The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-02-09

she was more reticent than ever. My
friend proposed horseback excursion TO
q boiling spring in the nCighbOFhOod, and
when our party assembled on the veranda
| noticed, with the keene+t diSappOint-
ncnt, that the gOverncSs had been exclu.
dcd. rode at the bridle-rein Of the fair
Blanche, who looked very pretty in the
blue habit, and with her velvet hat sat
cOqucttishly above her golden trcsscs, but
| found it an effort to interest myself IN
the commonplace chit.chat. If II n sense
Of relief when we dismOunted at the hall,
and as soon M had led my partner in,
bounded up the staircase. On the way
to my chamber ] passed the open door,
and through it caught glimpse Of Mar
guerite. The two children Rat busy at
their tasks and she sat patiently correct.
ing a sketch which one Of them had made
4 portfolio lay beside her, which doubt
ed not was filled with her own drawings
She heard my step and looking up saw
me on the threshold.
what" she exclaimed, shave you
returned so soong did not expect you
for an hour or two. | hope you have en-
jOycd yourself"
mo, have not. ! was really disap.
pointed because you did not CO."
A faint smile passed over her face.
"I-I," she murmurcd, you cant un.
derstand etiquette If you suppose gov
crness is TO be made an equal"
felt the blood rush 10 my brow as
replied:
There are many false notions in So
ciety. am sure Mrs. Cuthbcrt's govern.
ess is the equal Of any one here, and as
such j regard her"
Her face crims0ncd, and for time there
was a silence, which I broke by saying:
Is this the school room!"
"Yes."
at loOks very cool and pleasant. May
I come IL
~ suppose Mrs. CuthbOrt would have
no objection"
"lhope not !" and with these words I
moved TO the table at which she was sit
ting -.
"Does that portfolio belong to you :"
enquired, laying my hand upon the ar
ticle In question. She bowed assent, and
| resumed: "Shall have the pleasure Of
examining its contcnts!"
Certainly, SIR"
She was calm, grave, quiet; but when
drew forth the pictures aud began to re-
mark upon them, then her calmness van
iShed; her eyes frightened, her pale face
glowed, her lps-thosc mobile lips Of hers
parted, and she talked with the cnthu.
siasm Of girlhood. The sketches were
indeed wonderful, and at last Snid:
ut is q shame that you, with your &c.
MUS for painting, should drudge as n gov
crncss."
Agnin that peculiar smile fitted over
her features ~ she replied:
"Thc poor must do as they can, not as
they would"
At this moment We were interrupted by
the children, and | left her. In the after
noon, us l was lounging on luxurious
sofa in the library, tho door opened and
Marguerite appeared, but at the sight Of
me she hastily retired.
"Stayl stay I" cried following her.
"No, no, cannot. l did not dream
you were here. was lonely, and came
down for book"
"Comc and get it. With some reluc-
tancc she entered and took splendidly
bound cory Of TassO from the shelf. ]
glanced at 1t and said, "What, do you
read TassO?"
"A little"
"Thcn take scat beside me and we
will read together"
She hesitated an instant, and then as
sented. The liquid Tuscan language
sounded very beautiful, syllabled in her
accents, and the spell with which the gov
erncss had bound me deepcned with every
passing moment.
month wore on, and one night sat
in my chamber holding communication
with my own heart The face that had
seen at the window on my arrival-the
face that had seemed so pale, SO calm and
cold, had since assumed every variety OF
expression. had come hither to WOO
Blanche, and had fallen in love with the
govcrnesS Yes, | was in love ut last
Marguerite haunted oil my sleeping and
waking dreams. ! was musing thus,
when heard tap at the door, and Cuth'
bert entered.
We'll" said he "a penny for your
thoughts"
ii am thinking,"T replied, " "how mys-
tcrious thing love is"
"YOu are in love then ?-glad Of it
glad Of it. Blanche will be . happy wo
man."
"'Tis-'tis not Blanchc!" stammcred
"'tis not Blanche my heart has chosen
i love the govcrnesS"
1.-The gOverncss !" said Cuthbcrt; "why
} man, what do you mean Y"
81 have to-day Ibid heart, hand and
. fortune at her feet; If she accepts me,
shall envy nobody in the wide world"
Cuthbert meditated awhile ere he re-
sumed: You must be sincere, Vincent
, or you would not marry Marguerite"
J "Sincere-GOd knows ! ami"
Ny host gazcd at mc and laughed 4
} merry laugh, that rang loud and long
through the hall.
"My dear fellow" he begun, you arC
! the victim Of little rusc. My sister.in'
law has mortal fear Of falling a prey o
} some f0rtune.hunter; and when you, OF
your arrival mistO0k her for the govern
css, she could not resist the temptation
to carry out the imposturc.
"1n the bit Of cOnfab we had will
her on the verAndah, she begged Us no
to undecsivC you, and We hUmOred bel
whiln. She cOaxed- the cousin who wa'
staying with us to act the part of tn,
heiress, and as she had taught the chill
dren during the absence of their Frencl
gOvernrsS, they were not likely To betray
her secret. Blanche Marguerite Dupont
come here and confess |"
. "Dear, dear Richard, know, know
I can trust yOu."
Blanche iS now my wife, and peepinl
; over my shoulder ct my manuscript, sh'
bids me tell the world that she has nevel
repented the stratagein that won my love
! Do NOT SPEAK ILL OF VOUR TABLE.-A
: clergyman once t0Ok tee with . lady il
his parish who prided herself much upOI