecomingly
with a plain sallow face.
After greeting her warmly, Mrs. Landauer
named her to the new governess as, “My dear
daughter, Miss Maud Landauer.
The young stranger felt rather uncomforta
ble under the not very well bred 3tare with
which this “dear daughter” favored her, and
she felt a sensation of relief when she and
her pupils were immediately dismissed.
“How do you like the looks of my gover
ness, Maud?” asked the stepmother as they
were left to themselves.
“She seems to me quite a pretty servant to
engage just at this particular time, mama.
The answer came in low, pleasant tones,
though they were freighted, not only with
feminine spite, but also with that unmistak
able, lisping pronunciation that would assure
a critical ear that English was not her mother
tongue.
“You should not call her a servant, my
dear,” said Mrs. Landauer, softening the re
proof with an indulgent smile. “Her voca
tion is looked upon in a highly respectable
light, you know.”
“So much the more dangerous, I am in
clined to think,” was the still apprehensive
reply as Maud sipped her coffee indolently.
“While I fully comprehend your allusion,
I foresee no danger,” and the usual sweetness
of the stepmother’s address had a shadow of
undeniable curtness.
After a short pause she added more
smoothly :
“I recognize the fact that Linda Heath is,
as you say, pretty. She is more than pretty.
Her type of beauty is rarely attained. But it
should reassure you to remember that she has
nothing else desirable. Few women can
claim all that is desirable in this life. Some
have beauty ; some have position ; others have
wealth—the best endowment of all! More
over, it matters little which a man admires
most. Fate compels him to chose that which
he needs most. ”
Maud Landauer’s heart thrilled, but not
with contempt, as she listened to these com
forting remarks. Out of the list of strong
points, she could claim only wealth. But
she had been told that it was the best endow
ment of all. For more years than she cared
to own the aim of her life had been to barter
that wealth for a husband. As yet, failure
had not made herdoubt its potency, although
she preferred not to contend with a rival.
It was easy to perceive that nature had be
stowed the best material for a woman s power
upon Linda Heath but since her father’s death
which had occurred four years before, this
iovely young girl had been utterly alone in
the world, and except the minister who had,
according to her fathers’ request, superinten
ded her education, she was friendless as well.
And now at the immature age of sixteen,
with no human love to rely upon—with no
ally, save the dangerous one of her own beau
ty, she was thrown into the world’s open are
na ? No; but against its rough outposts,
where, in hiding, lurk the greater dangers.
This position, as Mrs. Landauer’s gover
ness, was her initiation into that widespread
order where bread is the motive power.
One evening a very unusual occurrence
broke the dull monotony of the school-room.
The study hours were over. Of course Mrs.
Landauer knew that, or she would not have
permitted a visitor. The visitor who entered
with her, was a plump, round faced old lady,
who nevertheless carried herself with a show
of dignity, that conveyed an idea of self-im
portance.
“This is Mrs. Rushton, a very particular
friend of mine, Miss Heath,” was Mrs. Lan
dauer’s phrase, and whether it was meant as
explanatory or simply introductory was not
easy to decide.
“As you see, I take special privileges too,”
remarked the visitor, with a pleasant smile
that was certainly intended as apologetic.
“You are quite welcome, I assure you,
madam,” replied the governess with un
affected cordiality.
The little girls greeted the lady as an old
acquaintance. She seemed interested in them
for a little while, but when their mother
took them to the piano to demonstrate the
improvement which they claimed to have
made in music, Mrs. Rushton appeared anx
ious to culivate the new acquaintance.
“Did I understand your name to be Miss
Heath?” she asked in an under tone.
“Yes, madam.”
“How long have you been a resident of
this city?” v
“Since four years ago, when I came here
from Baltimore, with my father. His death 1
occurring soon after, caused me to remain
permanently.”
Theie was a tremor in the girl’s voice, as
she made these statements,and her eyes were
downcast. So she did not notice the peculiar
interest in the questioner’s face.
“What was your father’s full name, may
I ask?”
“Robert Arlington Heath.”
“And your’s ?” queried the old lady eagerly.
“Linda Randolph Heath.”
“Ah ! I thought so.”
The governess looked up in surprise. She
had supposed the interrogations the mere
promptings of an idle curiosity, but now saw
that the visit was a matter of real concern to
the visitor.
“Did you know my father, Mrs. Rush-
ton ?”
“Well—yes!” Mrs. Landauer rejoining
them at this moment caused a hasty dismissal
of the subject and soon the call terminated.
Linda Heath was slightly puzzled as she
thought over this little incident. But, she
decided there could be nothing in it more
important than the eccentricity which she im
agined belonged to elderly people. Neverthe
less, as they emerged from the breakfast room
the following morning, Mrs. Rushton came
to her side, and asked in a whisper if she
had leisure for a short conversation.
After an affirmative answer, they proceeded
to the school-room, and when its privacy
was secured the lady placed her arm about the
girl’s shoulders and asked in a voice strangely
tender:
“Child, is it possible that you should not
know me?” “I know that you are Mrs.
Rushton. that is all.”
“No, that is not all. The old-fashioned
name of Linda Randolph is our common
property, and you are my namesake. Did
your father never tell you anything of me?”
As Mrs. Rushton hesitatingly put this
question, the rosy glow that overspread her
face, made its aged outline fade into twilight
indistinctness.
“I think not, but he often told me that
he gave me my name because he loved it,
and that it had belonged to another whom he
had loved and lost in the years before I was
born. But I had no means of identifying you
as the person he meant.”
“That is true, my dear. You know noth
ing personally of me, and I have not time to
tell you very much. As briefly as possible I
will state th^it before my marriage I /as Lin
da Randolph. YcSur" father, Ro5e?*^Heatfi7~ ~~
was the man who first stamped his own image
upon my woman’s heart. It has never been
effaced—only draped and set aside from the
path of loyalty during the few years that I
was the wife of another. While we did not
part in anger, it was Robert Heath who
willed that he and I must spend our lives
apart. He loved me, but a misdirected sense
of obligation to your mother, made you he r
child instead of mine. And yet, you are his.
Hence my concern about you. I have suffi
cient cause, unknown to you, for not being'
satisfied with the conditions under which I
accidently found you. Is Mrs. Landauer hard
on you ?”
Linda’s face flushed as she answered rather
evasively the abrupt question.
“I am so young and inexperienced that
she considers it necessary to superintend me
very closely.”
“How long have you engaged to remain
with her?”
For as long as she will need me as a gov
erness, I suppose.”
“I am afraid that you will regret that she
ever needed you, my child,” and Mrs. Rush-
ton’s tone was impressive. “And besides I
want you and need you too, as my adopted
daughter.”
% “You can not mean that, really, Mrs.
Rushton?”
Yes, I do. I thought over it last night,
and my mind is fully made up in regard to
you, if you will agree. I am a childless
widow, with no near relatives, and I often
long for some one to love. You are so like
your father with his blue black eyes, his
radiant complexion, and his graceful stately
manner that it will be very easy for me to
learn to love you. I am quite able to pro
vide for you. What do you say, my dear?”
Mrs. Rushton, I could find no sensible
excuse for rejecting your tempting offer, and
I am very grateful, believe me, but I do not
like to inconvenience Mrs. Landauer yet
awhile.” J
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