The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-06-28

Il hope not, and with these words NOV
ed to the table at which she was sitting.
Docs this portfolio belong to your ] en-
quircd laying my hand on the article in ques
tion. She bowed assent. and l resumed
Shall have the pleasure Of examining ii
contents?'
Certainly, SIR
She was calm, grave, quiet; but when
drew forth the pictures and began to expat
rSiate upon them, her rcticence vanished. IIel
eyes lit, the pale cheek glowed, her lips
those mobile lips Of hcrs-partcd, and she
talked with the enthusiasm OF girlhood. TIL,
sketches were indeed wonderful, and at las
| said:
1t is shame for you with your genius
for painting, to drudge as n governess =
Again that peculier snilc fitted over he,
features, as she murmured:
THE poor must do what they can-no,
what they would
At this moment we were interrupted by
the children, and left her.
In the afternoon, rs was lounging on q
luxurious sofa in the library, the door open
ed, and Marguerite appeared, but at sight o.
me precipitately retired.
Stay Stay = cried I, following her.
mo, no, cannot; l did not dream you
were here. Twas lonely, and came down
for book
Come and get it,
with some reluctance she entered, and
took splendidly bound copy of Tasso from
the shelf. glanced at 1t and said:
what do you read Tasso?'
A little
Then take seat beside me, and VIC will
read together
She hesitatcd an instant. and then assent.
ed, The liquid Tuscan language sounded
very beautiful, syllablcd in her accents, and
the spell with which the governess had bound
me, deepened with every passing moment
A month wore on, and one night | sat in
my chamber, holding communication with
my own heart. The face that | had seen q,
the window on my arrival-the face that
had seemed so pale, 80 calm and cold, had
since assumed every variety Of expression.
| had come hither to wed Blanche, I had
fallen in love with the governess Yes, !
was in love at last-NIargucrite haunted all
my sleeping and waking dreams. / was
musing thus when heard q tap ut my door,
and Cuthbert entered.
well, a penny for your thoughts he
said.
Il am thinking, replied, how mystcr-
ious thing love is =
You are in love thcn-glad of it-glad
of it. Blanche will be happy woman!'
'Tis-'tis not Blanche stammered,
: tits not Blanche my heart has chosen-l
love the goyerness'
The governess said Cuthbert. BOUNDS,
man, what do you mean?'
Il have to-day laid hand, heart, and for
tune at her feet. and il shcacccpts me, l shall
envy nobody in the wide world"
Cuthbert meditated awhile ere he resumed !:
You must be sincere, Vincent. or you
would not marry Marguerite.
Sincere /? God knows | am
My host gazed at me, and laughed mer-
ry laugh, that runs loud and long through
the hall.
MY dear fellow, he began, you arc the
victim Of little ruse. My sister-in-law has
had a mortal fear Of falling the prey Of some
fortuno-hunter, and when you, on your ar
rival, mistook her for the governcss. she
could not resist the temptation to carry out
the imposturo.' In the bit of confab we
had with her on the veranda, she begged Of
us not to undeceive you, and We humored
her whim. She coaxed the cousin who was
staying with us to act the part Of the heiress
and us she taught the children during the
absence of the French governess, they were
not likely to bctray her socret-Blanche,
Marguerite, come here and confess =
Dear, dear Richard, l know can trust
you.'
Blanche is now my wife, and peeping
over my shoulder at the manuscript, she bids
me tell the world she has never repented the
strategem that won me.