Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-28
z" COLUMBUS O.. SATURDAY MORNING

"Capital news!" said Leigh. "Do you
know, I've just engaged splendid gov
erness for your children 2"
II am heartily glad of it; the little
rebels are getting quite beyond my man.
agement. They need some gentle, affec-
tionate female influence"
"And they will have it. This is one
of the finest girls I've seen for long
time; she has been teaching in an acad-
emy, but thinks she should prefer a sit
uation in some private family. She is
all grace and gentle dignity jewel of
a governess!
al am delighted at your success.
When will she come to take charge of
my children p .....---....-.
"This evening. But I haven't told
you the strangest coincidence of all !!
Who do you suppose she is 2"
"I'm sure can't imagine"
Her name is Agnes Walton; she is
the same whom you took such fancy to
in the days of her babyhood. I can tell
you she don't know you were an old
beau of hers, else she would shrink from
assuming this responsible situation in
your family p ..-1-1
Nonsense" said Tracy, half laugh
ing, half embarrassed. "But am sor-
ry she is reduced to the wretched life of
a governess."
Nothing more was said on the subject,
and several times that afternoon it re-
Cured to Frank Tracy's mind. 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 governess
was announced.
"Miss Walton, pray be seated"
He saw at the first glance that the
pretty baby had grown into an exquis-
itely lovely girl of twenty-five, with soft
tender eyes like Madonna, and sad,
quivering 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 politeness af-
fected her nearly to tears. He noticed
it; he observed the delicate, shy refine
ment, and the timid glances from be-
meath her lashes. Frank Tracy was a
great physiognomist, and drew his own
inferences from those things. After a
few gentle questions he asked
"But Miss Walton, why did you leave
the Academy"
"The principal was harsh and unkind
to me, and the place was noisy. 0, sir, il
you know how I've hungered and thirst
ed for quiet home!"
"My dear Miss Walton" he said
smiling, 81 commissioned my friend
Howard Leigh, to find govsrness for
me, but 1 am in much more need of a
wife. 1 think you would suit me in that
capacity. Will you accept of the home
as permanent engagement, and me as
the encumbrance thereof p
Agnes looked moment into his kind
eyes, and placed her little hand confd'
ingly in his and said, 81 will"
And thus concluded their extremely
brief courtship. Yet when Frank told
her of the many years he had secretly
worshiped at the shrine of "Mrs. Wal
toms pretty baby" she didn't think il
so very strange after all.
Thus it was that Frank Tracy mar
ried his beautiful second wife, and the
little ones, instead of a governess got q
mamma, whom little Minnie confidently
informed her sister, "she liked great
deal better than the old mamma who
was always afraid of having her hail
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. -sFz. ..s