The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-10-29


this dear old home, where I wooed ant
won YOU" G mi. 5
He stopped down, and gathering {
handful of the white rose leaves thai
had drifted like snow wreath at ou'
feet, he pressed them to his lips, an6
then folded them in between the leave.
Of little pocket Bible that had giver
him the night before. Our parting
words had been said long before so be
only raised me, and folding me to hi.
heart, pressed a last kiss upon my lip
cheek and brow, then he left me.
flung myself down, and lay upon the
earth till the night dew penetrated my
thin garments and sent shiverings over
my weary frame. l then flung my
shawl over my head, and passed rapid
ly to my new home. 9l
Once there, l had no time for tho't
for the children l had care of were
waiting to be put to bed. and their
mother had grown impatient at my
delay. undressed each little form
and laid it to rest; and then 1 was free,
as my two elder pupils were in the
dressing-room with their mother.
I sat down by the window alone with
my wretchedness, and tried hard to
reason myself into calmness. But
alas / was powerless to Danish tho't
and memory. A kind face would be
between me and the starry sky, and a
rich voice kept saying, "Good-bye, dar-
ling Clare"
There was no one to call me darling
now. / belonged to no one; nobody
owned me! was only Clare Sum-
merfield, the poor governess From
very WEAKNESS, laid my head upon
my pillow, feeling that 1 was indeed
alone. This was ten years ago.
Tonight sit writing in the same
home, Clare Summerfeld still. To-
morrow am TO take new natne-but
| must not anticipate.
After Willie left l toiled my days
out, and watched my nights out, as |
had done the night we parted. Then
came the long, loving letters; carrying
them next my heart, / grew happier.
The first year was one of dreary,
unappreciated toll. After that my en-
plovers grew to love me, and the chill
dren loved me too. / will not weary
you by relating my every day life. Suf
fee it to say that the weeks and
months rolled on till the third year of
waiting drew near its close. Then a
new sorrow filled my heart; for sud
denly his letters, ceased, and for
months / heard no tidings of him.
Then came the stunning news that he
was married George Leland, the son
of my employer, had a letter from a
friend in Rome giving him an account
of the wedding. After this l knew
nothing for many weeks; and when !
recovered they told me l had brain
fever.
After that the days and weeks passed
uncounted. / did not heed the flight
of time-I lived in kind of stupor,
caring only to fulfill my duties faithful
| ly, and render full equivalent for the
money paid me.
Doubtless the family knew of my
sorrow, for they were strangely kind
to me and George seemed as though
he could not do enough to make me
less sad. The girls, too, treated me
with the tenderness of sisters. / yield
ed myself passively to their guidance,
for the heart must have some one to
love, and kindness. is never so precious
as after some great sorrow.
When / had been an inmate of Mr..
Lelaud's home for five years, the two
elder girls, Mary and Louisa, We're
married and from that time / became
as an own child in the house. Then
three more years passed away, when
an event happened that destroyed for
time the sweet home-feeling / was
beginning to enjoy. This is how it
came about. The family had all gone
to the opera, leaving me alone, as / had
headache and did not wish to 60.
/ was standing by the window, lost
in thought, when was startled by an
arm stealing gently around my waist,
and turning quickly, stood face to
face with George Leland.
"Oh, George how you frightened
me. thought you had gone to the
opera" 9ao,si8
He did not notice my remark, but
passing his hand once or twice over my
hair, said:
"Your curs ar beautiful, Clare and