The Argosy — page 152: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

13/7 ee Tenet ott UA TTON. By Lois SELBON, WAS nineteen, well born, and, as I was constantly being told, beautiful. But what was the use of it all? I was an orphan and poor. My brothers were both married, and though kind in their way, I felt that I could not be dependent upon them. My education had been excellent, and through it I determined to work. ‘You are very young, Margaret,” said the kindest of my sisters-in-law. Which was true in England, but abroad nineteen is a most respectable age. Besides, each day would rectify that failing more and more. My advertisements for a family in Germany who might require the services of a young lady of many accomplishments and irreproachable family, brought me three answers. I picked out the one that sounded kindest and of which the post-mark was farthest from home, for my brothers’ pride was great. It was from a Countess Dahlen. She required a young lady to teach English, French, drawing, and music, to three girls and a boy of various ages, to talk English at odd hours with herself and the Count, and to make herself generally useful and agreeable. Salary to be given: 30/, Also the young lady was required directly. The latter point decided me. I closed with the offer, bid good- bye to my friends, wished a rather sentimental adieu to my native land, and then steadily turned my eyes out to sea, as we steamed into the Channel on our way to Hamburg. . I got as far as Berlin very comfortably. A letter was awaiting me at the Ladies’ Pension, to which I had been directed, begging me to meet the Countess Dahlen and her daughters at the East Prussian Railway Station the next morning at eight o’clock. They would all hold their pocket-handkerchiefs in their hands, and I was to do the same. I was quite ready to start next morning when I was told my droschky was at the door. Preceded by all my goods and chattels, I ran downstairs in excellent spirits and ensconced myself in my droschky, looking forward with some curiosity to meeting my count- esses. I was especially anxious to be in good time, for I felt punc- tuality was an excellent quality in my new career. What was my disappointment, therefore, to find myself, ere long, at the very end of an immense line of droschkies, four abreast, walking their horses at a snail’s pace and occasionally stopping altogether. But by degrees we got on a little, and, meanwhile, I peered into every carriage around for something white. At last! In COMIICOO© SS (CO) a) on