Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-22

curls hanging on their white shoulders.
ana eyes all IN sparkle with infantine
merriment
Don't come near me, you noisv littlo
monsters % lisped Leonore, waving them
away with her snowy, jeweled hand
you1i crush my silks and laces ruinous
No word of reproff, however, fell from
Frank Iracy's lips, as the little ones
chmbed on his knee and hung around his
neck. Those children were the sunshine
OF his life; he endured his wife, but he
idoized his children.
9 Poor Tracy, it's quite plain to sec that
ne iS not happy, said Leigh, that evening,
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 announced
III the wspapers-ailment, disease of tho
heart-his first thought was -
"What lucky thing for Frank"
1t was scarcely year after Mrs. Tracy's
decease, and the widower was sitting alone
IN his study, when Howard Leigh was an
nounced
We'll, my dear friend !' was his smiling
sanitation, what news do you bring me %
know I've just engaged q splendid govern
ess for your children ?"
81 am heartily glad of it; the little rebels
are getting quite beyond my management.
They need some gentle, affectionate 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 academy, but
thinks she should prefer situation in
some private family. She is all grace and
gentle dignity-a jewel of governess r'
81 am 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 ?"
"pm suro I can't imagine"
"Her name is Agnes Walton she is tho
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 woGid shrink from assuming this
responsible situation in your family !"
Nonsense" said Tracy, half laughing,
half embarrassed. "But / am sorry she
is reduced to the wretched life of a gov
erness."
Nothing more was said on that subject,
and several times that afternoon ii recurred
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 tho new governess
was announced.
d" Miss Walton, pray be seated.
He saw at the first glance that the pretty
baby had grown into an exquisitely lovely
girl Of twenty two, with soft tender eyes
like Madonna, and sad, quiveripg lips
Poor Agnes-she had been SO much accus-
toned to rebutiS and cold neglect at the
hands of the world that Mr. Tracy's chival-
ric pOliteness affected her nearly to tears
He noticed it; but observed the delicate,
shy refinement, and the timid glanees from
beneath her lashes Frank Tracy was q
great physiognomist, and drew his own in
ferences from those things. After q few
gentle questions he asked
"But, Miss Walton, why did you leave
tho Academy ?'
"The principal was harsh and unkind to
me, and the place was noisy. o, sir, if
you knew how have hungered and thirst,
ed for quiet home -
"My dear Miss Walton" he said smiling,
CT commissioned my friend Howard Leigh
to find gOverness for me, but / am in
would suit me in that capacity. Will you
accept of the home as permanent engage
ment, and me as the encumbrance there
of 2"
Agnes looked moment into his kind
eyes, and placed her hand confdingly in
his and said, CT will p
And thus concluded their extremely brief
courtship. Yet when Frank told her of
many years he had secretly worshipped at
the shrine of Mrs. Walton's pretty baby" +"
she didn't think it SO very strange after
al.
! Thus it was that Frank Tracy married
his beautiful second wife, and the little
ones, instead of governess got mama,
whom little Minnie confidently informed
her sister, "she liked great deal better
than the old mama, who was always afraid
of having her hair or collar disarranged,
whilo new mama liked to have her daugh-
ters hug and kiss her."
And Howard Leigh was satisfied that
his friend had married the right person at
last.
The Alabama Convention.