The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-12-07

No word ofreproof, however, fell from
Frank Tracy's lips, as the little ones
climbed on his knee and hung around
his neck. Those children We're the sun
shine of his life; he endured his wlioy
but he idolized his children.
"Poor Tracy, it's quite plain to see
that he is not happy" said Leigh, tnat
evening, as he was taking his ease wltn,
in his cosy home circle. THAT wife OF
his is enough to drive man distracted.
wonder he don't commit suicide"
And SO some days afterwards when the
sudden death of Mrs. Tracy was an
nounced in the newspapers-ailment,
disease of the heart-his first thougnt
was
"What lucky thing for Frank"
1t was scarcely year after Mrs. Ira
cy's decease, and the widower was sit,
ting alone in his study, when Howard
Leigh was announced.
"Well, my dear friendw ~ was his sml-
ling salutation, "what news do you bring
me ~
"Capital news ~ said Leigh. "Do you
know, Pve Just engaged splendid gov
erness for your children ~
sim heartily glad of it; the little reD-
els are getting quite beyond my man
agement. They need some gentle attec-
tionate female influence"
"Aad they will have it. This is one
of the finest girls Pve seen for long
time; she has been teaching in an acad-
emy, but thinks she should prefer situ:
alton in some private family. She is all
grace and gentle dignity jewel OF a
governess
lam delighted at your success. When
will she come to take charge of my chill
dren !" =.
"This evening. But haven't told
you the strangest coincidence OF all
Who do you suppose she is ~
"Fm 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. l 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"
"Nonsense, said Tracy, halflaughing,
half embarrassed. But am sorry she is
reduced to the wretched life ofa govern
ess."
Nothing more was said on the subject,
and several times that afternoon it re-
CURED to Frank Tracy's mind. He wish
ed he could see her.
The gas had been lighted however,
and the little girls were safely tucked
up in bed, after having said their pray
ers on "papa's" knees, before the gov
erness was announced.
EGNf;,o UoItn, hn gnnfnl "
He saw at the first glance that the
pretty baby had grown into an exqul:
sitely lovely girl of twenty-five, with
soft tender eyes like Madonna, and
sad, quivering lips. Poor Agnes-she
had been so much accustomed to rebutts
and cold neglect at the hands of the
world, that Mr.. Tracy's chigalric po-
liteuess 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 great physiognomist, and drew
his own differences from those things
After few gentle questions he asked
"But Miss Walton, why did you leave
the Academyp
"The principal was harsh and unkind
| W IuC, duu buc pliSC WAC ~
if you knew how have huRgered and
thirsted for quiet homew
"My dear Miss Walton, lie said smi-
ling. ~ commissioned my friend How
ard Leigh, to find governess for ne,
but am in much more need of wife.
l think you would suit me in that ca.
pacity. Will you accept Of the home as
a permanent engagement, and me as the
iucumbrance thereofp
Agnes looked moment into his kind
eyes, and placed her little hand confid,
ingly in his and said. II 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 bettor than the old mamma, who
was always afraid of having her hair OF
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.