Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-02-13

she sat there | noticed for the first time the
superb proportion of her figure, the graceful
poise of her head on the stately neck. But
forgot those when she smote the chords OF the
harp and began to sing. Was she an impro-
visatrice / thought she must be, so full of
soul was the music she poured forth, and when
she concluded l asked Mrs. Cuthbert whose
composition it was.
"Her own,'' she replied tand she never
knows what she is going to sing when she
commences
1 uttered no fulsome words of commenda-
tion to Marguerite, but my eyes must have
| spoken volumes of approval.
That night when retired to rest my dreams
were not haunted by the heiress, but by the
pale face had seen at the window-the face
| OF Marguerite, the governess.
The next morning l awake at an early
| hour, and glancing out, saw Marguerite Gid
| ing across the lawn. l fastened to join her
| her cheeks wore rich glow, her dark, lust
| rous eyes were full of light, her lip tremulous
with smiles her white apron was full OF snowy
| blossoms, and she had wreathed spray OF
jessamine amid the backnesS of her hair.
How we began to talk scarcely know, but was
| never so entertained by any woman as by her.
| | could touch upon no subject in literature or
art with which she was not fam liar, and Mad
ame de Stael ght have coveted her converse
tional powers. On the lawn separated, but
when We met at breakfast in the presence OF
saw that the old goveruess look had again
como back to her fair 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
disappointment that the governess had been
excluded 1 rode at the bride rein of the fair
| Blanche, who looked very pretty in the blue
| habit, and with her velvet cap set coquettish-
| ly above her golden tresses, but l found it an
effort to interest myself in the commonplace
chit-chat. l felt 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 chamber l passed an open
door, and through it caught glimpse of Mar
gnerte. The two children were busy at their
tasks, and she sat patiently correcting sketch
which one of them had made. portfolio
lay beside her, which, doubted not, was ILL
ed with her own drawings. She heard me
step, and looking up, saw me on the thres-
hold.
ssWhat !" she exclaimed, shave you return
ed SO soon {? l did not expect you for an hour
or two | hope you have enjoyed YOURSELF
"No, have not. 1 was really disappointed
because you did not go.'
A faint smile passed over her face.
ell" she murmured, ''you can't under
stand etiquette if you expect governess is to
be made equal.''
felt the blood rush to my brow as replied
ssThere many false notions in society.
am sure Mrs. Cuthbert's governess it the e.
quail of any one here, and such l regard her.
Her face crimsoned, and for time there
was silence, which broke by saying:
s'Is this the schoolroom i'
"Yes.''
"It looks very cool and pleasant. May
come in ~
s'I suppose Mrs. Cuthbert would have no
objection"
II o,1 ,,ifh r,3c 7
ed to the table at which she was sitting.
ssDoes that portfolio belong to you ?''
inquired, laying my hand on the article in
question. She bowed assent, and 1 resumed
"Shall l have the pleasure Of examining its
contents 20
"Certainly, sir"
She was calm, grave, quiet, but when 1 drew
forth the pictures and began to expatiate, then
her patience vanished. Her eyes lit the pale
check glowed, her lips-those mobile lips of
hers-parted, and she talked with the enthus-
asm of grlhood. The sketches were indeed
wonderful, and at last l said:
'.It is shame for your genius for painting,
to drudge as governess.'
Again that peculiar smile fitted over her
features as she murmured
"The poor must do what they can, not what
they would.''
Al this moment we were interrupted by the
children, and left her.
In the afternoon was lounging on a luxu-
rious sofa in the library, the door opened, |
and Marguerite appeared, but at sight of me
she precipitately retired
"Stay stay 20 cried l, following her.
"No, no, | cannot did not dream you
were here; was lonely, and came down for a
book.''
"Come and get it," With some reluctance
she entered and took splenddly bound copy
of Tasso from the shelf. l glanced at it and
said UW hat do YOU read TaSSo ?'
CA little.'
'Then take seat beside me and we will
read together.''
She hesitated an instant, and then assented.
The liquid Tuscan language sounded very |
beautiful 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 I sat in my |
chamber, holding communication with my
own heart The face 1 had seen at the win |
dow on my arrival-the face that had seemed |
so calm and cold, had since assumed every va
riety of expression. | had come hither to |
WOO Blanche, l had fallen in love with the |
governess. Yes was in love at last-Mar-
guerite haunted all my sleeping and waking |
dreams. I was musing thus when L heard
tap at the door, and Cuthbert entered.
ssWell, )" said he ,ssa penny foryour thoughts
ts1 am thinking," L replied, "how mysteri-
Gus thing love is"
sYou are in love, then glad OF it-Bianche
will be happy woman"
"'Tis not Blanche 20 l stammered; "tiS |
not Blanche my heart has chosen-I love the |
governess %
"The governess % said Cuthbert; s'zounds,
man, what do you mean 2'
al have to-day laid my heart, hand, and for |
tune at her feet; If she accepts me, shall en- |
Wy nobody in the wide world"