THE RUNAWAY MISS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 15 (Supplement)

THE RUNAWAY MISS.

There was not one young lady at Mias Tittersell’s Select Establishment lor the Education -of the Daughters of the Nobility and Gentry who oould behave more prettily than Little Miss when she was her normal self. For days on end Little Miss would smooth down her hair with bear’s grease, present spotless neok-tuckers and pantaloon frills to the gaze of the. world, talk Frenoh at meals, write moral in a flowing Italian hand, work at her crossstitoh, count ten before she spoke, and gain the maximum prize of four lollipops a' week for Deportment. And then, all of a sudden, a demon would enter into her. She would dash out on to the lawn, swarm up a sooty tree, produce choice expressions from the stable at home,'answer back Miss Tittersell herself, leave her books and her clothes on the floor of-her room,’ and whistle in the passages. The black cupboard, the dunce's cap, the blackboard, and bread and water seemed to 1 have no terrors for her till the flit passed and sher beoame again the sedate Little Miss.

“It Is really as If Satan entered Into me," she said herself very seriously to Harriet Slooombe, her pnly friend among the twenty Select Ybung Ladles. “Resist the Devil” suggested. Harriet, who had just been embroidering this motto on her sampler. “It’s no good. He knows how I detest sohool and this ugly, smoky plaoe, and being refined and elegant, and.carrying myself like a lady!" “But I think your home sounds dreadful," said Harriet deoidedly. "All those dogs in the house and grooms with naughty words In the •table, and riding with your grandfather In peril of life and limbi And no refined companionship but that of your poor sick aunt! Miss Tittersell will fit you for life and society, Barbara 1"

“Oh, don’t call me that 1” 1 “But It's so silly that we should all call you Little Miss just beoause the mistresses think Barbara reminds you of your barbarian ways at home.’’ “Barbara’s saored to home now!" said Little Miss obstinately. And my home may be barbarian, but at least it’s dean, and this Isn’t.’’ - There was some Justice in the complaint. In the year 1830, when Little Miss and her friend were walking in the shrubbery of Hedsall House, the headmistresses of boarding schools were not particularly remarkable for sense or discretion. Yet' Miss Tittersell would have been too wise to found a school only three miles from Manchester, which, with Its growing population and increasing ohimneys and smoke, was already far from a health resort. But Miss Tittersell’s school was a hereditary affair of three generations, and so great was its fame that its situation on a hill overlooking a valley of mist and smoke was Ignored by North-oountry parents. When Barbara’s grandfather, that huge, ruddy, hard-riding old Master of the Foxhounds,, was compelled by his delicate daughter, Adelaide, to submit to parting with his adored grand-daughter and companion, he never tried To escape ills destiny by protesting against the district In which Hedsall House was situated. If Little Miss wore to he taken from him he supposed she might as well go to her aunt's old school as to another, and he made Into a mincing little lady instead of his own cherished little hoyden. So poor Little Miss was swept from the old grey manor In the western hills of Cheshire, the adoring grooms and dogs and horsos, out of Ife'r boyish gaiters and riding-coats and caps, into the dull soot-laden atmosphere, tin: feminine companionship and impossible little muslin frills and tippets and pantaloons which were worn byyoung ladies of 1830. “Little Miss!” A sharp voice came from the laurels and a sharper face and figure emerged. “You’re wanted In the study." “Oh, fiddlesticks t is it another row, Miss Bewley?” queried Little Miss.- It would be. reflected Harriet gloomily when Miss Bewley had emerged from the hysterics into which the use of such words in the presence of Refined Females, and the sight of Little Miss tearing off to the house, had seut her.

(By Winifred F. Peck.)

“Yes, Ma’am!” Even Little Miss’s voioe quavered when she stood in the preofse parlour, curtsying to the head-mistress. Miss Tittersell, stark and square in lace cap, black crinoline and cameo ornaments, was Indeed so awe-inspiring that Little Miss had - learned to fix her gaze on the portrait of the Iron Duke behind her chair at these interviews. “Drat those books!” she would mutter to herself In pious memory of the one Expression which her grandfather had brought back as a souvenir of his campaigns with Wellington. “Come here, Little Miss. ' Someone has come to see you with a message from your home.” “Oh, are they ill? Do they want me?" Little Miss grew pale. “Dear me, no! 1 It’s that—err—; gentleman by the bureau—Mr—er— Preedy. He says he comes from your grandfather.”' “If I might have a few words alone with Miss Barbara?" said a dapper little map In black, emerging from a dark corner.

At home, at- Marton Hall, Little Miss hated the appearance of Mr Preedy, Squire Marton’s man of business. It Involved always the disappearance of grandfather into the library, long delays followed by a preoccupied ride, during which the old gentleman would curse freely at the devils of lawyers, hard times, and the need of economy. But here in exile even Preedy’s pinched little face, with its shifty eyes, seemed weloome. “Not alone, sir, certainly!” said Miss Tittersell. "I shall remain.”

“Certainly, madam."' Preedy ooughed nervously. "I am riding to Liverpool, Miss Barbara, to oonslgn all your aunt’s valuables, the familyplate and your grandfather’s bonds and deeds to the bank there. The times, Miss Tittersell, are, as you know, so unsettled, the spirit of unrest so rife, even in our lonely hills, that I strongly . reoommended this precaution. He hade me take my way by Manchester that I might also secure from you your mother’s jewellery, Miss Barbara—specially her diamonds—and Join them with the others in safe keeping." “No jewellery allowed but oameo brooches and ooral neokiaoes,” said Miss Tittersell severely, quoting her own prospectus. “How is it you have such things in your possession here. Little Miss?"

"But I haven’t,” said Little Miss, staring. "I never have! I haven't even seen them 1”

"I see, a mistake! A mistake 1” Preedy’s face was very white as he stammered out the words after a long pause. “You know how absentminded your grandfather Is—l must have misunderstood. He must have sent them previously! a pity! A pity! I came out of my way on purpose 1 Well! I must go on to Liverpool 1 Madam, I thank you for your courtesy! Miss Barbara, farewell 1”

(To be continued next week.).