Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-11-23
fnendation to Marguerite, but my eyes

dreams we're not haunted by the heir
ess, but by the pale face had seen at
the window-the face of Marguerite,
the governess. !
The next morning was awake at an
early hour, and glapcing out saw Mar
guerite gliding across the lawn. has
tened to join her-her checks were a
rich glow, her dark, lustrous eyes we're
full OF light, her lips tremulous with
smiles her white apron was full of
snowy blossoms, and she had wreathed
spray Of iassamine amid the black
ness of her hair.
How we began to talk | scarcely
know, but | never was so entertained by
any woman as by her. could touch
upon no subject in literature or art,
with which she was not familiar, and
Madam de Stael might have coveted
her conversational powers. On the
llawn we separated, but when we met at
breakfast in the presence Of the Cuth-
5erts and the supercilious heiress, / saw
that the old governess' look had come
back to her face, and she was more
reticent than ever. Ny friend proposed
a horseback excursion to a boiling
spring in the neighborhood, and when
our party assembled on the veranda, l
noticed with the keenest disappoint-
ment, that the governess had been ex-
cluded. l rode at the bride rein of
the fair Blanche, who looked very pref
| ty in the blue habit, and with her vel
vet cap set coquettishly above her
| golden tresses, but | found it an effort
to interest myself in her common place
lchit- chat. | felt sense Of relief when
1--we dismouuted at the Hall, and as soon
as l had led my partner in, bounded up
the staircase. On the way to my
chamber I passed an open door, and
through it caught glimpse Of Mar
guerte: The two children were busy
at their tasks and she sat patiently
correcting a sketch which one Of them
had made. A portfolio lay beside her
which | doubted not was filed with her
drawings. She heard my step, and
locking Up, saw me on the threshold.
"What.." she exclaimed, ''have you
returned SO soon? [ did not expect
you for an hour or two. / hope you
have enjoyed yourself.''
"No, / have not. was really dis
appointed because you did not go"
A faint smile passed ever her face.
! IL" she muttered ''you can't
| understand etiquette, if you suppose a
governass is to be made On equal"
felt the blood rush to my brow as
I replied
"There are many false notions in
! society am sure Mrs. Cuthbert's
governass is the equa! Of any one, and
, as such I regard her."
Her face crimsoned, and for G time
there was q silence, which ] broke by
saying
lis this the school room ?"
I eyes"
'It looks very cool and pleasant
may l come in %
'.Isuppose Mrs. Cuthbert would have
no objection"
Il hope not - and with these words
| moved to the table to which she was
sitting"
"Does that portfolio belong to your
incurred, LAYING my hand on the ar.
ticle in question. Sne bowed assent
and l resumed, "Shall have the pleas
ure Of examining it's contents -
"Cersainly, SIR
She was calm, grave, quiet but wheI
| drew forth the pictures and began t.
= expatiate upon them, her reticenet
= vanished, Her eyes lit, the pale cheel
, glowcd, her lips those mobile lips Of
! hers--parted. and she talked with til;
l enthusiasm Of girlhood. The sketches
were indeed wonderful, and at last
said
"It is a shame for you, with youl
genius fer painting, to drudge as t
goyerness !"
, Again taat peculiar smile fitted ovel
her features, as she murmured:
"The poor must do what they can
not what they would"
At this moment we were interrupted
by the children, and | left her.
In the afternoon, as l was lounginS
: on luxurious sofa in the library, the
l door opened, and Marguerite appeared
but at sight of me prccipitately retired.
"Stay stay! cried |, following her.
no no, I cannot : | did not dream
you were here, was lonely, and came
down for book"
"Come and get it.'
With some reluctance she entered.
and took q sple1d.dly bound copy Of
Tasso from the shelf. l glanced at
it and said
> "What! do you read Iasso?''
"a little ~
'>Tnen take g seat beside me, and
wc will read togetEer.''
She hcsltated an instant, and then
assented. The liquid Tuscan language
sounded very beautiful, syllaJled in
her accents, and tie spell with which the
governess had bound ne, deepened with
every moment.
A month worson, and one night l
sat in my chamber, holding COM
munication with my own heart. The
face that had seen at the window on
my arriyal-tne face that had seemed
so pale, so calm and so cold, had since
assumed every variety OF expression.
| had come hither to wed Blanche, [
had fallen in lore with the goyerness !!
Yes. I was in love at last - Marguerite