The Van Buren press., 1867-10-04

away with her snowy, jeweled hand 4;
"you'll crush my silks and laces ruinous-
Ilym '
No word Of reproof, however, fell from
Frank Tracy's lips, as the little ones
climbed on his knee and hung around his
neck Those children were the sunshine
% his life he endured his wife, but he
idolizcd his children.
Poor Tracy, it's quite plain to see
that he is not happy said Leigh, that
evening, as he was taking his ease within
his cosy home circle. "That wife of his
is enough to drive a man distracted.
wonder he don't commit suicide!'
Aud so some days afterwards, when
the sudden death Of Mrs Tracy was an
nounced in the ewspapers-ailinent, dis
ease Of the heart-his first thought was
.'What lucky thing for Frank"
1t was scarcely year after Mrs Ira
cy's decease, and the widower was sitting
alone in his study, when Howard Leigh
was announced.
"Well my dear friendr' was his smil
ing salutation, what news do You bring
me -
Capital news" said Leigh. ado
you know, I've just engaged splendid
gOverness for your children y
] am heartily glad Of it the little reb-
els are getting quite beyond my manage
ment They need some gentle, affection
ate female influence .Hl
"And they will have it. This is one of
the finest girls I've seen for long time ;
she has been teaching in an academy, but
thinks she would prefer situation in
some private family. She is all grace
and gentle dignity-a jewel of govern
ess ~
liam delighted at your success. When
will she come to take charge of my chill.
dren - t
This evening But | haven't told
yOu the strangest coincidence of all
Who do you suppose she is = ~.
"Tm sure cannot imagine"
(" Her name is Agnes Walton she is the
same whom you took such fancyto in the
days of her babyhood. | can tell you,
she don't know you were an old beau OF
hers, else she would shrink from assum.
ing this responsible situation in your fam
lily"
Nonsense" said Tracy, halflaughing,
half embarrassed. But am sorry she
is reduced to the wretched life of a gov
erness."
Nothing more was said on the subject.
and several times that afternoon it recur-
red to Frank Tracy's mine. He wished
he could see her.
The gas had been lighted however,
and the little girls were safely tucked up
in bed, after having said their prayers on
"papa's" knees, before the new govern
ess was announced. ..-.
"Miss Walton? pray be seated"
He saw at the first glance that the pref
ty baby had grown into an exquistely
lovely girl of twenty-five, with soft ten
der eyes like Madonna, and sad, quiv-
ering lips. Poor Agnes---she had been
so much accustomed to rebuffs and cold
neglect at the hands Of the world, that
Mr.. Tracy's chivalric poiteness affected
her nearly to tears. He noticed it, he
observed the delicate, shy refinement, and
the timid glances from beneath her lashes
Frank Tracy was a great physiognomist
and drew his own differences from those
things. After few gentle questions he
asked:
But Miss Walton, why did you leave
the Academy? 2"
The principal was harsh and unkind
to me, and the place was noisy. o, sir,
you knew how | have hungered and
thirsted for quiet home"
MY dear Miss Walton" he said smil
ing,"I commissioned my friend Leigh
to find governess for me, but am much
more in need of wife. l think you
would sui. me in that capacity. Will you
accept of the home as a permanent en-
gagehent, and me as the cncumbrance
thereof?"
Agnes looked a moment into his kind
eyes, and placed her little hand conhd-
ingly in his and said, II will"
And .hus concluded their extremely
brief courtship. Yet when Frank told
her many years he had secretly worship
ped at the shrine of" Mrs Walton's pret-
ty baby she didn't think it so very
strange after all. r....
Thus it was that Frank Tracy married
his beautiful second wife, and the little
ones, instead Of a governcss got a mama,
whom little Minnie confidently informed
her sister, "she liked great deal better
thon the old mama who was always afraid
of having her hair or collar disarranged.
While new mamma liked to have her
daughters hug and kiss her"
And Howard Leigh was satisfied that
his friend had married the right person at
last. ...... ..,n