"
said Mrs. Mann. "I will tell you about her, so that you may see that
others, too, have been through the 'deep waters.' Lilias May was a
genuine heroine. Her father was a clergyman of limited means, with a
large family of children to support. Lilias was the oldest, and had been
educated liberally, the more useful branches not being overlooked, while
the accomplishments received their due share of attention. She was
possessed of rare personal beauty, and was the cherished idol of her
parents. When she reached the age of nineteen, her father was suddenly
taken away, leaving a helpless family. Overwhelmed by grief and despair,
Mrs. May was utterly incapable of exertion. It was then that the noble
qualities of Lilias came to be known and appreciated. She took upon
herself the management of the entire household, and investigated the
affairs of her deceased parent. Finding that there was absolutely
nothing left for their maintenance she looked around for some means of
obtaining a livelihood. Mr. May had been the only son of a wealthy but
irascible old gentleman, who never forgave him for marrying the poor
girl whom he loved, in preference to the heiress chosen for him by his
family. He took revenge by leaving his immense wealth to his daughter.
Leonora May, an imperious beauty, was totally unlike her brother, and
inherited the strong will and haughty pride of her father. She could
never overlook the fault of her handsome, talented brother, of whom she
had been extremely proud, burying himself in a country village. After
her own brilliant marriage, all communication ceased between them. Upon
his death, however, she came forward with offensive condescension,
offering to adopt Lilias into her family, and, as she was childless,
make her the heiress of her vast wealth. To many this would have been a
temptation too great to be resisted; and, to say the least, it was a
pleasant picture which was held up alluringly before the young girl. But
she scorned the proposal. She refused to be raised to a position to
which those she loved could not attain, for her aunt had expressly
stipulated that, having once accepted her protection, her family should
be nothing more to her. Having thus declined the tempting offer, Lilias
began her search for work, in which she was successful beyond her hopes.
A former friend of her father's, wishing a teacher for his daughters,
engaged her services at once. He also assisted her brother, a youth of
seventee