Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-14
MORNING LEADER.
THE NEW GOVERNESS.
BY cATHARINE BARTON.
Concluded
PART III.

fARI Ill
She was 50 much absorbed in her own re-
Elections that she knew not how the time pass
ed, till she was startled By Constance rushing
into the room IN a state OF alarm.
Edith, have YOU seen Lucy z"
Il have not. l was not aware you had re-
turned from your drive"
We have been home two hours, but ! was
detained in the parlor by company, and Lucy.
it seems has bee. missing nearly all that time
Edith ensreated her to be calm, she hastily
threw on her bonnet, and calling to Isabel, (who
wac thoughtful and considerate beyond her age,)
she directed her, in a whisper, to sen some Of
the servants to the Mill River Rock, If she did
not return in a few moments.
The Mill River was deep, rapid stream a
quarter of mile from Mrs Wallngford's house.
The banks of the river arose perpendicularly
from lis bed, to 4 height of ftom three or four
to thirty, and in some places more than forty
feet The rock which bore its name was a nat
uisl platform Of stone about six feet above the
water On one side 4 rustic seat had been con-
strueted, over which two young naples spread
their branches, and slightly overhung the stream
below The whole scene was one Of tue most
picturesque description, and the children were
sometimes allowed TO accompany Edith thither,
but under prumise of strict obedience to her
orders, to keep away from the edge Of the rock
in particular, and the margin Of the stream IN
general, and their mnther knew them 10 be safe
under the careful eye Of their young gOverness.
But Lucy, who had always aeen somewhat
| headstrong, had determined to obtain a small
branch of one of the naples, whose autumn
tinted leaves of scarlet and yellow shone bright
/ ly in the clear light Of an October sun. Lucy
/ was one of those children who have rare tact
at getting into danger, and during the CroitOn
/ reign had met with more than one haiT-breadth
escape from death, but since she had been under
the care Of EdSh she had not been known TO
make any fresh attempt on her own life There
was something in the manner OF the latter which
/ kept her within bounds She dared not brave
/ that truthful eve But this afternoon she was
left playinp on the lawn with her sisters During
their drive home they had passed the Mill River
! Rock, and the tempting branch waved brightly
/ in the wind. II will run and get Il, and come
/ back before anybody sees me, and then nobody
/ will know where II came from" she thought, as
she saw her sisters engaged in their own sports,
and she stole of unpercelved- But the enter
prise was more difficult than she imagined
/ She was tco earnestly engaged to notice the aP-
proach of Edith, and made final spring at the
| coveted treasure as she was almost within her
reach. Her foot slipped, and she was precipi-
taled into the water belew-
Edith few down the bank a few yards fur
ther, where the height from the water was only
three feet There will be none to mourn fOi
me, if perish, but many for her." she exclaim.
ed, as she plunged into the stream, and sue
ceeded in grasping the drowning child, who
clunp to her in an agony OF terror. They were
within two or three feet of the bank, but the
current was deep and strong, and bore them II
resistibly forward, IN spite OF her Efforts which
were impeded by the weight Of poor Lucy
I vice she almost gained footing, and then the
| current again bore her onward. Ia vain she en-
deavored to catch the branches OF the trees anC
shrubs which hung over her head. She sue
ceeded in arasping one, but it gave way in he
hold. She knew the stream grew deeper AMI
more wild in lis onward course, AMI that they
must be rapidly approaching spot where tn
most efficient and would be vain. She shudder
} cd as she recollected horrible legend connect
: ed with the place She felt they must Per.sl
even within srms-length Of the firm ground, 1n'
commenting her soul 10 God, she pressed tn
now insensible Lucy 10 her bosom and resigne'
. herself to her fate A dull, dreamy drowsines
erept over her, as she sank into that dark, rush
ing water, whom she was conscious of beinl
gIasped by strong, nervous armand knew
nothing more till she opened her eyes in he
7 own room, at Mrs. Waliingford's, and saw Al
, anxious face bending over her.
At first she could not Teeollect what haI
happened 1t seemed as If she had awakeneI
from distressing dream; but soon came bac
| to her mind her fearful struggles in that terri
: bic water
Lucy Lucy Tell me of her." she e1
claimed eagerly.
7 .'Lucy is safe, and perfectly well, thanks t
: you, my nOble-hearted girl, and you were il
: turn rescued by Edmund" replied Constauce
as she stopped down and kissed the pale chee
of Edith. You have been i'll of a brain ieye
for the last ten days, and must thereiOrs-kee
J perfectly quiet All depends on that as you
o fever is now broken. The peaceful sleep frOI
. which you have just awakened has saved yOu
Take this jelly and then lie perfectly still, tall
= give you permission to stir, she added playful
c ". as she held some Jelly to the lips OF Edit
? and then tenderly c0mbed back the curs froI
her wasted brow, TO soOthe her to rest again
, Edith kept quiet as she was desired, but he
d heart was full of happy thoughts She ha
l. saved little Lucy, the beloved Of all, and 81
had herself been saved in turn by the hand
him she loved so well. HOlr treli, he wOul
have given much TO know. And she knew N
Is with what desperate eXertiOn Of strength an
re couraGe he had snatched her from what WOui
j. in another moment. have been inevitable az
fearful death She knew not how, when he hs
bore her insensible form to the bank he ha
uressed her TO his lips and heart, and cOnjurC
e her to awake by every endearing and passiO
u ate epithet or how his restless fOOtsteP hl
paeed through paIlor and hall, in eeaseiess an
iety for her recovery.
a After few days more, she was allowed TO
:. up. and then came perfect deluge Of flower
books. engrlvings, and all Else that eou
OF amuse an invalid, and when she was allowed
1 IL. 81 ! g..
her down stairs, and lift her gently into d
ct coach. He had loved her in all the bnghtne
~ of her beauty, but he now loved that pale, wi
face more dearly still, and all the former te
IN derness of his manner to her was restored u
ay ieolousy of Elmore slept. II was JOY enOug
IS for the present that she was obliged to lean
he his a m for support as sic walked feebly abOl
and when returning strength made his atten
ance not so very absolutely necessary, he st
hovered around and watched over her, all U
all needing that every hour riyeted her chains y
-e- more strongly on his heart. And Edith und
81 the influence of happiness and natural
strong constitution, soon recovered her usI
IL health, her cheeks their bloom, and her ioi
and features their symmetry, while her seho
ut room duties we're resumed with more zest tn
ne ever. The attachment Of the children 10
all was increased BY the recollection Of how mu
rs she had Sunereu 70 sdee tAe MT u Luz Lu
had herself been brought into the room VII
ee Edith's fever was at the worst, and told that
Ia naughtiness was the cause, and the poor chill
st- repentance showed iiself in the most afectiC
ate dOciliiy to her beloved teacher on her reed
K, cry.
Day after day passed away, and Edith ca
~ day resolved to speak to Constance, on the 81
la iect of her departure, and each day it seem
ia more difficult to do so. But Mrs John WalliT
Pc ford, who had LETT home during Edith's illne
as was now expected to return 10 a week at
latest, and Edith felt she could not meet
Ill c,ussic rerDarts or Keen eve after their a