The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-01-22


tional powers On the lawn we separa
ted, but when we met at breakfast in The
presence of the Cuthberts and the SUI
percilious heiress, saw that the old gov.
erness' look had come back to her face
and she was more reticent than ever
Ny friend proposed horseback excur.
sion to boiling spring in the neighbor.
hood, and when our party assembled on
the veranda, noticed with the keenest
disappointment, that the governess had
been excluded. | rode at the bride rein
of the fair Blanche, who looked very
pretty in the blue habit, and with her
velvet cap set coquettishly above her
golden tresses, but | found it an effort to
interest myself in her common place
chit chat. | felt a sense of relief when
we dismounted at the Hall, and as soon
as l had led my partner in, bounded up
the staircase. On the way to my cham
Der, passed an open door, and through
it caught glimpse of Marguerite. The
two children were busy at their tasks,
and she sat patiently correcting a sketch
which one of them had made. A port
folio lay beside her which | doubted not
was filled with her drawings She heard
my step, and looking up, saw me on the
threshold.
What !" she exclaimed, " have you
returned so soon | did not expect you
for an hour or two. l hope You have
enjoyed yourself"
No, | have not. was really dis
appointed because you did not CO."
a faint smile passed over her face.
III" she muttered; "you can't
understand etiquette, if you suppose a
goyerness is TO be made an equal"
felt the blood rush to my brow as |
replied
There are many false notions in So
ciely. am sure Mrs. Cuthbert's gov
erness is the equal OF any one, and as
such regard her.
Her face crimsoned, and for time
there was silence, which l broke by
saying
Is this the school room ?"
Yes"
II looks very cool and pleasant 4; may
| come in ?"
l suppose Mrs. Culhbert would have
no objcc ton"
4 hope not! !" and with these words
| moved to the table TO which she was
sitting.
Does that portfolio belong to you ?"
| inquired, laying my hand on the arti
Gle in question. She bowed assent, and
| resumed, i" shall | have the pleasure of
examining its contents ?"
Certainly, sir"
She was calm. grave. quiet but when
| drew forth the pictures and began TO
expatiate upon them, her reticence van
ished. Her eyes lit, the pale cheek
glowed, her lips-those mobile lips of
hers-parted, and she talked with the
enthusiasm of grlhood. The sketches
were indeed wonderful, and at last |
said
" II is shame for you, with your ge-
MUS for painting, to drudge as govern
ess J.
Again that peculiar smile fitted over
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 | was Iounging on
a luxurious sofa in the library, the door
opened, and Marguerite appeared. but al
sight Of me precipi,ately retired
Stay stay T. cried |. following her
/" No, no, | cannot. | did not dream
You were here was lonely, aud came
down for a book"
+" Come aud get it..
With some reluctance she entered, and
took a splendidly bound copy Of Tasso
from the shelf. glanced at il aud said
WHAT do you read Tasso 2"
a. A little +"
Then take seat beside me. and we
will read together"
q She hesilated an instant. and thcn
assented. The liquid Tuscan language
sounded very beautiful. syllabled 10 her
accents, and the spell with which the
garerness hal bound me. deepeued with
every moment
\ month wore on, and one night |
sat in my chamber, holding commuuica.
Iion with my own heart The face tina,
| had seen AT the window on nv arrival
the face that had seemed so pale, so
calm and SO cold, had since assumed ev-