Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-24

tions, aud still the sweet, thrilling r"iee
sag ON. Who could it be! C9aid such
a voice belong to any inmate OF mat
house Impossible And while he
wondered, the song ceased, and face APP
peared at the window. He had just time
to take it in at glance-the delicate,
high-bred features, formed throughout
with sad thoughtfulness the large blue
ewes half yelled by their dark lashes, the
brown hair pushed back, in wavy masses ];
the clear skin, its frmness frightened by
the effect of the mourning dress below.
The girl who answered Guys ring
showed him into the parlor, where Mr..
and Mrs. Gibson sat over their iunch.
Mrs. Gibson's face glowed with pleasure.
"My dear Mr.. Britton, we're SO glad to
see You! Just to think" with reproacn-
full smile, "that you haven't been in be-
fore since we came down! Why, twas
no more than yesterday that / was telling
Mr.. Gibson that I didn't believe there
was man living with more of literary
taste than Mr.. Britton. It's lovely
trait of character, indeed, / said. But
then there's body's health to be thought
of, and the claims of society, you know,
Mr. Britton."
Guy found it impossible to resist the
pressing invitation given him to lunch ;
and being seated an unwilling victim,
with plate and napkin on his knee, he
was treated to running fire OF CONVEX
sation.
81 heard some one, singing very finely
as I came" said Guy, bringing. in his
short sentence by dextrous flank move
ment.
eyes" answered Mrs. Gibson, delight
edly; sthat was Miss Deane, the new
governess I've got for the children. They
do say that her voice is remarkable, and
Pm glad to find you think SO, MIR. Brit.
ton-so good Judge as you are; as tell
Mr.. Gibson, what a genteel taste MIR.
Britton has in everything My children
all have taste for music-you ought to
have heard Professor Grindelwald COM
pliment Janetta's voice, Mr.. Britton
And when I think how necessary it is
that they should have the best teachers
that money can procure, do feel that
it is a real Providence to have found
Miss Deane."
"Who is she, Mrs Gibson ?"
"Ob, she brought the very best of ref
erence, Mr. Britton. l make it point
never to take any one into my service
mphatically-"that don't bring the very
best of references. She came to me from
the Hartsteius, Mr.. Britton-one of the
first families in the city. Her father was
a minister; she's an orphan. Her only
fault is, that she's inclined to be little
above her business; but shant be troub'
led with that. AS tell Mr.. Gibson
when l hire anybody and pay them with
my money, Just give them to under
stand that they and their time belong to
me-"
There was a harshness underlying the
smile on Mrs. Gibson's forid face as she
spoke, that made Guy shudder at its pos
sible connection with the delicate, refined
face at the window.
Just walk into the music room, Mr.
Britton would admire to have you heal
her"
Il hope l shall not intrude upon Mis-
Deane ?" answered Guy, rising with some
hesitation.
"Intrude ?" Mrs. Gibson raised her eye
brows in surprise; 'of course she will bt
pleased to do whatever l wish"
Laura Deane stood at the piano, ps
tiently following the slow movements o.
little Flora Gibson's weary fingers ovei
the keys.
"Miss Deane," said Mrs Gibson, impe
riously, and without designing any othel
! introduction, 81 want you TO play anC
sing one of your very best pieces for my
! friend, Mr.. Britton."
Miss Deane's cheek flushed family a.
she returned Guys bow, and sat down a
I Il l. E.-r- oIorIi
and sang The Captive Knight" A
first, like Tennysons Leila, she "strucl
such warbling fury through the words
that Guy saw the CLEAN of spear and ban
ner, heard the peal of the trumpet, and
the rush and clamor of the hosts; theI
came the wild, impassioned longing o
the captive, and at last the wall of de
spair over his dead hope of liberty.
Guy had never before been more pro
foundry stirred. This girl sung her yer.
soul into her words. Such expression,
could not be mere art, he thought
must be an outgrowth of her own expert
ence.
"You have given me a wonderful pleas
ure, Miss Deaue,' he said, in low tone
as she finished, and Mr.. Gibson, III the ful
tide of veluble discourse, led the way iron
| the room.
Sitting alone that evening in his pleas
ant library, Guy was conscious of a vagu
sense of loneliness quite at varisnce wit
the soft light and warm coloring of tn
room. Miss Deane's face seemed to min
gle itself indafnably with his uur, ST; an
the words and melody he had heard san
themselves over and over in his memory
He rose and went out of doors, and look
ing over the hedge, saw her slender figur
pacing slowly to and fro in the moonligh
She moved YEARLY, he fancied, and b
thrilled with a longing To speak 10 he
and comfort her. Some great sorrow ha
set its seal upon her face, he thought
| Had not Mrs Gibson called her an OF
| phan What a sad fate to be thrust on
homeless into the great world natur
so fine as hers must be subject TO tn
coarse ness and caprice of an employer Xix
Mrs Gibson! The very idea was revolt
ing. Then there foated in a vision of
face like hers opposite him at his so!itar
meals, or beside his study fire in the Ion
winter evenings-a face from which a
traces of sadness should be gone, AID j
their place the brightness of new hope an
trusting love Bat while he dreamed, a
unconscious smile softening his feature
the figure disappeared in the shadow {
the tall mansion; and the voice of hi
housekeeper at his elbow broke the III
wonted spell.
The next day he saw Miss Deane wall
ing III the garden with the young Gil
sons. He hoped she might come nea
) enough for him To speak TO her hat II
did not seem to see him, busy with b
pruning scissors at the hedge He eoul
only look on from IA distance, noting ht
graceful, quiet mien, and her gentle p,
thence with the Maynard children. Y,
he found as time passed, even such traI
: sient glimpses had wonderful power
brighten his days. Occasionally thei
was bow of recognition, word or tw
of courteous oommonplace-one Il hong,
conversation which charmed Guy by i
revelation of mind richly stored II
more than that until one morning, s'rol
ing down to the waters edge, be can
suddenly upon Miss Deane, sitti,..t eit
her portfolio upon her lap. making +. Ii